Cracked fingernails: treatment and causes (why nails crack)

Origin and types of cracks

Normally, the surface of the nails is flesh-pink in color with an even texture. The location of the damage to the plate will help the specialist determine the causes of cracks in the fingernails and prescribe treatment so that a small problem does not develop into big troubles.

Types of cracking

Do not confuse cracking with natural or acquired unevenness of the plate. Cracks appear when the integrity of the nail is damaged. They are:

multiple or single;
on the internal or external surface;
transverse or longitudinal.

Quite often, the nail plate on the hands cracks along the regrown edge, the free area of the extended plate. This happens due to everyday negligence of the owner of long nails: peeling vegetables, mechanical stress during cleaning and other factors. The manicure, of course, will have to be adjusted, but there is no danger here (unless the plate has moved away from the soft tissues).

Causes for concern

The following situations have a pathological origin:

nail growing with a crack;
cracks extending to the nail bed and surrounding tissues;
multiple injuries or if the nail cracks along the plate : this cannot be done treatment

Transverse abnormalities appear due to inflammation of the nail plate, injury or infection during manicure. For the same reasons, marks and cracking appear on the inside of the nail. Longitudinal cracks are signs of problems in the body.

Massage with honey and lemon... Your nails will be happy.

Why not make a wonderful-smelling honey and lemon mixture? These two ingredients are ideal for healing, stress relief and protection. They're not just good for your nails, they're good for your entire body. But right now we want to protect our nails, so we'll be using this wonderful mixture directly on our nails.

Just combine these two ingredients. The best proportions are about four drops of lemon juice to two tablespoons of honey. If you have sensitive skin, you can reduce the amount of lemon. Lemon is sour and may cause irritation in some people. If you can't use juice, you can always grate some lemon zest into honey and still get the benefit.

Honey also has antibacterial and antifungal properties. If your brittle nails are caused by a fungal infection, you may be fighting the root cause of your problem. Honey is also full of antioxidants and vitamins to strengthen and protect against other damage in the future. You'll also get an extra layer of protection from the damage that polish causes to your nails.

Lemon, like honey, is chock full of vitamins that are great for protecting and healing your nails. Lemon juice can help brighten and clean your nails, and also helps retain moisture (remember, dryness is one of the things that makes nails brittle). Simply rub this mixture into your nails using massaging movements and then rinse with warm water. Repeat this procedure daily for 10-12 days.

This is an ideal method for those who regularly do acrylic or gel extensions

. It is equally useful for everyone, no matter what extension they use. And can even be used over the tops of the nails to protect the nail plate both while wearing extended nails and after removing them.

Once you are done with this treatment, use a moisturizer. One of the biggest problems with brittle nails is that they become seriously depleted, dry and painful. Fragility is a consequence of dryness, so you need to retain the moisture entering them by all means.

Vertical cracks: causes of trouble

Please note that longitudinal and transverse cracks in the nail of the thumb can occur due to its physiological purpose: the “grasping” finger is more often susceptible to damage than others. In other cases, there is social, household and medical impact.

Social impact

poor nutrition;
bad habits;
poor nail care.

Why do nails crack along the length ? Initially, the reasons lie in an unbalanced diet, addiction to nicotine and alcohol, and lack of nail care. Sooner or later, an unhealthy lifestyle and sloppiness will leave a negative imprint on one’s appearance, and a woman’s hands become the first target.

Household reasons

Aggressive effects of household chemicals, doing housework without protective gloves, poor quality - this is of successful women and men crack How these reasons work:

Chemical products for cleaning and sanitation of homes greatly dry out the dermis and destroy the nail plate. They have the ability to be absorbed into the surface of the nail, softening the stratum corneum. The result is vertical damage, delamination of the plate, and penetration of substances into the nail bed. The nails on the thumbs are especially susceptible to .
In the case of manicure, low-quality materials for processing/extension of nails, coating varnishes, violations of sanitary standards and techniques have a negative impact. The situation is typical for budget salons and home manicures.

Medical factors

The most difficult situations arise when the nail plates on the hands crack due to systemic failures of the body. Common reasons:

fungal infections of the plate;
eczema, psoriasis and other dermatological “surprises”;
diabetes mellitus, endocrine disorders (in such circumstances the nail already grows with cracks );
disruptions in the liver and gastrointestinal tract;
metabolic disorders;
lack of vitamins and minerals in the diet.

If the causes of cracks in the fingernails are of a medical nature, treatment is necessary.

What internal reasons lead to brittleness and splitting of nails?

