General Chat

My foot care lady wasn't too helpful, either ............... and not helped by the fact she is Ebglish as Second language and wears a mask while she is working!

So I'm carrying on with the cut nail short, and protect with a plaster (have to say Band-Aid over here, as "plaster" gets a strange look ;-) )

My podiatrist wasn’t really much help, she said what she sees is usually from injuries, such as kicking a football.

She had a spray she used on them but thought what I was doing was about right but hadn’t’t come across the fault line we have.

Strange ....................

I have the "foot person" coming tomorrow, she comes once a month to treat feet in our own suites and rooms. She does a great job, but some people maintain she is not a podiatrist. I don't know, we just say that she's coming!

I had decided that I would ask her if she knew what to do for toe nails!

Nice to ‘see’ you Sylvia.

I’m having to cut it right back now and the white line is still as long as it was. But at least I now know I’m not alone ;-) annoyingly it is my index finger so very prone to catching on everything - lucky one doesn’t wear nylons anymore.

I’m off to the podiatrist tomorrow so will try and get a chance to ask what they would advise for toe nails in the hope it might help.

I've been prompted to return, having stayed away far too long.

nameless ..................

I'm having this exact same problem, with the little finger on my left hand.

I've had some of the same suggestions to you, but have resorted to cutting the nail as short as I can and then continually wearing an ordinary plaster covering it. That stops the split bit catching on everything and pulling it apart.

The white line has shortened slightly from being about 3/4 of the way down to the cuticle to about halfway.

It's slow but steady improvement, I hope!!

Thanks Grannyfranny

I think the stuff I bought does the same job.

I had to wait for daylight ( or dull light) this morning to have a good look. The fault line, which shows as white still goes under the cuticle, If was to grow out I think I would be seeing signs by now. Looks like I’ve got to live with it :-\

I had one of those some years ago. My hairdresser, who also did nails, made a 'false' nail, a powder mix, which she graded neatly towards the cuticle. I left it on to grow out, which it did very neatly, and the split had healed.

I wouldn't normally have this sort of nail fitted but it did work.

Yes, hope that someone can offer help, it sounds annoying besides a bit worrying. It does mentio thick moisture cream, you could try that.

Yes I did thanks. Don't want to start taking supplements until my dental tratment is over. I've recently had my standard blood test and notheing showed up on that but I didn't mention the issue.

I've got some Mavala shiled stuff to paint on but deosn't work for long - nails still catch and rip.

Hopefully a fellow sufferer will have some advice.

I suspect that you have tried googling but if not, this is what I found.

Fingernails splitting vertically, known as onychorrhexis, often indicates dryness, aging, trauma, or nutritional issues, disrupting the nail matrix where the nail forms, leading to brittle nails with ridges. Causes range from excessive water/chemical exposure, aggressive manicures, and dehydration to underlying conditions like thyroid issues, eczema, or anemia. Treatment involves moisturization, avoiding harsh chemicals, nail protection, and sometimes biotin supplements, but persistent splitting warrants a doctor's visit to rule out deeper health problems.
Common Causes

Aging: A very common cause, especially after menopause, due to reduced lipids and water content.
Trauma: Injury to the nail matrix (base of the nail) from impact or aggressive manicuring.
Dehydration: Both internal (not drinking enough water) and external (frequent wet/dry cycles, harsh soaps).
Chemical Exposure: Acetone, strong cleaning agents, and certain nail products.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of vitamins or minerals, though supplements aren't always effective.
Skin Conditions: Eczema, psoriasis, or atopic dermatitis.
Underlying Health Issues: Thyroid disorders, anemia, or, rarely, tumors.

What You Can Do

Moisturize: Use thick creams with lanolin, glycerin, or AHA to lock in moisture.
Protect: Wear gloves for wet work, use gentle nail polish removers (acetone-free).
Strengthen: Consider a nail strengthener or a nail wrap for immediate support.
Supplement: Biotin (Vitamin B7) may help, but results take months as nails grow slowly.
Gentle Care: Avoid aggressive filing or cuticle cutting.

When to See a Doctor

If splits are accompanied by pain, redness, swelling, or signs of infection.
If splitting is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms like fatigue or skin changes.
To rule out underlying medical conditions like thyroid disease or anemia.

Any ideas please on what to do plaease.

A few weeks ago there was a tiny chip in a finger nail which wouldn't rub down and now it keeps opening up and catching - you can see a fault line all the way down from tip to bottom. Now a thumb nail seems to going the same way.

I've never worn nail polish so it is not a case of the polish drying the nails.