Split Nails, Prevention and Treatment of Splitting
Fingernails and Toenails
If
you suffer from split nails (fingernails or toenails or both), then
you have come to the right place for therapeutic treatment advice and
support.
Note: The information on this site is non-medical. Splitting nails can
sometimes be a syptom of disease. Consult qualified medical personnel
for medical advice.
As our skin gets dryer due to weather or natural aging, our
fingernails and toenails tend to split more often. The medical term for
this is onychoschizia, and the splitting can happen because the nail
plates are brittle, soft, thin, frail or have ridges.
Women suffer more than men from broken, cracked nails, perhaps because
the most common cause of splitting nails is soaking in water (often
associated with dishwashing). Another cause of split fingernails is
fingernail polish remover. Fingernails can also be damaged by
accidentally hitting them.
To avoid split nails, you shoule avoid the things that cause them:
- Wear rubber gloves when washing dishes.
- Don't let solvents like paint thinner and overn cleaner
contact your nails.
- Avoid long tub baths.
- Apply lanolin or jojoba lotions to the nails before and
after exposure to water.
- Avoid damaging your nails...easier said than done, of
course,
but don't use your nails for prying or pushing any more than necessary.
Here are recommendations for preventing and treating split nails:
- Short nails are less likely to suffer damage than long
nails.
- Wear gloves when performing tasks that may damage the
nails.
- Wear nail polish, including nail polish with fibers that
strengthen the nails.
- Use wooden instruments, rather than metal, to push back the
cuticle.
- Keep nail tips rounded to a smooth curve.
- Some supplements, including gelatin, certain vitamins and
minerals may help nails grow faster and stronger.
About Healthy and Split
Nails