Violation of the structure of the nail plate can be caused by various internal reasons that provoke a malnutrition of the nail tissue. These include:

poor nutrition or aggressive diets leading to insufficient intake of minerals and vitamins from food (deficiency of vitamins B5, B3, B1, A, C, E and D, iodine, silicon, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, zinc, phosphorus, iron);
period of active growth of children or adolescents;
stress;
chronic fatigue;
bad habits (smoking, alcohol, drugs);
onychomycosis (fungal diseases caused by Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton schoenleinii, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Epidermaphyton floccosum, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Alternaria, Aspergillus and other types of fungi);
hormonal disorders and endocrine diseases (diabetes mellitus, thyroid dysfunction, etc.);
psoriasis;
diseases of the kidneys and digestive organs (intestines, pancreas, etc.).

The reasons described above lead to disruption of the nutrition of the nail plate and changes in its structure. As a result, the nails begin to peel and break, and grooves, depressions, or areas of discoloration appear on them. In such cases, it is not possible to improve the appearance of nails with the help of external means, and you can get rid of the problem that has arisen only after eliminating the cause of its occurrence (i.e., treating the underlying disease, giving up bad habits, normalizing nutrition).

Restoration and treatment of cracked nails

Nails can be restored using traditional or official methods. Since it is difficult to find out the causes of troubles on your own, you should not neglect a medical examination. The examination begins in the therapy room. If necessary, the general practitioner connects narrow specialists.

Medical methods

Let's see what they do if the fingernail cracks vertically or the damage is extensive and covers the bed. The purpose depends on the cause of the pathology.

For vitamin deficiencies, special complexes are prescribed and the diet is adjusted. First, the doctor checks the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract, since even with a sufficient supply of substances, disturbances may appear due to disturbances in their absorption.
Fungal infections will require the use of antifungal drugs. There are a great many of them, but among the new products there are advertised “dummies”. Nystatin, Lamisil, Mycozoral, Clotrimazole, Lotseril have undergone clinical trials and are approved.
Endocrine and other systemic disruptions require complex treatment. When fingernails crack due to physiological changes (pregnancy or menopause), it is enough to add special supplements and nourish the nails with moisturizing, strengthening and nourishing hand and body creams Domix Green Professional.
Gastroenterologists treat gastrointestinal diseases. The diet must be adjusted, drugs for intestinal motility - Motilium, Motilak, Itomed - are added.

Traditional methods

We offer several methods, the safety of which has been confirmed by official medicine, and whose effectiveness has been proven in practice.

Soda or salt baths - they strengthen the plate and disinfect. Subsequent rubbing of 1-2 drops of wheat germ oil powerfully nourishes the damaged nail. The session lasts 20-30 minutes.
For cracks in the thumbnail and internal damage to the plate, treatment includes pharmaceutical preparations Panthenol, Solcoseryl or their analogues.
Masks made from honey, rye flour and glycerin are used as a natural regenerator. The latter substance can be replaced with cold-pressed olive oil. Keep the product for 20-30 minutes, it is better to wear insulating gloves on top.

Whatever methods are used, it takes at least 6 months to completely restore the damaged plate. So be patient and follow all instructions carefully.

Increasing vitamin E content

Vitamin E is very effective for strengthening nails. It is also one of the simplest vitamins that can be obtained from regular food. Fruits and vegetables are chock full of this vitamin, so it's time to change your diet to focus on vitamin E.

Rice. “Products containing vitamin E, table”

You see, vitamin E is an antioxidant for the body. It fights the creation of free radicals, which are well known to cause cancer. However, they do not simply increase the likelihood of cancer cells appearing. Free radicals can be the source of many cellular abnormalities. This includes a decrease in immunity.

Antioxidants are very effective for the immune system. With the immune system working properly, the body can fight both bacteria and fungi. This means you can deal with the sources of many nail infections.

You don't need to look for vitamin E in its pure form to apply it to your nails)). It will be quite simple to include more foods containing this vitamin in your diet. If you can't make it due to your diet or some other reasons, then why not use some vitamin E supplements?

And the best part is that you can use vitamin E and coconut oil at the same time. You will receive additional protection for your body and will help it fight infection, while at the same time getting stronger and healthier nails!

Prevention

Preventive measures include:

a diet rich in microelements and vitamins, maintaining a water regime - 1.5-2 liters of plain water daily;
quit smoking, minimize alcohol, exercise and get enough sleep;
full therapeutic examination approximately every 2-3 years;
the use of moisturizing and nourishing hand creams/masks, protective gloves when interacting with aggressive chemicals.

Particular attention is paid to the choice of salon. Look at the experience of the masters, the technologies and materials used, how disinfection and sterilization of manicure instruments is carried out. If you practice home manicure, purchase materials from trusted brands (for example, Lunail, Yoko, Mertz, E.Mi, VINAR) and professional equipment.