Why do my toenails get so damaged when I paint them?

[Loooper]

I used to get regular pedicures, but for the last five years every time I remove the nail varnish my nails are really damaged - covered in white or brown spots. Same thing happens if I paint them at home. Every winter I treat them with oil and the damaged parts grow out, but every summer I paint them and the cycle repeats itself. I only use ‘normal’ nail polish (never permanent or gel) and always use acetone free remover. I use nail oil on the cuticles. I rarely paint my fingernails but they are in great condition, it’s just the toenails. Has anyone else had this? Apart from just not painting them, what can I do?

Having varnish on the nail without a break ultimately dehydrates them and leads to those marks
If you can, take a break between varnishing. Else use non acetone remover, use base coat, use nail oil even when varnished, and or consider natural/kind ranges of polish (nailberry breathable or I think there is a Barry m dupe).

I think just stop painting them for a while and see a chiropractor perhaps for some advice.

Chiropodist I meant 🫣

Mine go one worse... if painted they go almost chalky underneath. It's not fungal, it's purely when painted and they grow out perfectly normal. I've had to give up painting them entirely :(

I never had this problem until I got older. Several years before menopause I just found my skin, hair and nails drying out. My aspirin was to stop varnishing them, but maybe do a week on and a week off?

If you try a breathable nail polish it’s much better , I bought one from Barry M , quite cheap as well

Try breathable nail polish. I use Orly Breathable and Manicurist both of which you can get on amazon and they leaves my nails in much better condition than normal nail polish which makes them dry out and flake off.