Are hangnails a sign of vitamin deficiency?
Vitamin deficiency can indeed cause a series of skin problems. For example, a lack of vitamin A can lead to hyperkeratosis of the hair follicles, a deficiency of B vitamins such as B2 and B6 can cause seborrheic dermatitis and chapped lips, and a lack of vitamin C can result in poor wound healing and easy splitting.
However, in modern society, nutritional diseases caused by vitamin deficiency are becoming increasingly rare. For the vast majority of people, as long as they eat normally, they will not suffer from vitamin deficiency diseases. Moreover, if there is indeed a deficiency, absorption, or utilization of vitamins, it will not only manifest as skin problems but will often be accompanied by other symptoms. For instance, a vitamin A deficiency can cause eye and vision abnormalities (such as night blindness, conjunctival and corneal xerosis, keratitis sicca, and keratomalacia, but not myopia), a B vitamin deficiency can lead to nervous system abnormalities, and a vitamin C deficiency can cause scurvy. If you only have hangnails around your nails, it is most likely a local skin abnormality and not a reflection of a systemic disease, nor is it caused by a vitamin deficiency.
Many people believe that if a lack of vitamins can cause illness, it might as well be beneficial to supplement them, since it can't do any harm. But the fact is that more vitamins are not always better; excessive intake of some vitamins (such as vitamins A and B6) can lead to various diseases and even poisoning.
Some studies have shown that taking selenium, beta-carotene, and vitamin E can increase the risk of esophageal cancer in the elderly, while taking vitamin D and calcium can increase the risk of kidney stones. In one clinical trial, a group taking multivitamin tablets had a higher proportion of subjects who developed prostate cancer.[3] We cannot deny the important physiological roles of vitamins, but these experiments also remind us from the side that a balanced nutritional intake is most important; too much is as bad as too little.