Question2 questions:
1. The nail on my big toe has a split in the middle that doesn't go away. What's the cause and fix.
2. Peeling finger nails. What is cause and fix.
THANK YOU.
AnswerThere are numerous reasons that nails split and peel and it would be impossible for me to tell you exactly what's causing it without a LOT more information. Ultimately, even a trip to a doctor might never answer the question.
That being said, fingernails often peel due to nutritional problems-- Biotin can help with nail health and growth; dehydration-- drink lots of water, use a botanical oil (such as Jojoba) to condition and rehydrate dry nails and cuticles, always wash hands and apply oil or lotion after using household cleaning products, gardening, or swimming, and just plain avoid Armorall! That stuff is horrible on hands; age and heredity-- sorry, not much you can do about these things; previous injury to the nail plate or matrix-- again, not much you can do if this is the case; or mechanical stress to the nail plate caused by daily routine-- this is the easiest to diagnose and the one most easily fixed. Especially if the peeling consistently happens on only one or two nails, do you use your nails as tools? To scratch off labels, sticky residue from things, to clean your grout, etc? Do you talk with your hands a lot? Most people who talk with their hands also drop their hands when they've made their point, often allowing their fingertips and nails to crash against whatever surface is directly below them. I CRINGE everytime I have a client do this against my desk! but most people are totally oblivious to their actions. Also, many people mash their index fingers against the table or desktop when they are making a point in conversation-- also horrible on the nails!
Pay close attention to what you do with your hands throughout the day and see if you can track down behavior that puts stress against the fingernails that peel. If you work with paper or money, the paper will absorb the moisture from your skin and nails. It'll take getting into the routine of using cuticle oil several times a day to replenish that moisture if you're serious about reversing the peeling.
There are also several products on the market designed to treat peeling in natural nails and weekly manicures will help.
For the toe: my first bet is that if you wear close-toed shoes, they are too small. I don't know why we women insist on wearing shoes that don't fit, but we do. I see damage to big and baby toes ALL THE TIME caused by ill-fitting shoes. Make sure your toe nail does NOT touch the inside of your shoes. There's a good chance that constant rubbing against the very end of the shoe or against the top of the shoe is causing damage to your toe nail. There's also a good chance that it might never grow back quite right again if this has been happening for a very long time.
There's also a possibility that the splitting toe nail is caused by the same thing that's causing your peeling finger nails. And it's possible that no matter what you do, that nail will always split when it grows out to a certain length, which can be really annoying on a toenail if it's splitting very low.
Honestly-- I'd recommend that you go consult with a good pedicurist. One that works in an up-scale, reputable spa and specializes in natural nail care. Someone who can physically look at and touch your nails and give you her professional opinion about what's causing the problems and how to address them. Or see a doctor. In almost every case I see in person, the problem could be helped, if not fixed entirely, by the client just adding mani/pedi care to her regular grooming routine. But changing your lifestyle to take better care of your nails takes a lot of effort for most people-- and the clients I see who are concerned about it either end up opting for gel overlays, or living with the splitting, peeling nails.
