I've had that problem for years. I use Gold Bond hand lotion BUT I use HOOF, a bamboo based nail strengthener and I now have to clip my nails back (and file). I found it at Walmart. True, DO have your doctor do a full blood workup, and if there's nothing in that, then find some HOOF. It's similar to a clear base polish.

Gelatin is actually NOT a good source of protein. Common myth easily dispelled by reading the nutrition label.

Walmart sells a vitamin for Hair, Nails, & Skin. It's been working for me & I'm 67. It has Biotin.

The thing that cured my nails of splitting like that was a product called ProStrong I get at QVC. I just use the strengthener, not any of the other products. It lasts a long time. I am "elderly" so have that nail problem, and hypothyroid, on drugs for years, but all the creams I tried didn't help, just the ProStrong. I keep a supply on hand. It paints on like water - use twice a day.

Have you ever considered taking fish oil as a supplement? Helps with my nails and dry eye. It's also good for the heart (omega 3).

I use Extra Virgin Olive Oil......in place of any kind of lotions.....none seem to do the job and I have wasted tons of money on useless products. I wash my hands well in fairly hot water to open the pores.....then message the EVOO into my skin..... it absorbs very well and not at all greasy. Just wait a few minutes after applying. Helps to eliminate those painful hangnails also.

I happened upon this by accident..... My hubby is bedridden and his skin is sewwwwwwwwww dang dry and nothing helped to eliminate the the extreme dryness.... so I went on a mission to find SOMETHING that would help. Since olive oil is the only oil I use to cook with.....and I love the stuff..... I said to myself....... just maybe if it is sewwwww good for ones health...why not the skin. WELLLLLL it worked wonders on my hubby...... and no more scaly dry, dry skin. No chemicals to harm you with either. All NATURAL!

BTW........ I've always had very dry skin ...I now save a fortune on useless face creams also........ and my skin is as soft as a babies b--- :) and has a very healthy glow to it....even though it does show signs of wear and tear. :( Such is life..... I earned every single wrinkle and not ashamed of any one of them. :)

I'm on it now. (Was this for me?) if not sorry!!

Eat more jello, worked for me.

Hi Mim, My nails always have done this when I was a teen,young woman, middle aged. Then when I went thru. the CHANGE,Doc told me to use Calcium with vit. D. Been using it since I was in my late 50's. I am now 66. I really didn't notice my nails because like you I kept them cut short. They would just peel,sometimes on one corner, or middle. I could take my nail from opposite hand and peel the nail up.
Just before I moved to Ga. in 2005, Had been running from Hurricane Jeanne. I am a south FL. Transplant. I noticed my nails had grown LONG!!!! and they were hard. My nails havent peel off since then. I can let them grow long now but don't because they get in my way, not used to haveing them long. But anyways I do really believe it is the calcium and the vit. D is a necessity for the body to obsorb the calcium. I use Caltrate.
Now My nails are just long enough to see the white nail and that is the length I usually keep them. A lady that does manicures told me every night when I shower or Bath to use opposite thumb nail to push cuticles off nail bed. Hot water makes them soft and your thumb nail makes the best cuticle pusher there is. It Works no painful cuticles.
Good luck BillsBonBon

For dry cuticles, I use Carmex - yep the stuff we use on our lips. If my hands get really dry, I'll use it there, too. It usually solves the problem in one or two applications.