Vocal Voices

The nail on the index finger on my left hand appears to have a crack all along its length -tip to root - but it doesn't show until the nail has grown a few mm. Once it has grown a bit a nick appears and then it catches everything.

I have tried keeping the nail v. short and the edge smooth for the last month, or more, hoping that it would grow out, but it keeps coming back. Is there any way of getting rid of this.

I am left-handed and it is driving me mad.

Thanks everyone.

I have the same thing on one of my little toes. Luckily the split is quite near the outer edge. I know what you mean about cutting it down not working. What I have to do on my little toe is just to twist the part nail round and round and then simply rip it out. I know it sounds drastic, but anything else just leaves - like you say - an irritating bit that catches on everything.

Sorry, but that doesn't help you one bit. You obviously can't do that with such a larger portion of nail. I don't know what the answer is. I don't know what causes it either.

I think it's likely to be related to a health problem WM - ever since I first had cancer one of my fingernails has had a really sharp ridge down its length, which often splits at the top There doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it.
Just off to watch the jump but have you tried googling the exact problem??
Drives me mad too

Thanks to you both.

Rodo, I used to rip the cracked part to the edge and then let the rest grow, but as you say, it doesn't work.

Di, I will do a google, and if nothing turns up a trip to the doctor's might be in order. The thing is it's a nail, how bad can it be? Still hoping that there is a simple answer.

I will be interested to hear your findings!

Oh I didn't mean it as such is a problem, or that it means you have some dreadful undiagnosed illness
More that it's one of those mysterious ways in which the body reacts to what has happened to it.
Ridges on nails are recognised as indicators, but they're reactions, not first indications, and I rather think your 'crack' is just the same kind of thing as my sharp ridge.

There is a sort of nail polish which helps to stop nails cracking. It is not decorative and does not show. I sometimes use it as one of my nails on my left hand splits down the middle from the bottom to the top. None of the other nails are affected.
Will ask mrs.e what it is and where to buy it.

I understood that quite often nail damage is due to damage to the nail bed and it can go back years. So if you ever damaged the finger, below the nail you can have things like that happen afterwards and permanently

It isn't a crack in my case Cruiser. It grows up as two separate nails kind of thing. I think WM's problem is the same if I have read it right.

Yes MM, I rather think mine is there for good because it has been a good few years now and nothing changes.

You could always try a glue on nail WM.