One of the most common nail conditions seen by a dermatologist is Onychoschizia, also known as split nails. The most common cause of this problem is excessive exposure to chemicals, water, or dry conditions; anything that dries the nail. The term onychoschizia refers to a condition of brittle, cracked, thin, or soft nails and often includes ridged nails, and the condition is seen more often in women.

Some of the causes or risk factors involved with onychoschia are nails that dry out due to overexposure to water, chemicals, or dry air. A vitamin deficiency can also create the conditions of onychoschizia. Trauma to the area, excess nail polish remover, and some skin conditions can also contribute to the split. Onychoschizia is the technical term for splitting the nails and therefore the symptoms are quite obvious; the nail or toenail is split. It can start and even stay in a single horizontal split between the nail plate layers or it can be a vertical split on the nail or it can be multiple splits on one or more nails.

The best and most effective treatment and prevention of the split is to protect the area from the conditions that are causing the problem. This will often mean wearing protective gloves when in water or chemicals. The simple act of wearing cotton-lined rubber gloves when washing dishes or cleaning with chemicals can protect nails from drying conditions. Keep your nails trimmed and filed to avoid cracks, splits and chips while weak and brittle nails grow to prevent further damage and pain. Use a non-petroleum hand lotion or cream and rub into the area and cuticle to moisten and protect the nail. Finally, improve your body’s health and nutrition levels by taking a multivitamin and mineral supplement to help treat and prevent onychoschizia.

If you choose to use nail polish, be sure to use a nourishing base coat, avoid excessive exposure to harsh nail polish removers, and never scrape or peel the polish off the nail. When buffing the area, do so with the grain and nail growth and never back and forth against the grain as this can cause the area to split.

Onychoschizia can not only be painful as the area splits into the tender nail bed, but it can also allow harmful bacteria and fungi to enter the nail bed, allowing an infection to set in. Nail fungus can be difficult to treat and when it infiltrates under the nail into the nail bed it can create irreversible damage to the nail, including complete detachment of the nail. Nail fungus is common and people regularly come into contact with these spores without causing harm. In most cases, healthy, clean nails that do not have cracks, cuts, or other trauma will be protected from a fungal attack; however, damaged nails are the main breeding ground. Women who wear tight-fitting high-heeled closed-toe shoes often find that trauma to the shoe will cause onychoschizia and the dark, moist environment of the foot will allow a fungal attack to establish.