I have had a problem for about a month with my fingernails on my right hand only. I am right handed. They started splitting and peeling. As soon as they started splitting I trimmed them straight across beacuse I would find myself snagging material, etc. Then they would split even more. It is to the point now that my nails are trimmed down to the quick and they hurt.
I spoke with an aestheticism and she suggested that I purchase a nail covering product that does not contain formaldehyde and see if that helps. It did not.
I have not used any new detergent, shampoo, soap, or any other product. It just seems so weird that this has only occurred on one hand and not the other. I wear rubber gloves when doing dishes to protect them from the hot water and the detergent. Can anyone suggest a treatment to help me and also has anyone else run into this predicament?
Thank you for any help you can offer.
Joesgirl from Beverly, MA
I started having the same problem about six months ago. I finally read that the problem is caused because we are aging and that is how our nails react to the process. Isn't that great. I tried all sorts of products too and they didn't work very well. The best advice is to keep your nails as short as possible and to moisturize your hands constantly.
Hope this helps. (01/04/2007)
By Diane
I am one of the lucky ones, so to speak. I have to trim my nails regularly. But I have had the problem of splitting on occasion. Instead of cutting, use the soft side of an emery board to trim the bad section off, as soon as it starts to split. Even though the "straight across" is a style option, in my opinion, it is proper to file your nails along with the shape of your cuticle. If you have square cuticles, the squared off is the best way to go. Clipping adds to the splitting. Watch the clippers as they snip your nails, they are bending them, so file instead.
The longest set of nails I've ever had were when I was on prenatal vitamins. So you may be lacking something in your diet. Review your diet changes, if any, and modify as necessary to obtain the vitamins you are missing. Oh, after giving birth to my son, a nurse entered my room with nail clippers and attempted to cut my nails. I had had a bad delivery, breach, and hemorrhaged, but she was not going to cut my nails. My mom filed them down for me, this allowed them to keep from splitting and hanging on the blankets and things.
Hope something in here helps.
Tina (01/04/2007)
By Tina Brown
I asked my dermatologist, while being checked for skin cancers, about my soft, splitting and peeling nails. She said "Its dry nails" and gave me a sample of Elon, which is a lanolin based cream. It helped, but I bought a tube of plain old lanolin from the pharmacy for $2.00 that works just as good and is much cheaper. (01/04/2007)
By Syd's 2¢
After biting my nails for many years, they would not grow at all. They split and flaked and I had just about given up when someone told me about OPI Nail Envy. It is not cheap, but I won't be without it now. My nails are strong and looking good for the first time ever. (01/04/2007)
I never had my fingernails split until I started to regularly use nail polish. Then I used the kind that is supposed to keep nails from splitting. Until I forgot to use the polish for about a month and my nails started to grow back strong as ever. My advise is to stop using anything on your nails and take a good multivitamin each day. I bet that would help. I have also heard of rubbing almond oil into your nails each night before bed. Hope this helps. (01/04/2007)
By Margie M.
You may want to have the iron levels in your blood checked. Anemia can cause this problem. I have been soaking my nails in warm olive oil nightly, then massaging the oil in to increase circulation. This has helped a lot, but when my iron level is low it is less effective. Good luck. (01/04/2007)
By Tanya
For the first time in my life, I have solved this problem for myself. I take two tablespoons of silica gel daily for about three weeks or so when I see that my nails are beginning to shred or soften. Works like a charm. Silica gel can be purchased in vitamin shops or drug stores that carry a lot of vitamins. (01/05/2007)
By D. M.
Dehydration will also make your nails split and peel. I have a tendency to not drink as much water in the winter and it never fails that my nails will start splitting, peeling, etc.
By sfrench1124
Have you changed your diet? Have you started taking a new medication? My nails have split and cracked for years. I manicure once a week and use Sally Hanson Super Strong Micro-Fiber base coat. That's all I use except for rubber gloves, and I have nails of steel. Any polish with fiber in it will work. File snags as they appear and I file all my nails with each manicure to smooth them out or to shorten them. Never use clippers to cut your nails. Wishing you strong beautiful nails, Ellen (01/05/2007)
By ellen
Forgot to tell you that 2 thin coats are better than 1 thick one. Ellen (01/05/2007)
By ellen
Just buy Biotin at any health food store like GNC. 2500 units works. My hair was falling out and my nails were damaged. Within 3 weeks I saw a difference and now I have beautiful nails and my hair is growing back. i still take one a day. Try it. (01/11/2007)
By Carol
I have had this problem for years. It seems to be worse in stressful times of my life. Stress prevents proper blood circulation to our extremities thus fingernails do not get the proper nourishment when we are stressed (or so I have been told). I know if go on a vacation and relax in the sun (with sunscreen) my nails improve. I get some relief, if I take Knox gelatin daily and use olive oil on fingers tips and nails. (05/31/2007)
By Sheila
I came here to find a cure, and got some good leads. Meanwhile I'll continue to treat the symptom with a tiny drop of cyanoacrylate (crazy glue). This prevents the split from catching clothing or growing longer and into the quick. (06/26/2008)
By Steve
Your fingernails can only be as healthy as your cuticles, from which they grow. Religiously rub a dab of cuticle cream into your cuticles and on your nails every night at bedtime (just keep it on your bedside table). Most especially in the winter. You'll notice a difference.
Sometimes I also wonder if nail splitting and flaking can be worsened by using a metal fingernail file, versus an emery board, etc.
(10/07/2008)
By Susan
I had years of nail splitting. I had been taken Biotin without any change. All of a sudden I noticed they weren't splitting anymore and also getting thicker. I had started taking a one a day vitamin for women from Wal-mart (their brand). I also started drinking 2 glasses of milk a day. There are other supplements I take, but I am not sure they are what caused the difference. (07/13/2009)
By Pat
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