What should you know about ridged and brittle nails?

A ridge may run from the cuticle toward the tip, while brittle nails can split at the edge, peel in layers or break more easily. Looking at the pattern and whether it affects one nail or several helps guide the next step.

Repeated wet work, detergents, nail polish remover, picking and frequent manicures can leave the nail plate dry and fragile. Nails also change as they grow, so a shallow lengthwise ridge without pain or colour change may be less concerning than a new, deep groove or a distorted nail.

Thickening, crumbling, lifting from the nail bed, or a yellow or white change can occur with nail fungus. It can affect nails in different ways, and an examination can distinguish it from trauma, skin conditions and other causes of altered nail growth.

Keep nails comfortably short and file rough edges in one direction rather than tearing them. Apply a plain moisturiser to the nails and surrounding skin after washing, and use protective gloves for cleaning or prolonged contact with water.

Give nails a break from acrylics, gels and harsh removal products if they seem to worsen splitting. Avoid digging beneath the nail or cutting the cuticle, because small injuries can make the growing nail look irregular for some time.

Arrange an appointment if a nail change persists, spreads to other nails, becomes painful, or is accompanied by swelling, discharge or separation from the nail bed. A clinician can inspect the nail and nearby skin, ask about products and medicines, and decide whether testing or treatment is appropriate.

Seek prompt assessment for a new dark streak, a dark area that is enlarging, bleeding without a clear injury, or marked change in the skin around a nail. These changes deserve assessment even when the nail itself is not painful.

Ask whether the appearance fits irritation, an infection or another nail disorder, and whether a sample from the nail would clarify the cause. Mention recent salon treatments, handwashing or cleaning exposure, skin rashes, injuries and any change in colour or nail shape.