r/nailhealth

First pic is my left hand, second is my right hand just put those 2 fingers for that one since I had nail polish on the rest after painting my toenails

25F | 160 cm | 52 kg

I’ve had these white lines/marks on my fingernails for as long as I can remember. They seem to come and go over the years. Sometimes they’re barely visible or disappear completely, and then they come back.

This time it’s different because the white lines are present on all of my fingernails on both hands, and they’re very symmetrical. I don’t have any pain or other nail symptoms.

Has anyone seen something like this before? Could this be a normal variation, or is it something I should get checked out? I’m curious what might cause white lines that appear so uniformly across all nails.

My middle finger was slammed in a car door years ago. In recent years the nail has a tendency to split down the middle; often into the nail bed which has forced me to cut it shorter and shorter over the years. Sometimes I have had to file the whole nail back to the point of bleeding so that there’s no opportunity for snagging which would force the split even further down the nail bed.
Gel polish has offered some structure, but the nail would still split and snag.

In the last 4 years I have been working as a chemist and at a local pool. I always wear gloves, but my nails are noticeably weaker than ever (think bendy like a slice of cheese). Not painting or getting my nails done makes little difference. I recently discovered silk wraps (Swiss silk with pre applied adhesive) and this seemed to help structurally. My nails are longer than they’ve been in ages. This seemed to help immensely, until today.

I just removed my gel polish to see that my nail is connected to very little of the bed and the split, which was previously a faint line, is now distinctly pale.
WTF is happening??? Am I going to lose my nail?

Note: I have been using Beetles gel polish and Vitagel Strength base coat. I rarely do my nails, but have been doing designs at home. And I sanitize my tools in heavy duty Lysol disinfectant.

For years, I have had my fingernails like this.

I cant remember when the issues started but I know I was a child.

I have to cut down the side of the fingernails, both sides of the nail itself, on 3 fingers on each hand. Otherwise they grow into the skin and start becoming very painful.

Once cut, i also have to cut off/out hard skin from the side or the top where the nail will grow (sometimes bleeding)

As you can see, they are not good and I want to try and fix them. I am over doing this and I have even thought about getting them removed permanently. Anyone got any tips on how to fix this?

I do gel x at home, I haven’t had problems until this last time of doing my nails. I noticed the day after my fingers near my cuticles were swollen and the tip of my fingers too. The weird thing is that, it doesn’t hurt or itch like a reaction would typically be. I don’t know what’s wrong, I’ll insert a picture. If anything knows what it is pls tell me! I want to fix this.

EDIT: After thinking about what I did, i honestly might think it’s the acetone that did this. I usually just break off a cotton ball to fit the nail exactly but this time I just used a cotton square. I drenched it in acetone and honestly it probably wrapped around my whole finger. I don’t think it’s the gel that did this. I do every step the same except this time. Can Acetone cause that?

One of the big toenails started turning yellow and weird around 2 to 3 years ago and has stayed like that. Around a month ago or so, the other big toenail experienced the same thing. I did some fungus nail analysis and it said theres no fungus. My doctor is a bit stunned and just gave me some nail vitamins. There is also some pus present at the base of one of them. What can I do to fix this?

I was taking off my gel x set cause it was lifting and all nails came off fine and non damaged but I was taking my pinky off and it has snapped , before anyone says I have overfilled the nails before doing the gel x I only lightly buffed with a buffing block . I was going to just trim it but the nail that’s at the free edge is still attached to my nail bed.

For now I’m just putting a plaster over it .

any tips on how to fix it would be appreciated

I got my nails done 12 days ago but the tip broke off at work 2 days ago, is it too soon to get a fill , should I just get the one nail fixed, or just leave it for another week? * Real nail is fine!

Hey guys, I really need some help!!

I've been getting my nails done for a while. I used to get gel a few years ago, then stopped for quite some time. Over the past year I've started getting them done regularly again, but nothing seems to last.

Every set starts lifting and eventually just falls off after about 10 days. It doesn't even crack or chip, the whole thing just pops off in one piece. I've been to multiple salons and several different nail techs, including some really highly recommended ones, so I don't think it's just the application.

So far I've tried:

• BIAB
• Polygel
• Gel overlay
• Fibre/plant base (not sure of the exact name.

Nothing has made a difference.

The weird thing is my natural nails have become so weak and sensitive that they feel strange to touch, and I ended up cutting them really short. I also have to keep them clean and sometimes polished due to my profession.

I used to take Perfectil and my nails were completely fine back then, but now it feels like nothing works.

Has anyone had this happen before or know what could be causing it? Is it something to do with my nails, a vitamin deficiency, or anything else? I'd really appreciate any tips because I'm honestly tired of paying to get them redone every 10 days. Thanks so much!

I am so happy for my mom’s nail progress. They look so much better from where she first started. her natural nails have never gotten past 1/16 of an inch on the free edge in while without being brittle and breaking. Her nails have made a remarkable improvement using this base coat, cuticle serum and nail cream have made a significant difference in her nail health. She has noticed a more soft appearance on the skin around her nails. Her nails look better and her confidence about her nails has improved. I’m so grateful, and she is quite pleased.

