How Do I Stop My Nails From Splitting Vertically

Finger Nail Splitting And Hypothyroidism

libralady13

Hello, I have been hypothyroid for over 20 years. Years ago I started to notice a problem with my left thumb which would keep splitting vertically.

Over the years it has spread to about 5 of my fingers at different times. I have to keep nails shorter than I would like like but they still split. Just be chance the other day I read online that vertical splitting is caused by under active thyroid. Anyone have this same problem and have you found a solution. Thanks.

1 like, 37 replies

• I have not noticed any splitting but I have quite ridged nails on my fingers.

  I also have an underactive thyroid so it could be due to that.

  Hope you find an answer

  kind regards

• Posted 7 years ago

  Thanks for yur reply. I have ridged lines in my nails but I have had them since I can remember but they have got worse as I have got older . Perhaps it is called to connected to the thyroid.

  All the best to you.

How Do I Stop My Nails From Splitting Vertically ~ Causes

Ways To Avoid Vertical Splitting Of NailsUse A Moisturizing Cream, Before hammering the nail through the wood, you may sufferEven though most of my newfound nail health can be attributed to my nail routine, Mixture of honey and lime has to be applied three times in a week over the split fingernails, like any other beauty practice, and Prevention

Here are some tips for preventing split nails: Keep your nails clean and healthy, Stack Your Anchor Blocks, Refrain from keeping your hands or feet in water for long periods, You can also stop it if you avoid nail-biting, For this method, You should also follow good nail hygiene and avoid biting your fingernails.

Avoid Biting Your Nails

If you want to see improvement in your nail health? Then you should stop biting your nails now.

Biting your nails will not only render and makes your nails prone to splitting, but you may also ingest a lot of harmful bacteria into your system which might be harmful to your overall health.

There are lots of actionable ways to nail this habit for good though but you need to find out what triggers you to go after your nails first. If you can identify that which makes you go after those nails then youre halfway to putting an end to this habit for good.

Another great way to stop picking at your nails is by coating them with bad tasting polishes. This polish are best known as anti-nail-biting polish. They help deter the urge and some of them has a dual-action. What this means is, they dont only stop you from going after your nails, they also help to promotes nail growth.

Still, confused on what to do to stop? Heres an in-depth article I wrote a few months back on Nail-biting. You really should check it out

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Common Horizontal And Vertical Split Nails Causes

Nail splitting is often caused by repeated trauma or pressure which applied to the nail. Fingernails and toenails are made of a protein called keratin. Weakness and splitting of the nail may also be caused by various nutritional problems and lack of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. There are more reasons for weak, brittle nails such as exposure to chemicals, nail cosmetics, lack of moisture or on the other hand repetitive wetting of hands and nails.

Trauma Injury or trauma can damage the nail bed and matrix. Both horizontal and vertical nail splits can occur as a result of hits, injuries or severe pressure to the nail. Read Our Tips on How To Repair Damaged Nail Bed After Acrylics, Gels Or Injury.

Repetitive wetting& drying hands repetitive washing and drying are a known cause for having dry, soft, splitting nails. Therefore, onychoschizia is a very common situation among those who work with water, such as nurses, cleaners, and hairdressers.

Nail cosmetics some nail products such as acetone-based nail polish removers can be the reason for dry and split nails, some hardeners and nail polishes can also be the cause.

Exposure to chemicals exposure to salts, solvents, alkalis and acids which can often be found in our household cleaning products, can damage our nails.

Health problems Dry and brittle nails can occasionally occur in those who suffer from Health issues such as fungal infection, hypothyroidism, Psoriasis, diabetes and more.

Dont Pick At Or Bite Your Nails

The skin, including nails, responds to outside stimuli by thickening. By not picking at your nails or the skin around them, youre decreasing the chances of causing nail irregularities, says Noelani González, MD, board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai West in New York. Identifying the triggers that cause you to pick at or bite your nails and learning how to manage them can help you hit the brakes on future nail damage.

Read Also: How Do I Get Nail Polish Out Of Clothes

Fingernails Keep Splitting Heres What To Do

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Contents On This Page

Fingernails Keep Splitting: If your nails are always dry, theyre said to brittle, and when this happens, a split is bound to happen.

Dry, brittle nails are the major causes of split nails. How then can you prevent your nails from getting dry? Youll find out soon in this article.

In this article, Im going to tell you the exact reason why

• Your fingernails keep splitting
• How to treat and stop your nails from splitting
• And when to see a doctor.

But before I do that, heres a short story for you.

Biotin Is Probably The Best Supplement Ingredient To Possibly Help Brittle Nails

I tell patients to go to their favorite, high-quality natural food store and ask the vitamin specialist for their best nail formula. It’s important to know that many of the ingredients in these supplements are lavishly present in whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, natural oils, beans, and fish.

Eating a richly nutritious diet is key to supporting healthy nails and vitamin supplements should be used in addition to, not in place of, a healthy diet.

Be patient. Your fingernails grow slowly at a rate of about 1mm per month. As you age, the growth slows down even more. This means it will take several months for the dry and split portion of your nails to grow out.

If your entire nail is brittle, it could take as long as a year for your nails to improve. Keep up the good nail care, nutritious diet and your vitamin supplements, hang in there and don’t give up!

Lastly, there are internal diseases that can affect splitting fingernails, the most common being thyroid problems and anemia. Some skin diseases affect the nails as well and cause splitting. If your nails don’t improve, see your doctor.

References:

Abdullah L, Abbas O., Common nail changes and disorders in older people: Diagnosis and management.Can Fam Physician. 2011 57:173181.

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How To Fix A Split Nail

This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006.wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. This article received 20 testimonials and 86% of readers who voted found it helpful, earning it our reader-approved status. This article has been viewed 580,025 times.

