Why does my little toenail keep splitting?

Why does my little toenail keep splitting?

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.

Why does my toenail grow split vertically?

Vertically splitting nails is a condition known as Onychorrhexis. It’s commonly caused by overexposure, through constantly washing and drying hands, whether just through daily life or frequent manicures, making them dry and brittle.

Why do I have two pinky toenails?

Double toenails are most likely the initial form of a hexadactyly (a sixth finger or toe). It is a recessive feature, so it may skip a few generations.

What should you do if your toenail cracked in half?

Trim off the detached part of a large tear, or leave the nail alone.

1. Cover the nail with tape or an adhesive bandage until the nail has grown out enough to protect the finger or toe.
2. If you trim off the detached nail, you will have less worry about the nail catching and tearing.

What vitamin deficiency causes cracked toenails?

Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficiency causes of cracked nails. The body also requires proteins and B vitamins to effectively build strong, healthy nails.

Will a split nail repair itself?

After a nail separates from the nail bed for whatever reason, it will not reattach. A new nail will have to grow back in its place. Nails grow back slowly. It takes about 6 months for a fingernail and up to 18 months for a toenail to grow back.

How do I stop my toenails from splitting vertically?

Here are some tips for preventing split nails:

1. Keep your nails clean and healthy.
2. Refrain from keeping your hands or feet in water for long periods.
3. Use moisturizer on your nails and cuticles.
4. Use nail hardening products if necessary.
5. Don’t bite or pick around your nails.
6. Refrain from using nail polish remover.

How do you get rid of a second pinky toenail?

Removal. Many people do not request or seek out removal, as the accessory nail typically does not cause symptoms. Surgical or chemical matricectomy, or complete removal or destruction of the nail matrix, has been used for successful removal of the accessory toenail.

Can a split nail heal itself?

What causes a split nail with a pterygium?

Pterygium formation is a result of scarring of the nail unit and subsequent adherence of the proximal nail fold to the nail bed. It can be seen in a range of conditions, such as trauma, bullous diseases (for example, epidermolysis bullosa), ischaemia and infection, or may be the result of lymphocyte-mediated immune destruction of the nail unit.

What does pterygium look like on a finger?

Pterygium isn’t always obvious. Pterygium is a medical condition in which the skin grabs onto the nail plate and grows forward as the nail grows out, making the nail look as if the cuticle is growing over it. In even more unusual cases, the skin of the fingertips is attached to the underside of the nail.

What can you put on a pterygium nail?

The treatment includes topical steroids which actually look like lotions or creams. These anti-inflammatory medications can heal nail pterygium greatly. Sometimes, a cortisone injection is pushed at the matrix of the nail as the final non-surgical treatment.

Can a nail technician mistake pterygium for a cuticle?

Nail technicians can easily mistake overgrown cuticles for pterygium, says Dr. Nia Terezakis, a New Orleans dermatologist who treats nail diseases. If a technician thinks she sees the condition, Terezakis cautions, chances are it’s actually a case of badly overgrown cuticles—what she calls “pseudo-pterygium.”