#Sponsored
#KerasalPartner

i use gel polish but stopped for a couple of months and recently started using it again. not sure if that’s why though. anyone know how i can stop this?

and how do I get rid of it 😭 I’ve had it for a long time now, I can trim it a tiny bit but if I try to cut down too far it bleeds and is really painful. I was thinking infected hangnail but I haven’t seen any others where the hangnail is so thick? Pics taken today after I caught it on something and it started bleeding

About six months ago, I noticed a change in the color of my toenails, including darker pigmented bands. On my right index toe, there is a thin line running through the center, with additional discoloration on the sides.

I initially saw a podiatrist, who took nail clippings to test for fungus. The results came back negative, but I didn’t receive a clear explanation for the discoloration.

A couple of weeks ago, I saw a dermatologist and asked whether it could be nail cancer. She mentioned it looked like melanonychia and also took nail clippings for fungal testing. I recently received a call from her office saying the results showed onychodystrophy, and she would like me to return for a follow-up to discuss treatment options. I’m scheduled to go back next week.

I’m feeling a bit anxious because I want a clear understanding of the cause. I’d prefer to be fully certain that nail cancer is ruled out, even if that means doing a biopsy rather than relying on clinical confidence alone. I’d appreciate any thoughts on what I should ask or discuss at my appointment. Thanks!

TW!!! BLOOD
Hi everyone. I had an accident back in 2022 where I severely injured my big toenail, and at the hospital they had to remove the entire nail.
It does grow back, but ever since then I’ve had an ongoing problem. Sometimes blood pools underneath the nail, making it turn black, and eventually the nail falls off. Other times, I barely bump or hit my toe, even very lightly, and the nail starts lifting and falls off again.
It doesn’t usually hurt much, but it’s frustrating because it keeps happening over and over. The nail never seems to stay attached long-term like a normal toenail.
Has anyone experienced something similar after having a toenail removed? Is this normal years later, or could there be permanent damage to the nail bed or matrix? Were you able to do anything that helped?
Thanks in advance!

24F. EU. 5'10, no medical issues, non-smoker, no drinking no medication.

So only the two big toenails look like this. I did paint them dark blue/green and tried removing the shellac at home with nail polish remover on cotton buds for a few minutes. I then only peeled it off like a sticker super easily. But this is what my nails currently look like. The layer isn't thick, it hasn't hardened at all, texture feels the same on the entire nail surface, no pain. Is it fungus, nail damage, color/shellac residue? I've had shellac before and this didnt happen. Never had fungus, athlete's foot or nail infections in the past.

I had a nail fall off in January due to a small injury and the entire time it was about to fall off it was unbelievably painful on the entire surface. It grew back within a month and a half. Now it doesnt hurt at all but it looks like this. Any insights please?

23F Not sure what to do but my cuticle to my knuckle is swollen, not really burning or anything but really uncomfortable

58 yr old type 2 diabetic. I take metformin, glipizide and lisinopril. I don't specifically recall stubbing my right big toe. I do however have some shoes that are rather tight fitting. I get monthly pedicures. I always monitor my feet for any changes. Last August I went for usual pedicure and when polish was removed, there was a bruise. My toe looked comp normal the month before. I went to a doctor who sent photo to a dermatologist who concurred it was a bruise and would grow out. 10 months later..it looks the same. I now have some tenderness when wearing shoes except open toe sandals. Any idea what this truly is? First photo is when initially found. Second photo is now.

I used to get my nails done as a way to stop biting them. Since I stopped they are worse than ever and I pick and bite them without even noticing. Any suggestions would be much appreciated!

I’ve been battling toenail fungus and finally decided to use an e-file to thin the nail down as much as possible so topical treatments can actually penetrate.

The thinning process went fine overall, but the entire center portion of the nail ended up crumbling and coming off completely. Right now, it isn't sensitive, throbbing, or painful at all.

However, I'm left with these thin side pieces sticking out. I’m heavily debating whether I should just rip or pull them off to get a completely "clean slate" for a fresh nail to grow back. They are extremely thin and feel like they might just catch on my socks anyway.

Has anyone else dealt with a self-debrided nail looking like this? Should I leave the side pieces alone and just file down the sharp edges, or is it better to pull them off if they are already loose?

Appreciate any advice or similar experiences!

38M. The earliest I remember having this issue was as a teenager. No pain, discomfort, or trauma to them. I went to my derm last October, and he took once look and said "oh, they're just dry", prescribed me a bottle of ammonium lactate lotion, instructed me to apply twice daily, and in about six months or so, I should start to see them look, well, not like this anymore. I'm almost ten months into this treatment and the lotion somewhat works in between applications, but these lines do eventually come right back.

Was my derm's diagnosis correct? Is it just dryness? Am I to apply this lotion to them twice a day for the rest of my life? Or is there something else going on? Is there a more permanent solution?

Additionally, my right big toenail has had this chip on the edge of the top layer for years too. As the nail grows, the chip keep growing down towards the cuticle, so I can never get to a point where I can clip it off.

Any help or insight? These are unsightly to me , I'm self-conscious about them, and want to be rid of it forever if it's possible. I just want healthy nails and to be able to confidently walk in public barefoot or in sandals!

Let me know if you would like more info.

Thanks in advance.