Nail Care · Element Journal
Peeling nails: common causes and what to do
Nails usually peel because their layers have dried out and come apart, most often from repeated wetting and drying, harsh cleaners, or rough removal of gel and acrylic. Gloves, daily oil, a shorter length and gentle filing tend to help over a few months, and anything painful or discolored belongs with a doctor. To shield peeling tips while they grow out, a Builder Gel Manicure at Element Nail Bar in Plantation starts at $70 and takes about 60 minutes.
What is happening when a nail peels
Each fingernail is many thin sheets of keratin pressed together. When the bond between those sheets weakens, they separate and start flaking, usually at the free edge. Doctors call it onychoschizia, although most people just call it peeling.
The tip goes first because it is the oldest part of the nail and has taken the most wear. Once a layer has split, it cannot fuse back together, so the split stays until it grows out and gets trimmed.
Peeling is a little different from a crack that runs lengthwise from the tip toward the cuticle. The two can show up together, and a long crack can tear down into the sensitive skin, so that kind deserves more caution.
The everyday causes
Any of these can be enough on its own, and most people with peeling nails can point to two or three.
South Florida adds a couple of its own. Frequent swims mean extra wet-and-dry cycles plus chlorine or salt, and strong air conditioning keeps indoor air dry even on humid days. Length plays a part anywhere, since a longer nail takes more leverage at the tip.
- Hands in water many times a day, from dishes to long showers
- Dish soap, cleaning products and hand sanitizer
- Frequent acetone without moisture afterward
- Picking or peeling off gel, which lifts layers with it
- Sawing back and forth with a coarse file
- Scraping labels or prying lids with your nails
- Natural dryness that comes with age
A quick clue from your toes
Compare your fingernails with your toenails. If only your fingernails peel, the likely cause is something your hands are doing, because toes stay out of the dishwater. If both are peeling, something else may be involved, and a doctor would want to hear about it.
Look at which fingers are worst too. Peeling limited to the thumb or index finger often points to a habit, like picking, tapping on a keyboard with long nails or opening cans. Neither clue is a diagnosis, although both are useful details to bring to an appointment.
What usually helps
A coat of polish or gel can act as a barrier against water and hold loose layers in place. A Gel Manicure starts at $45 and takes about 45 minutes at Element, and removal added to a service starts at $10, which beats peeling it off yourself.
Pulling at a loose flake is tempting, and it usually tears the split deeper. Oil soaks in more readily on nails that were just washed and dried, so right after a bedtime hand wash is a good moment. Improvement shows up as new nail reaches the tip, so give these habits at least two or three months.
- Wear gloves for wet chores
- Work oil or thick cream into the nail and under the tip every night
- Trim to a length that does not snag
- Smooth split edges with a fine file, moving in one direction
- Stop picking, and have gel soaked off properly
Signs that call for a doctor
Low iron, thyroid problems, skin conditions and fungal infections can all affect nails, and only a clinician can sort those out. Bring any of the following to a doctor or dermatologist, and hold off on enhancements until you have an answer.
- Yellow, green or dark discoloration
- A nail separating from the skin beneath it
- Swelling, pain or pus around a nail
- Toenails peeling along with fingernails
- Unusual tiredness or thinning hair at the same time
- No improvement after about three months of careful habits
Questions guests ask
Can a vitamin deficiency cause peeling nails?
It can, although everyday wear is far more common. Low iron is one possibility doctors look for. Ask for a blood test before loading up on supplements, since a guess can miss the actual cause.
Should I stop getting gel if my nails peel?
Not necessarily. Peeling often comes from the way gel was removed more than from wearing it. Have it soaked off carefully and keep oil on your nails. If they are sore or very thin, take a break and ask your doctor.
Will peeling nails ever heal?
The split layers themselves will not repair, but they do grow out. A smoother edge appears gradually over the four to six months it takes a fingernail to replace itself, as long as the cause has stopped.
