Why do my nails split down the middle?

Question

I will want to know why my two thumb nails keep splitting down the middle and have been doing so for a very long time. This has been going on for over a year now, and there seems to be no end in sight to this disturbing problem. Please can you help me discover the cause and the possible remedy?

Answer 1

This certainly sounds like a case of Onychoschizia, which is commonly referred to as nail splitting, but also known in some places as lamellar dystrophy or onychoschisis – a condition that is responsible for all horizontal splitting that affects the nail plate. Nail splitting always go hand-in-hand with onychorrhexis: ridging of the nail plate or longitudinal splitting. When combined, these two nail diseases are referred to as brittle nail syndrome.

• The most common of all causes of nail splitting is perhaps recurrent wetting & drying of the hands, therefore, this condition is, very common in people with jobs like house cleaning, nursing, hairdressing, etc.
• Nail cosmetics have also been linked with several cases of nail splitting, such as polish, hardeners, polish solvents/removers, etc. Other causes can include nail cleaning and painting procedures and over exposure to some toxic chemicals such as acids, cement, alkalis, solvents, salts, thioglycolates, sugar solutions, etc.
• Another factor that may play very prominent roles in the development of brittle nails is injury or trauma.
• Certain medical conditions can also be responsible for the occurrence of brittle nails, cases like gland malfunctions, tuberculosis, malnutrition and certain syndromes.
• People suffering skin diseases like psoriasis and lichen planus, and people under some kinds of oral medications that contains vitamin A, can also have issues of nail splitting.

Below are some tips to help you manage the condition:

1. Always insist on very balanced diets that contain lots of green and yellow vegetables, and a reasonable amount of protein.
2. Always ensure your nails are trimmed and neat.
3. When washing dishes, protect your nails by wearing rubber gloves.
4. Make sure an unscented moisturizing lotion is standing by the sink and apply it to your hands and nails whenever you wash and dry them.
5. To offset nail dryness, apply some clear Vaseline to the nails every evening.

The following link will help you with other ways of fixing this problem:

http://blackcatnails.com/how-to-fix-broken-torn-nail-quick-easy-method/

Answer 2

Why do my nails split down the middle? I was also have this question. I carried a broken thumbnail for several years. Six months ago, I repaired it without intending to do so. I used the method of beating the hell out of the broken nail, and getting rid of the entire nail. All of it has almost grown back, and it looks quite whole and unbroken. The entire process was much more inconvenient, painful, and gross than they make it appear. I wouldn't recommend it to anybody, though the thumbnail appears very Ok. There ought to be other less painful and more convenient medical methods of solving this problem. I used freestyle clumsiness, but don't use it because it is not the way to go about the broken nail issue.