Liam Carter
Nails can split in layers due to a number of reasons, including injuries, fungal infections, or underlying conditions like nail psoriasis. This condition is known as onychoschizia, which causes horizontal splits across the width of the nail. Nails can also split vertically, which is known as onychorrhexis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Nails are damaged, weak, or brittle |
| Appearance | Vertical or horizontal cracks, or splits into layers |
| Possible underlying conditions | Fungal infections, nail psoriasis, or less commonly, nail fungus |
| Treatment | Trimming the nail, covering the split with nail wraps and nail polish, anti-fungal medication, dietary supplements, or psoriasis treatments |
| Prevention | Keeping nails short and clean |
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What You'll Learn
Horizontal nail splits (across the width of the nail) are known as onychoschizia
Onychoschizia can be caused by nail biting or picking, which is often a side effect of anxiety or stress. It can also be caused by injuries, fungal infections, or underlying conditions like nail psoriasis. If you have onychoschizia, you can often treat it at home by trimming the nail and covering the split with nail wraps and nail polish. If your nails don't improve or you have severe pain, separation, or discoloration, see your healthcare provider. You may need anti-fungal medications, dietary supplements, or psoriasis treatments to heal and prevent split nails.
Onychoschizia is sometimes seen alongside another common nail condition called onychorrhexis, which involves longitudinal (across the length of the nail) splits or ridges in the nail plate. These conditions alone or together are sometimes simply called "brittle nails".
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Vertical nail splits (across the length of the nail) are known as onychorrhexis
Frequent wetting and drying of the hands is the most common cause of brittle nails. However, nail biting or picking can also damage nails, making them brittle, uneven and prone to splitting. This can cause pain and bleeding, as the nail biter or picker may damage the tissues underneath and surrounding the nail. Nail biting or picking is often a side effect of anxiety or stress.
If you have split your nail, you can often treat it at home by trimming the nail and covering the split with nail wraps and nail polish. However, see your healthcare provider for treatment if your nails don't improve or you have severe pain, separation or discolouration. You may need anti-fungal medication, dietary supplements or psoriasis treatments to heal and prevent split nails.
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Nail fungus can cause nails to split
Nails can split when they're damaged, weak, or brittle. One of the most common causes of nail splitting is frequent wetting and drying of the hands. Nails can also split due to injuries, fungal infections, or underlying conditions like nail psoriasis. Nail fungus can cause nails to split, and it can be identified by a white line that splits the nail vertically or horizontally. If you have nail fungus, you may need anti-fungal medication to heal and prevent further splitting.
Nail splitting can also be caused by nail biting or picking, which is often a side effect of anxiety or stress. This can damage the tissues underneath and surrounding the nail, causing pain and bleeding. If you split your nail, you can often treat it at home by trimming the nail and covering the split with nail wraps and nail polish. However, if your nails don't improve or you have severe pain, separation, or discoloration, you should see your healthcare provider for treatment.
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Psoriasis can cause nails to split
Nails can split when they are damaged, weak or brittle. This can be caused by picking or biting your nails, which can damage the tissues underneath and surrounding the nail, causing pain and bleeding. Nail biting or picking is often a side effect of anxiety or stress. Nails can also split due to frequent wetting and drying of the hands, which is the most common cause of brittle nails.
Nails can also split due to underlying conditions such as nail psoriasis. Psoriasis is a condition that causes horizontal splits across the width of the nail. It can also cause vertical splits, which often look like a single white line starting from the tip of the nail and moving towards the cuticle. These splits are often surrounded by white discolouration or some redness if the nail bed is bleeding.
If you have nail psoriasis, you may need psoriasis treatments to heal and prevent split nails. You should see your healthcare provider for treatment if your nails don't improve or you have severe pain, separation or discolouration. Keeping your nails short and clean will typically help prevent nail splits if you are otherwise healthy.
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Brittle nails can cause nails to split
Brittle nails are most commonly caused by frequent wetting and drying of the hands. However, they can also be caused by nail biting or picking, which can be a side effect of anxiety or stress. Nails can also become brittle and prone to splitting due to injuries, fungal infections, or underlying conditions like nail psoriasis.
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Frequently asked questions
Nails split in layers when they are damaged, weak, or brittle. This can be caused by nail biting or picking, which is often a side effect of anxiety or stress.
Nails that split in layers can have a single white line vertically or horizontally. They can also have some redness if the nail bed is bleeding.
You can treat nails that are splitting in layers at home by trimming the nail and covering the split with nail wraps and nail polish.
If your nails don't improve, you should see your healthcare provider for treatment. You may need anti-fungal medications, dietary supplements, or psoriasis treatments to heal and prevent split nails.
To prevent your nails from splitting in layers, keep your nails short and clean.
