Splitting Finger Nails - A Nightmare

[gl556tr]

I have been troubled with my finger nails splitting. I find myself having to file them almost daily, resulting in them exposing the end of the nail bed. I often wake up -- after filing them the previous night -- to find a small piece sticking up, barely 1 mm long. But I catch it on pullovers, for instance. Especially when travelling/shopping, it not seldom that I get home to find a part of a finger nail ripped off, exposing a bloody(yes!) nail bed, which is sensitive to pressure and sore. My GP gave me a prescription for a nail varnish. Prohibitively expensive for a 3.3 ml bottle, with no space for the name of effective medicine(s), one can imagine that this is soon used. Applying it nightly, morning washing is almost counter-productive.
I have also tried olive oil, and cream and donning cotton gloves before going to bed. Does anybody please have any knowledge in dealing successfully with splitting nails? In great hope, thank you all in advance.

[MallyJ]

The sun makes fingernails stronger.... mine are always worth showing off at this time of year... I can tell it is getting Autumnal when all (and I do mean all) break down to, what looks like, chewed childlike nails!! Nu nail cream is helpful too. The old one was eating cubes of jelly....not sure that worked though!

[Old_Geezer]

Mine are continually splitting vertically these days too. I put it down to age and nature's way of trying to depress older folk.

[gl556tr]

M & O_G, 1) I have not heard that finger nails, when exposed to the sun, are less likely to split.
2) I'm not sure that they split vertically, but all have vertical ridges.
I'm an OAP, but not depressed.

[dunnitall]

Finger nail problems usually relate to an underlying health problem. Have you googled it to see?

[atalanta]

Through your favourite search engine, search for CNDRX. My doctor recommended this, as she uses it herself. I have used it as directed, and am now on the second bottle. It is not expensive, but it does take time to have an effect. I have noticed a distinct reduction in flaking nails.

[rsvp]

Maybe a dietry thing? Must be awful for you - but, always use rubber gloves when washing up etc as hot water and washing up liquid is a death knell to nails and if you can bear it, wear light cotton gloves as often as you can throughout the remainder of the day - when I worked with horses my nails were rock hard because we used a product on the horses feet to promote good growth- we used to dig in with our hands and rub it in to the top of the hoof-(not sure if I can mention the brand name though but you are obviously computer literate so google 'promote good hoof growth in horses) - as nails grow from the bottom then it makes sense to feed them with a product which promotes healthy growth and it helps to eat the old fashioned jelly cubes - the ones you used to disolve in water to make jelly - very rich in geletine Also google foods to support good hair and nail health. Have you perhaps in the past bitten your nail because that will weaken them?

[Bathsheba2]

You have my sympathy, gl......the same thing happens to me, I'm forever having to get the emery board out to deal with a tiny piece of nail

Baths
x x x

[pastafreak]

Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

I've used this in the past with excellent results. I need to start using it again though as my split has come back. Apply 2-3 times a day...it really works.

[naomi24]

I have strong nails that grow as long as long I want them to so this might be a silly suggestion, but have you considered trying nail glue on the edges of your nails? That would 'stick' the sharp bits down and give the nails time to grow up a bit. Then you could cut them properly and hopefully keep them split-free.

[shaneystar2]

Get a good nail file which will help seal the edges.
The Leighton Denny one is expensive but brilliant.
Almond oil or vaseline rubbed in a daily basis might help too.
Splitting nails are also a sign of thyroid problems.

[Bathsheba2]

Thanks for the link, pasta,.I've bought some! Will let you all know how I get on ;)

Baths
x x x