Onychoschizia
Causes:
-Repeated over-filing or aggressive prep
-Gel/acrylic removal trauma (prying, peeling, drilling too deep)
-Excessive acetone exposure
-Dehydration of the nail plate
-Wearing enhancements continuously with no recovery time
In this case, with careful prep and high quality product, I was able to heal her nail in 6 weeks. She had this split nail for years before seeing me.
From my personal experience, dealing with onychoschizia can be frustrating, especially when the nail splitting seems persistent despite treatment. One key lesson I learned is the importance of giving your nails time to breathe between enhancement procedures. Wearing gel or acrylic nails continuously without breaks can dehydrate the nail plate, exacerbating splitting. Additionally, being gentle during nail prep is crucial. Avoid aggressive filing or peeling off enhancements, as this can cause microtrauma. Instead, opt for professional removal or soft soaking methods to minimize damage. I also found that limiting acetone exposure helps maintain nail hydration. When removing polish or enhancements, try to reduce soak time or use acetone alternatives when possible. Lastly, maintaining overall nail health with regular moisturizing treatments and balanced nutrition supports stronger nail growth, helping to prevent onychoschizia reoccurrence.
My fingernails had been like this my whole life and I never had gel/acrylics