Dr. Dana Stern, a dermatologist who specializes in nail health, agrees that water is not your friend with a condition like this, as it could get under the nail and into the opening. While it may be tempting to hide the issue with nail polish, Dr. Stern suggests avoiding this entirely. “Actually what you’re avoiding is the polish remover,” explains Dr Stern in a viral TikTok video. “This is a strong solvent and could cause irritation to that delicate underlying nail bed.”