Sorry for the unpleasant photo!
My nails have become really ridged and pale. Not sure if can see the ridges in the photo, but the ridges are like a darker colour than the nail and weirdly my nails seem to have an almost purple band at the nail bed.
Does anyone else have the same thing? Is there a reason for this?
I put a moisturizing cream on my hands and nails every night, but my nails still look like this. Any tips would be great!
Very common...I could tell who has got AI disease by their physical signs. If rheumatology used this old school method, they could save more patients and money.
Thanks anothermember. Wish my docs would be as decisive as you! Tried to Google it so see if a cream or if I ate more veg whether it might help- not sure I got anywhere!
Hello. I asked my dermie if there was anything I could do for my flaky, ridged nails and peeling fingertips and she gave me hydromol intensive cream with added urea. She thought it would act very quickly but two months later I’m still using it. However I do see an improvement so will persevere. On holiday recently I did use nail polish to cover the worst of the damage but think this made the problem worse. (As it has done in the past, I never learn!)
I haven't seen a dermatologist - should I ask my GP to see one? Does your cream help with making the ridges go away? *Noted that nail polish might not help! Thanks Barbara17
Some are worse than others so not sure if it’s helping or not. Certainly it is helping the skin around my nails. I’ve also discovered it’s the polish remover rather than the nail polish that does the damage. I see a dermatologist as I have SCLE and Sjögren’s syndrome so it would depend on your diagnosis.
Hi BlackNov 😊🌸🌿🦋
I was just looking up fingernail health on Google this week.
I came across this video that explains some things to look for and there were many other sites mentioned there for help as well.
Go to You Tube Bright Side video 13 health problems your nails warm you about. Dated 5 August 2017.
Best wishes for the answers you seek.
😊🌸🌿🦋🤗💗😘
Hi BlackNov ,
We have an article on our website about taking care of your nails which has lots of helpful information and advice. You can read it at lupusuk.org.uk/nail-care/
Thanks Paul - I will have a look later on tonight. 
Hello there - yes, I have this. My ma had it bad too. I'm on Methotrexate now for 4 months (for SLE Lupus as I was intolerant and then some of Hydroxychloroquine) and it seemed to help the peeling of the skin on my finger tips but it's come back again in the past week - probably stress related. The deep grooves in the nails are the same sadly. I've always thought it just signifies ill health. Anyway, I'm going to have a look at the Lupus UK article but want to add, I use the Eucerin products which have urea in. I discovered this brand years and years ago as my skin is so horribly dry, would leave a trail behind me with dust storm when changing clothes - nice! The body lotion with 10% urea is a fantastic product but they also do even thicker, stronger creams in tubes or pots which will really help. eucerin.co.uk/products/urea they do have a hand cream and you'll see it on that link among the other products. I don't use any products with fragrance in them either - so that's detergent and washing up liquid as well as face and body stuff. I'd make sure you have a clean, diet full of fruit and veg with good protein, and drink lots of water too.. which I'm sure you are anyway. Oh and keep away from Alfalfa! I used to eat tons of it each week until I noted it as a no-no on a Lupus site - it ALWAYS brought on lesions on my hands and fingers, without fail as I did a test. Weirdly my Rheumatologists have never heard of it being a problem......... ah well, they don't get taught about nutrition and the effect food can have I guess. Hope that helped! All the best, D
Thank you DJK99- really helpful. Sorry if I am daft- what is alfalfa?
Alfalfa sprouts I meant to say - finefoodspecialist.co.uk/or...
It really boosts the immune system which is the last thing we need apparently... If I don't eat it I don't get the lesions........ It's added to healthy salads etc - lots of veggies eat it (not that I am - I was eating it because I thought it was good for me but it's actually the worst thing I could eat!). Take care.
Hello, I used to be a nail tech so I thought I would drop some advise. The ridges are an indicator of our health and can also be caused by meds. Try rubbing your cuticle with almond oil add it had smaller molecules that can penetrate the skin astound your nails which had smaller pores. Also eat more gelatin or take gelatin capsules to keep your nails healthy and of course stay hydrated. Hope this helps.
Mine are worse than that. They started that way and then went yellow and chipped. I had a scan after treatment from GP's that actually made them worse. Then the doc took clippings and said there is a fungal problem. However, the medicine I could not take. He said they treat inwardly rather than topically and does not always work anyway. However, medicine contained caustic soda and I would not dare use that inside me. I now use tea tree oil in a base oil each night to moisturize, but this just keeps from getting worse and not cured yet. Some say cider vinegar or baking soda diluted, but I am not risking anything else at the moment.
Oh, poor you. I knew I would be bad if I did.
I try to remember not to put anything on my skin that I would not put into my body as it is all absorbed. If I put it on my nails it is difficult not to get it on the skin.
I think we have to be patient with our poor nails, fingers and bodies generally.
Mine are very similar. I've attributed the vertical ridges to getting older, but the tips of my nails now bend inwards as if they want to cling to my finger. I've been using a nail oil to help with the tips flaking like fish scales. It seems to help. I've never thought of mentioning to a doc the red/ blue discolouration at the base, just attributing it to Raynaud's
Hi blacknov, I've got black/purple under my nails. Its on my toe nails as well. I've been told twice this week but rheumy and oral surgeon it's pigmentation from hydroxychloroquine tablets. I've got it in my mouth which I'm being checked out for but they say it's the medication. But it could mean that the pigmentation is in the eyes. Get it checked out as if you have got it in the eyes you can't take hydroxychloroquine. I've been taken off it and now waiting for my eyes to be checked.
Hi - I promise you, mine look worse even tho they are improving. The skin peeled and split around the joints and my nails are a ridged mess. I now wear gloves even to cook as it is painful otherwise- a great lady in the local chemist introduced me to MooGoo - soap, cleansers and creams for mother and baby. The soap is made with olive oil and goats milk (!) she gave me a free sample of their sore nipple ointment for my fingers - if it’s good enough for there right? Within 3 days my hands are improving greatly, even the nails I think. Worth a try? Sounds silly but even slathering Vaseline on and putting cotton gloves on will help. Good luck
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