nail issues

[silverbeatl]

Can lupus cause nail issues like this picture?

[kimc]

Lupus affects everyone different way

Personally, my nails look normal so far. Lupus effects different part of the body, needs to get enough Calcium and consult with your doctor asap.

Good lucks,

[kazp]

Certainly lupus affects us in different ways. Looks like some sort of fungal nail infection to me. Go to your GP and get it looked at.

[Diagnosed2012]

Hi, could be fungal or could be vitamin/mineral deficiency. Best go get it checked out at GP. Had my little toe nail looked at. I let it grow some more so GP could take a clipping, and get it tested. Mine turned out to be nail psoriasis. Psoriasis is an auto-immune condition too. Strangely, the rest of my toe and finger nails are perfect. But I have psoriasis on my scalp and skin too.

[silverbeatl in reply to Diagnosed2012]

Me too. I had a clipping taken of my toenails by the podiatrist and they said that it was not fungal. For a long time I had been treating it as a fungal infection. I think its systemic whatever is going on because I have scaly patches on my scalp too. I had been told that psoriasis can cause all this....so I'm wondering if what I have is psoriatic arthritis because I also have joint pain and stiffness. I am taking plaquenil for a month, but haven't seen any symptom reduction or clearing of my skin or nails.

[annlister]

I have similar nail problems. Can't grow them and they are weak and not prettyn

[annlister]

This is known to be a side effect which you should tell your doctor about. My rheum you would take me off it if this was the case. I have already cut them down as I have been on them a long long time

[silverbeatl in reply to annlister]

I had this issue before taking any medication and was hoping that Plaquenil would clear it up. I've only been on it for a month. Wondering if it will get better at all.

[L2day4U]

Hi,

So many things can combine with autoimmune disease that it's hard to tell. However, the fingernails and tips could have some clubbing (worth having a doctor evaluate. The consistency looks like lichen planus-- I've seen toenails get the same way. Any unusual formations at the finger tips are worth a big doctor evaluation. If the cause is fungal, it could be cured,but it could indicate another medical condition. If my dictor ignored this, I'd get a 2nd oppinion.

[helentad]

I have issues not like yours but my nails are very thin and weak. I have terrible ridges and splits that run right down my nail and if I catch my nail it will pull right off at the split I loose that whole area until it eventually griws back. My nails also don't grow flat and have a lump under each which has appeared in the last few years.

[Razoo in reply to helentad]

Oh Helentad, you are describing my nails. Not flat but they have ridges, when mine grow long they flick up at the tips.

[Musicteach in reply to helentad]

That describes my nails too! And mine also flck up at the ends if they manage to grow long enough. Great life, isn't it!!

[Razoo]

Adeangelo, ive wondered why my nails are sooo paper thin, they r that thin that when I had false nails applied professionally the electric roller they use went right through my nail, have never been back, too scared. I have started on calcium n vitamin d tabs, I hope they help. Good luck with it all.Are you a nail biter?

[silverbeatl in reply to Razoo]

nope. don't bite my nails, but I cut them very short because I was told that this can help keep infections at bay.

[Cann]

I hope you have better luck than I had.

I had tests and a scan; the scan showed no sign of a new nail growing and the tests showed that there was nothing wrong - the doctors were baffled. Before the tests I had clotrizamole cream (hope that is spelt right) - this caused bad inflammation of the finger around the nail, then I had Loceryl paint and that caused my nail to disintegrate altogether - that was when I was sent for tests.

I am using tea tree oil every other night and homeopathic silicea from a homeopathic doctor, but he has now left, so wonder if the new doctor has any ideas.

Silicea cleared it before, but then it came back, so starting again, but I found out that silicea can cause people with replacements to reject them including fillings and crowns - my body has been throwing out my crowns - another problem for me!

I think the nails are to do with the whole body problem and cannot be solved by just taking one thing or another like calcium because, with Lupus, absorption can be bad, too because of the gut inflammation, and you can take what you like, but if absorption is bad then it is a waste of time and money, but eating a good well balanced diet is the best thing we can possibly do for ourselves; get adequate rest; exercise and keep the stress levels down - all the common sense things really, but that are hard to keep in balance in this life these days it seems.

Good luck with it anyway and tell us if you find a solution, we'd love to know!

[silverbeatl in reply to Cann]

thanks. At first I was treating it as a fungal infection because I thought that's what I had and was using stuff like you have suggested such as tea tree oil, but it never cleared up and now I know why- because it isn't fungal. I just wish that there were a medication that would clear it up because it is very embarrassing. I'm on Plaquenil now and hope that with time it will clear up. I don't know if it is designed to treat that symptom or not. I was just curious if other people with lupus had this sort of problem as I do.

[nonancourt]

Yep!!! Since being diagnosed with Lupus almost 30 years ago I have never had a decent set of nails. They either split, break or come away from the nail bed. No-one has been able to offer a solution. The only thing I do is keep applying nail hardener tp try to stop the breakages - but don't hold your breath!! I believe it's long term steroid use that causes the problem and until you are able to reduce your dosage - nothing will help. Sorry!!

[Cann in reply to nonancourt]

I was on steroids for six years, but not now and my nails are the same, so how long it takes to get out of the body I don't know.

[chrisj]

My nails were very thin and weak before SLE was diagnosed. Since treatment with hydroxy they're much improved, stronger and growing well. I use an almond oil hand cream as well.

Looking at your photo adeangelo, if thats your hand you need to see your gp

[silverbeatl in reply to chrisj]

yep, its my hand. i've shown it to the rheumatologist and to my gp. but I've moved to a new state and now need to get new insurance again and find a new doctor. I was just curious if people with lupus also have this. I'm wondering if it is a symptom of psoriatic arthritis instead.

[chrisj in reply to silverbeatl]

It could be. I hope you get some answers and help as soon as possible. I'm convinced plaquenil helped strengthen my nails...good luck xx

[Alex97]

This could be a picture of my own nails, I had exact same problem. Gp said it was fungal and gave me a 3 month course of tablets that did nothing to improve them. I have behcets but rhuemy didn't know if this was part of behcets so referred me to dermatologist who said it was nail psoriasis and gave me steroid cream to apply to nails. Cleared it right up, although nails still thin with vertical ridges. Gp now thinks it could be a b12 deficiency because I am also losing my hair and having pins and needles in hands, so am now taking supplements to see if thing improve. Good luck with finding some answers.

[L2day4U]

Problems with fingernails (my toes were only affected at first) are often indicative of other systemic health problems that doctors easily misdiagnose (!)

Clubbing, thikening, warping,etc. is often a sign of cardiovascular issues, B12 deficiency or other deficits and in my husband's case, his "mechanic hands" clearly indicated *cancer*, growing worse when the cancer in his esophagus grew worse. "Mechanic's hands" are also a part of Dermatomyositis, a lupus-related muscle disease (I have) that can also be a "neoplastic syndrome"(that's a way of saying "cancer syndrome") though not always!!

[Tina2891]

Did you ever find out the cause? My daughter’s nails look just like this.

[Hidden]

Have you tried a good Biotin supplement? It’s great for nails, hair, and skin health. Best of luck Silver.

[NeuronerdDoaty]

I have to use biotin. Occasionally I use hyaluronic acid during cold months. I don’t take that orally. It will make you fat.