Vertical split nails - any solution?

[Greenjersey]

I have a finger and a thumb nail that have vertical splits. This is probably partly age (60s) but got worse after having builder gel. As soon as the edge gets close to the top of my finger/ thumb they split and catch on everything. Ive been glueing bits of teabag over the splits with superglue (!) but it doesn't hold for longer than a couple of days.
Has anyone got any ideas?

I had this years ago on my thumb nail. I put nail hardener just on the tip where the split was, to stop it catching.

I started taking collagen in the hope that it would help my thinning hair (it didn't), but I think this is what fixed my nail in the end, although it took a long time. I take Edible Health, not the full dose but every day. It probably doesn't matter which you take. It's worth a try anyway.

Thanks, I'll try collagen. Ive tried the hair and nails vitamins but they did nothing

I had the same experience with collagen; took it for thinning hair, which didn’t work, but it helped with my vertically split thumb nails.

Also, do you use a hand cream, OP? I tend not to as consistently as I should, but a chiropodist acquaintance was sure that his nails were helped by the fact that he applied CCS foot cream to his clients' feet so often. So a really good cream might help your nails too.

I have vertical splits on my thumb nails too and have found cuticle oil (applied multiple times a day) has really helped. I'm tempted to try collagen too. Whilst the nails are split and catching on everything I find Hypafix tape to be the easiest solution. It's just a simple medical tape but it sticks brilliantly to nails so I use a small square to cover the split and it survives handwashing etc much better than normal plasters do.

I have a press on nail (natural colour) stuck over mine when it does that. It covers it up til it grows out and stops it catching on things.

You need biotin not collagen- I’m 7 weeks in and my nails no longer split

I am around your age and got builders gel for DS's wedding.
(they did look fabulous)

I have had to keep cutting them as short as possible because they were completely ruined-it's 3 months now and they are finally a bit healthier but I'll never do it again!!

I kept my split nail really short and eventually it did sort itself out but it took a long time

I must admit I'm a bit lazy with handcream. I hate rubber gloves so my hands are in water a lot which won't help. I have thought about stick on nails to cover the splits so I'll have a look for some that would match my other nails.
I'll try all your suggestions, thank you

I have used Biotin and also Collagen and I still get vertical splits at the middle tip of my nails.
I have bought Keratin builder from Manicurist.
Nothing has worked. My nails are, to use a very Irish expression, a holy show. 😢

I also used OPI Repair Mode Bond Building Nail Serum.
Definitely not cheap 😢
Nothing has worked 😢

I use semi cured gel nail stickers when mine do this. They're like gel nails but don't wreck your natural nail, I have grown out many a vertical and horizontal split with these as you cure them under a uv lamp and they go very hard. They come off quite easily with a bit of acetone and an orange stick. Lots of different makes, I like moyou and holy nails, and hundreds of designs. They're super easy to do too and last well if you look after them

Have you had your iron levels and thyroid checked recently OP.

My nails were a mess and after I started iron supplements they got much better.

Also, as a PP has said, it's biotin you need for your nails rather than collagen.

my big toe nail has split every summer for the last 10 years, then grows out in the winter. I did have one summer without a split and I think that was due to heavy duty moisturiser. I superglue the nail and then put a plaster as otherwise it catches on the bed sheets . I’d simply love to sort it out once and for all

Same experience here after gel nails, took six months for the nail to recover. I found keeping it short and applying daily/nightly cuticle oil and hand cream helped.