Fingernails are splitting in the middle

I’m having a similar problem and consider my diet nutrition filled. I also take vitamins and supplements. It’s frustrating.

My hair has also thinned along with the nail breakage.
I am tested for thyroid levels but no medication because it shows borderline results.
I just started with daily B complex.
The Dr says Biotin doesn’t work…or they can’t prove that it does.

I had hair loss due to telogen effluvion. (Happened after rapid major weight loss or post Covid syndrome). I also had Vit b12 deficiency, but that was fixed with injections. I guess I need to get tested for that again. And, revisit to ensure my calories are sufficient. I tend to limit my calories without meaning to.

I lost weight also with intermittent fasting but I didn’t think it would
effect my hair but… I’m thinking now it may have???

I have noticed that a lot of people I see who have lost a lot of weight have thin hair or even with bald spots. When I mentioned my hair shedding to my endocrinologist, who I see for type one diabetes, she said her first thought was the weight loss in a short time. My dermatologist agreed when I went to see her. Of course, it could have also been post covid syndrome, as it happened the same time that I got smell/taste disorder and some other symptoms. I just hope it does return. I’m going to the medication pretty soon, just to help it along.

I’ve lost about 70 pounds and most of it since September 2023. I’ve tried to keep it healthy and consulted with a nutritionist. Sept is also when I got covid. A lot of symptoms began at that time.

I have eczema and my nails come out of the cuticle split already and my actual nail beds are dried out too. It's not all my nails, like 5 but all of my nails are really bumpy, even if I file them, they will go back. They're thin, brittle and weak. I always thought it was the eczema

In general, diet will affect the condition of your nails, skin and hair. You know if you have low levels of iron, calcium, biotin etc that it manifests itself externally. It looks like everyone is covering the basis in trying to find a solution. I understand that rapid weight loss can cause the body to go into stress mode but should return to normal when the weight stabilizes.

Years ago I started putting a daily scope of powdered bovine collagen in my coffee. While my hair was fine I did have thin fingernails. Today I have thicker healthier nails and shiny hair. I am 83 next month and learned a long time ago to keep my nails away from as much water as possible. So I recommend wearing rubber gloves. Nails expand when wet and shrink when dry . Notice the difference between your toenails and fingernails. This back and forth process causes brittleness. I also keep a clear nail
polish on most of the time as an added layer of protection. I don’t use fake fingernails.

But I think diet is the ultimate culprit (aside from any organic problems) and, regardless of what one posters comment about her doctors opinion on biotin, I personally would give it a try after researching it. In the meantime perhaps the use of rubber gloves will help and hopefully clear nail polish can hide some of the damage.
Also remember to moisturize the cuticle area daily.

Good luck to everyone…any improvement might take awhile so patience is necessary as frustrating as all this is.

FL Mary

I guess adding one more supplement won’t hurt me. Lol I already take a bunch. It’s worth a try. Thanks for the tip.

Supplements can interfere with meds and too much will backfire. I take a lot of them only to have doctor stop it. My nails do that ridge and split. I am 73 and I get the "yeah but" from doctor. "At your age....that happens to folks."

Hi…I also was having consistent problems with splitting and peeling fingernails. I stopped using nail polish and nail polish remover and the problem has pretty much disappeared. I miss have fun and pretty nails, but I love having strong nails. Good luck!