Medicine
Fact-checked

At TheHealthBoard, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

How do I Treat a Split Toenail?

Erica Stratton
Erica Stratton

The way to treat a split toenail can range from simple home remedies to professional care, depending on how severe it is. Generally, a combination of time and care is all you need. If your toe is bleeding, bruised, inflammed, or extremely painful, you should go to a doctor. How well and how quickly toenail injuries heal largely depends on finding the root cause and preventing further damage.

Underlying Causes

Treat severe toenail splits with antibacterial cream to prevent infection.
Treat severe toenail splits with antibacterial cream to prevent infection.

Try to pinpoint the cause of the split toenail before deciding on a treatment method. Forging ahead without determining the underlying issue may delay healing and make the injury worse. For instance, moisturizing a toenail that split because of a fungal infection will just exacerbate the issue.

Physical injuries, like those caused by slamming your toe in a door or dropping something heavy on it, are among the most common causes of toenail damage. Things like dancing, running, or even hiking can also increase the risk of a split toenail, as can frequent exposure to water and extremely dry conditions. Several medical conditions are also associated with this toenail problems, like hypothyroidism, various skin diseases, poor circulation, eating disorders, and malnutrition. Using lots of strong nail polish remover or exposing your hands to chemicals and harsh soaps can also make nails brittle.

Treating Minor Damage

Trim your toenails regularly to help to prevent toenail splits.
Trim your toenails regularly to help to prevent toenail splits.

Minor, horizontal and vertical splits take small chips out of the nail, and do not involve the skin underneath. You can generally just trim or file off the entire affected area. If you regularly get small chips or splits, you may want to consider taking a supplement to strengthen your nails, or seeing a doctor to rule out the possibility of a fungal infection or other health problem.

Treating Moderate Damage

Seal moderate toenail splits with clear nail polish to facilitate quick healing.
Seal moderate toenail splits with clear nail polish to facilitate quick healing.

Moderate toenail cracks are deeper and longer than minor ones, and require more care. The main focus here is keeping the nail together until it grows out enough that you can trim the split part off. You can do this by painting over the split with superglue or nail polish. Another method is to paint your nail with the clear polish, and then put a small piece of an empty tea bag or coffee filter over the area before the polish dries. Once it dries, it will hold the paper in place, which keep the nail together.

Superglue can be used to hold a split toenail together, but it may cause skin irritation.
Superglue can be used to hold a split toenail together, but it may cause skin irritation.

You may also want to see a pedicurist to help with moderate damage. Depending on how serious the crack is, he or she may be able to fill it in with glue and paint over it, or apply false nails. While the split is healing, you may need to renew your pedicure as often as every one to two weeks, though this depends on how fast your toenails grow.

Treating Severe Damage

Exposing the nails to polish remover regularly can weaken them, causing them to split.
Exposing the nails to polish remover regularly can weaken them, causing them to split.

Severe toenail splits are usually caused by blunt force trauma to the toe. They are much longer, deeper, and more painful than moderate ones, and are generally accompanied by skin damage, bruising, bleeding, infection, and even broken bones. To treat a severe split toenail, clean the area with an antiseptic solution or an antibacterial cream, and then bandage it to decrease the risk of infection. If the nail completely detaches from its bed, then the only thing you can do is to clean the area and protect it with a bandage until a new one grows back. You may need to see a doctor for antibiotics if the toe becomes inflamed, swollen, or discharges pus.

Prevention

It may be advisable to file away the impacted area using a nail file.
It may be advisable to file away the impacted area using a nail file.

After treating your split toenail, you should take a few steps to prevent future problems. An important preventative measure is proper hygiene. Keep your toenails trimmed fairly short to avoid snagging them on socks and hosiery, and keep your feet and toes clean to prevent fungal infections. You should also make sure to moisturize your toenails if you're often in very dry environments, and use appropriate footwear when participating in physical activities. If your toenail is in the process of healing, avoid doing things that could re-injure it, like playing sports or wearing tight shoes.

Discussion Comments

pms13681

Split toenail -- is this important for a diabetic?

anon304007

I've always had a fairly deep horizontal crack on the beginning of my great toe and sometimes the pressure is so bad, I feel it will one day just snap off completely.

Yesterday, I was out dancing and some guy slipped on a wet floor and landed right on my toe. The force was terrible and even after a few drinks, the pain was still unbearable, so I went to sit down for a short while. The minute I got back up on my feet, somebody else stood on the same toe -- in the same place.

Now, roughly 23 hours later, I'm sitting still, not moving my feet at all and I can still feel the pulsation of pain. They hurt at the best of times anyway, because of the crack and weight going down on the end half of the toenail from shoes. But this truly is the worst it's ever been. Pain relief for this would be handy.

anon149606

my mom used to use tea tree oil to help her nails while she was going through chemo. it worked great for her!

panda2006

When I get split toenails from running, it can be pretty painful. I have tried in the past to put bandages on the exposed nail to keep it from bleeding or bruising, but they usually fall off. These days I just try to wear a really thick pair of socks, or even two pairs of socks, to help protect the toe.

sherlock87

While I don't know if it can ever be what causes toenails to split, wearing nail polish on your finger or toe nails for long can cause a dramatic discoloration. The polish keeps the nail from getting any oxygen, so it can turn yellow over time.

Another problem caused by nail polish is that if you apply it and then remove it too constantly, the repeated use of remover can make your nail thinner and weaker, which can make it break or split more easily.

Catapult

My mother has had a split fingernail for many years, and I always wondered why; I think it might have originally been a combination of these dryness and malnutrition factors, though I still don't know. She has never gone to a doctor for the problem, at least not to my knowledge.

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Treat severe toenail splits with antibacterial cream to prevent infection.
      By: carroteater
      Treat severe toenail splits with antibacterial cream to prevent infection.
    • Trim your toenails regularly to help to prevent toenail splits.
      By: ibphoto
      Trim your toenails regularly to help to prevent toenail splits.
    • Seal moderate toenail splits with clear nail polish to facilitate quick healing.
      By: Africa Studio
      Seal moderate toenail splits with clear nail polish to facilitate quick healing.
    • Superglue can be used to hold a split toenail together, but it may cause skin irritation.
      By: SimpleVision
      Superglue can be used to hold a split toenail together, but it may cause skin irritation.
    • Exposing the nails to polish remover regularly can weaken them, causing them to split.
      By: travis manley
      Exposing the nails to polish remover regularly can weaken them, causing them to split.
    • It may be advisable to file away the impacted area using a nail file.
      By: terex
      It may be advisable to file away the impacted area using a nail file.