Which action is most likely to cause a nail tip to crack?

Which action is most likely to cause a nail tip to crack?

• A. Using a metal file aggressively
• B. Soaking nails in oil
• C. Trimming with fingernail clippers
• D. Applying sunscreen

Answer: (C)

Crack risk at the nail tip comes from stress concentrating at a damaged edge. Trimming with fingernail clippers can leave a sharp, uneven, or overly thin free edge. That jagged edge becomes a weak point where bending and daily forces cause a crack to start and propagate. When done carefully, clipping is less risky, but improper clipping—cutting too close, leaving uneven edges, or creating micro-tears—creates the conditions for a crack. So this action is most likely to produce a cracked tip. Soaking nails in oil helps by keeping the plate flexible, which reduces cracking; sunscreen doesn’t affect the nail structure; using a metal file aggressively, if done with control, shapes the edge but can still cause damage if rough, whereas the risk from clipping stems mainly from edge irregularities that act as crack initiation points.

Crack risk at the nail tip comes from stress concentrating at a damaged edge. Trimming with fingernail clippers can leave a sharp, uneven, or overly thin free edge. That jagged edge becomes a weak point where bending and daily forces cause a crack to start and propagate. When done carefully, clipping is less risky, but improper clipping—cutting too close, leaving uneven edges, or creating micro-tears—creates the conditions for a crack. So this action is most likely to produce a cracked tip. Soaking nails in oil helps by keeping the plate flexible, which reduces cracking; sunscreen doesn’t affect the nail structure; using a metal file aggressively, if done with control, shapes the edge but can still cause damage if rough, whereas the risk from clipping stems mainly from edge irregularities that act as crack initiation points.