Having a split nail can be painful and inconvenient. When your nail is split, you always have to worry about catching it on something that could rip it even further. Thats why repairing your split nail is so important. Not only does repairing the split help prevent the nail for tearing any further, it also allows you to strategically cover up the unsightly split with nail polish.

What Are Cracked Nails

Healthy nails are smooth, with no spots or discoloration. They donât have pits or grooves, although they may have vertical ridges. Nails that are cracked, split, or brittle can sometimes be a sign of a health problem.

Learn what causes cracked nails, and find out what steps to take to get the problem under control.

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Post By Casii On Mar 7 2015 1: 2: 01 Gmt

How To A Correct A Vertical Split In The Nail

I have a client who has been coming to me every two weeks for about four months. She originally came to me with a vertical split going up her nail toward the cuticle on both of her thumbs. It appeared that it was only splitting about 1/8th of an inch from the free edge. But as time has gone on I notice that it doesnt ever grow out because there is a ridge that travels completely to the cuticle. She moisturizes daily and has even been using various nail strengtheners. I dont know how to correct this. Please help!

Answer

Splitting is a sign of something gone wrong with the formation process of the nail plate. A nail split can be from problems in either the nail bed or lunula. The problem causing the split can be inherited from your family, or it can be a recent development. Inherited cases are usually on symmetric sides of the body, and non-inherited causes are usually only on one side of your body. The type of split also gives you a lot of information. A split that is a straight clean line may be due to trauma or a tumor, while a split that is jagged but symmetric may be due to a nervous tick. You can also look for signs of scar damage to the lunula, cuticle, and surrounding area. It is a good idea to get evaluated by a dermatologist who knows nail disease well. Dr. Rashid M. Rashid is a house staff dermatologist at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and director of the nail, hair, and skin disease division of the Morzak Center.

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What Does Vertical Splits In Fingernails Mean

Split nails are common. They can affect both fingernails and toenails and are usually the result of physical trauma, such as an object crushing them. However, wear and tear, as well as nutrient deficiencies, are also potential causes. In some cases, a person can take preventive measures to avoid splitting their nails.

How Do You Repair A Split Nail

There are a multitude of techniques suggested for repairing split nails. There are silk nail wraps, nail glue, and even a method using a tea bag, but thats only to help fix it cosmetically. This temporary fix will not help the nail issue long-term and could even make the problem worse. Trim the nail if you need to, and make sure it wont be a hindrance to your daily activities. Use a band-aid or even wear gloves when doing chores so the split nail will not get caught on any clothing etc. Once the nail begins to grow out and become more manageable, be extra cautious with the split nails. Apply a hydrating nail product several times a day and soon your nail will be restored.

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When Should I See A Doctor

The answer is simple. whenever you feel pain or discomfort, visit your doctor.

If youre experiencing one of this symptoms, you might have a severe nail split case and you should visit a doctor:

• Your nail split all the way up to the nail bed
• If youre noticed nail discoloration or having purple white or blue nails
• If its painful to touch
• Distorted and deformed nails

This wont cure your nail splitting problem. This fix is only a temporary cosmetic fix.

Those are the things that can help you cure your nails:

• Use a moisturizer daily after washing hands
• Use gloves when working with chemicals
• Avoid long exposure to water
• Strengthen your nails by maintaining good nutrition
• See your doctor

Did you liked our Horizontal and Vertical Split Nails Causes and Fix article?

When To See A Provider

Vertical pigmented streak

The most serious nail concern is a vertical pigmented streak on a single nail.

Sometimes this occurs just from having darker skin tones, but other times atypical moles or deadly skin cancers, melanomas, arise under the nail in the matrix. This can result in a vertical pigmented streak.

Anyone with a vertical pigmented streak should see a provider skilled in looking at nail disease, Stratman said. Sometimes a biopsy is necessary to determine the nature of the pigmented streak.

Talk to your doctor

It is okay to seek professional advice on any nail concern. Seeing a dermatologist, podiatrist, hand specialist or other professionals skilled in management of nail disease is a good first step to getting correct information.

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What Do Nails Look Like With Anemia

Brittle Nails: Anemia or Thyroid DiseaseAnemia is a condition where your body lacks enough hemoglobin, a protein that carries oxygen from your lungs to the rest of your body. While fatigue is the leading sign of anemia, this condition can also show itself through brittle or spoon-shaped nails called koilonychia.

Why Do My Nails Keep Splitting

A key factor in split nails is that they are extremely dry, so you need to work on hydrating and moisturizing your nails. You should have a good daily hand cream, keep your nails trimmed to a healthy length, and wear gloves whenever you are encountering harsh chemicals. Another factor that can lead to split nails is whether you are biting your nails, which can lead to split edges or vulnerable nail beds.

Also Check: How To Get Child To Stop Biting Nails

Glue Nail Repair Method

This is the simplest method and it only involves using glue.

Splitting Nails : Causes And Treatment Tips

Disclaimer: Results are not guaranteed*** and may vary from person to person***.

Do you have soft, brittle, or split nails? Do you suffer from splitting nails? These conditions are attributed to a variety of causes, including dryness stemming from environmental factors or an existing health condition. Nail splitting is more common among women than men, and knowing why your nails split can help to determine treatment to prevent further damage. Lets look at split nails causes to better protect our fingertips.

Our nails contain keratin, the same protein as in our hair strands. Cracked nails are medically referred to as onychoschizia, a disorder describing soft, brittle, thin, and splitting nails on fingers or toes, or the splitting of nail beds. Soft and brittle nails have too much moisture, while dry and brittle and dry nails do not have enough moisture. With nails brittle and peeling, it can signal an internal issue or external damage. We depend on our fingernails to assist in picking up objects and guard against injury of the tips of our fingers.

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