How To Fix A Split Nail: Causes, Treatment, And Prevention

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Medical News TodaySubscribeHow to fix split nails and why they happen

Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on January 22, 2024

Treatments and home remedies
Causes
Contacting a doctor
Prevention
Summary

Split nails can result from physical trauma, an infection, or a condition such as psoriasis. Tips to fix a split nail include using adhesive, applying a gel and silk wrap, and treating an underlying cause.

In some cases, a person can take preventive measures to avoid splitting their nails. In other cases, splitting a nail may be unavoidable.

When a nail splits, a person may be able to use at-home methods to fix the issue. However, if the split is severe enough or affects the nail bed, a person may require medical treatment.

Keep reading for more information on possible causes, treatments, and prevention tips.

Treatments and home remedies

A person treating a split nail. -1 — Klaus Vedfelt/Getty Images

Most of the treatment options for split nails are home remedies. Home remedies usually involve fixing the nail in place and improving its appearance until the break grows out.

All home remedies are ways to hide or hold the nail together until the split disappears.

Try glue

One potential home remedy involves reattaching the nail with glue.

For this method, try applying a very small amount of adhesive to the detached nail and then use gentle pressure to push the nail back together.

After the glue has set, if a person wishes to hide the break, they can paint their nail.

Use a tea bag

Another home remedy involves using a tea bag.

For this method, a person can try cutting a nail-sized portion from an ordinary tea bag. Then, they can use a brush with adhesive to glue the piece of tea bag in place.

Once the glue sets, a person can buff the nail and paint over it if they wish.

Try a gel and silk wrap

Another potential remedy is to try a gel and silk wrap to hold the nail in place.

Similar to the tea bag method, the gel and silk wrap method involves using a nail-sized piece of silk wrap, placing it against the broken nail, and applying a gel coat.

Once set, a person can buff the nail and apply polish.

Use a fake nail

A final potential home remedy involves using a fake nail. In this case, a person can either remove the piece that is splitting off or leave it in place.

A person can apply a fake nail to just the broken nail or to all of them.

Medical treatments

In some cases, a person may require medical treatment.

For example, psoriasis can damage a person’s nail bed. Taking medication to control psoriasis can help prevent damage to the nails.

In other cases, a person may have an acute infection from fungi, yeast, or bacteria. These infections require antifungal or antibiotic treatments to help prevent further damage to the nails.

Causes

There are many common causes of nail splitting, the medical term for which is onychoschizia.

A split can occur across the nail, or it could split the nail vertically.

Some of the most common causes of nail splitting include the following.

Trauma or injury

Fingers and fingernails are easy to injure. People can catch them in doors, pinch them under a heavy object, or catch them on something and cause a rip.

Any number of traumatic events can cause a small or large split. If the injury is severe, it may also affect the nail bed.

Biting or picking

A common symptom of anxiety is picking or biting at the nails. When this occurs regularly, the nail’s strength decreases. This can lead to them splitting more easily.

In other cases, someone may split a nail while picking at it.

Excessive exposure to moisture

Keeping the nails well hydrated is important to their health, but constantly exposing them to water can weaken a person’s nails.

People may have excessive exposure to moisture when they:

spend a long time in a pool
do the dishes frequently
submerge the hands in bathwater

Frequent use of nail polish can also weaken the nails, making them easier to split.

Nail psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition that affects the skin, causing outbreaks of red scaly areas and patches, or plaques.

Psoriasis can also affect the nails. Mostly, nail psoriasis develops years after psoriasis begins. It is also possible to have nail psoriasis with no signs of psoriasis on the skin.

Psoriasis may weaken nails and make them more prone to splitting.

Common signs of nail psoriasis include:

dents in the nails called “nail pits”
nail discoloration that may be white, brown, or yellow
crumbling or splitting nails
blood under the nail

Other underlying conditions

Though much less common, several potential underlying conditions can cause nails to split more easily.

Some potential conditions include:

bacterial, fungal, or yeast infections
thyroid disease
kidney disease
skin cancers
liver disease

»MORE:Get a skin condition evaluation in as little as 15 minutes with Optum Now Online Care.

Optum Now is operated by RVO Health. By clicking on this link, we may receive a commission. Learn more.

When to contact a doctor

In cases of severe nail splits, a person may need to see a healthcare professional.

They may need to remove the nail completely. They may also need to stitch the nail bed. If possible, they may reattach the nail using either stitches or glue.

A person should contact a healthcare professional if they notice any of the following symptoms, as they may require additional medical treatment:

nails that appear distorted
a bluish or purplish color to the nail
ingrown nails
painful nails
a white color appearing under nails
horizontal ridges on the nails

Prevention

It is not always possible to prevent split nails. However, a person can take certain precautions and make lifestyle changes to help prevent nail damage.

Some tips and tricks include:

maintaining a healthful diet rich in vitamins and minerals, though split nails only very rarely occur due to poor nutrition
taking biotin supplements, a B vitamin that promotes healthy nails, but only with a doctor’s consent
moisturizing the nails and cuticles regularly
avoiding excessive exposure to water
wearing gloves when using cleaning chemicals or washing the dishes
avoiding the use of harsh nail polish remover
giving the nails a break from polishes and gels
avoiding pulling at hangnails
wearing adequate protection and using caution when working with the hands

Summary

Fixing a split nail often involves a home remedy that either mends it, such as with glue, or hides it, such as with a fake nail.

If a person’s nail is severely split, causes constant pain, or appears infected, a person should seek medical attention to fix the nail and address any potential underlying issues.

Preventing split nails usually involves a combination of lifestyle measures, such as wearing gloves while doing chores and not exposing the nails to harsh chemicals.

Dermatology
Pain / Anesthetics

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesMedical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Brittle splitting nails. (n.d.).https://www.aocd.org/page/BrittleSplittingNail
Structure of the nails. (2021).https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK513133/
What is nail psoriasis, and how can I treat it? (2023).https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/psoriasis/treatment/genitals/nails

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Medically reviewed by Cynthia Cobb, DNP, APRN, WHNP-BC, FAANP — Written by Jenna Fletcher — Updated on January 22, 2024

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