Nails

[Phed]

Has anyone had trouble with their nails while on Steroids? I started taking them in August 2019 and never seemed to have much trouble with my nails then and have been gradually tapering the steroids down, March 2021 I had to increase to 12 mg as I have now developed PMR as well as GCA. I had a cataract operation in March and April this year and was given steroids drops which I have been on for 7 weeks now with 1 week left, my nails are now like paper split and nothing really left of them to even put a clear varnish on to protect them, even when they do start to grow they are still in the same state.

[jinasc]

I went back to an old remedy in my youth - 1 cube of jelly every day .

Don't use nail polish every day - your nails need to breathe.

There are load on tips if you put 'Nail Protection' in your search engine, but some of them are expensive and completely off the wall. So be careful.

[Phed in reply to jinasc]

Thank you for your reply, I forgot about the jelly cube, I haven’t used nail polish for months now and the state they are in now it’s impossible, they look so bad now I feel like wearing gloves all the time☹️

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I am one of the lucky people who has had better nails than any time in my life while on pred. They were awful in the first 5 years of PMR when I wasn't on pred, I suspect poor blood flow to the nail bed. It seems to be one extreme of the other.

[Phed in reply to PMRpro]

Thank you for your reply, I was only thinking how good my nails were before I ended up with the steroid eye drops as well as my daily dose of steroids, hopefully when I finish the drops next week they will start to improve, hadn’t thought of a poor blood flow, I’m off to the hospital next week for a blood test but I doubt if that will shed any light on my nail problem.

[SheffieldJane]

I would be interested to hear about how your cataract operation went. I face one soon.My nails are strong and better than ever then they begin to split, it seems to go in a cycle. I eat plenty of dairy and take vit D and K2.

[Phed in reply to SheffieldJane]

My cataract operation went really well, it’s something I have always dreaded but goodness knows why as it was all over in less than 10 minutes, I had the first one done 29th March 2nd one 19th April, I can’t believe the difference it has made to my vision, I’m off for my eye test in June so it will be really interesting to see how much better my eyes are now after the operation, you have to put steroid drops in for the next 4 weeks start at 4 times a day cut down by 1 drop each week and wear an eye patch for the first 3 nights but that’s it, the only thing I did get was a dry eye but they did say to expect that. Hope it all goes well when you have yours done. I take vitamin D but perhaps I will get some K2 as well and see if that improves my nails it certainly can’t make them look any worse.

[SheffieldJane]

Thank you so much for your positive reply!

[Phed]

No problem, let me know how you get on.

[MrsNails]

Use Cuticles Oil at the base of the nails every night & massage it in, use something fine like an almond oil or l use Solar Oil, not expensive & you only use a drop but it’s the massage that helps the nails grown & good cuticles will help stop the nails from ridging.

Once you have some nails to paint, l would personally recommend OPI Nail Envy - you use it every day for a week then remove.

You paint it vertically one day, horizontally the next day & repeat. They now do several types including a Matt Version if you don’t like Shiny Nails.

Once they get long enough don’t try to grow them, keep them short but in good condition until you feel they have improved.

You can then continue to use Nail Envy as a base coat if you like Colour 💅🏼

I’ll look you up some information & add to this post.

Kind Regards

MrsNails 💅🏼

You can find both products Online or In Store - vast difference in prices so you need to be a Savy Shopper.....

CND - Solar Oil For Healthy, Strong Nails.

⚠️ DO NOT USE IF YOU ARE ALLERGIC TO NUTS ⚠️

A rejuvenating blend of jojoba, rice bran and sweet almond oils infused with the power of vitamin E, penetrates deeply into cuticles and nails to prevent them from becoming brittle and to promote healthy nail growth.

Available in a 15ml bottle or as a handy 2.36ml Twist Pen

Directions for use: Apply a small drop of SolarOil cuticle oil to the cuticle after your manicure and massage into the nail and surrounding tissue. To increase CND Shellac or Vinylux wear, apply SolarOil daily.

OPI - Nail Envy

PRODUCT DETAILS

Provides maximum strengthening with hydrolysed wheat protein and calcium for harder, longer, stronger, natural nails. Strength is beauty and OPI delivers strength with its range of Nail Envy natural nail strengtheners. OPI has developed a different formula to meet your individual needs.

[Phed in reply to MrsNails]

Thank you very much for the links you have passed on to me, I have order the Solar Oil from an online store and it should be here tomorrow .

[Phed in reply to MrsNails]

Thank you so much for your advice on nails, I did exactly what you said and they are now starting to look a lot better . Thank you once again for the good advice.

[MrsNails in reply to Phed]

That’s Excellent Phed, l’m really pleased for you 💅🏼

[Phed]

Thank you for your advice, I will get some and do as you have advised, I will keep an eye out for the links you are going to put on my post, once again thank you for your advice

[alliebc]

Mine were bad to start with, I have had vertical ridges developing for a few years but after going on pred they break split and peel constantly and are completely ugly. I gave up on the expensive collagen supplements after minimal improvements. It must be originating from the nail bed so have given up!

[Phed in reply to alliebc]

Like yours my nails are so ugly I have just taken some advice from Mrs Nails and purchased some Solar Oil so hopefully that will help them.

[MrsNails in reply to alliebc]

Don’t give up, you can improve the vertical ridges which can be caused if your cuticles are very dry & so prevent your nails from growing properly.

As l advised Phed yesterday, the way to start it with some Solar Oil or any fine Almond Oil but Solar Oil is the best in my experience, not expensive plus it lasts for ages.

You can get it as a dropper bottle or with a brush similar to one in a nail varnish, just put a little on every nail once a day to condition the cuticle & the massage will help improve the nail growth.

Don’t ever be tempted to cut your cuticles or to push them back until their condition has improved.

If you read my reply to Phed there’s more information.

Kind Regards

MrsNails 💅🏼

[alliebc in reply to MrsNails]

Wow, great information, thank you. I have already looked up the Solar Oil and realize that is a whole area of knowledge I was lacking. I will get some and start a project to revive my nail health. It will be a good challenge for these asocial times. Maybe I won’t be hiding my hands by the time we get to socialize again!Hugs

[MrsNails in reply to alliebc]

Glad to be of help 😘 💅🏼 I have always been interested in Nails, l used to do my Grandma’s Nails & l have taken a Course in Beauty Therapy & Nails (long before everyone wore Acrylic Nails 😉)

PM me if l can be of help.

MrsN 💅🏼

[SheffieldJane in reply to MrsNails]

It’s like having an ethical virtual salon. Thank you! X

[MrsNails in reply to SheffieldJane]

Any time 💅🏼🧖🏼‍♀️💕