Brittle nails

[zoobsmum]

Has anyone any suggestions  about supplements I am on 75 levothyroxine on 1 day and 100 the next. One of the many problems I am finding with my hypothyroidism is my nails split and break sometimes it is so painful when they break off really far down. Also I have really ridgey nails .thanks

[Fruitandnutcase]

I had the same problem for a while - agony doesn't even cover how painful it was. Eventually when I was trying to buy almond oil to soak my fingers in I spoke to an assistant in John Lewis who recommended OPI Nail Envy - think it was the one for dry and brittle nails but there are a couple. I used that as it said on the package and rubbed in bio oil - I never found the almond oil. At night I used to put on masses of Averno hand cream and go to bed with cotton gloves on - got them in JL too. I also started wearing rubber gloves for tough jobs. I've never known such pain though - it was all of my fingers, the nails just seemed to get shorter and shorter and were right down as low as they could possibly go and would still flake. Check that you are on your optimal amount of meds because that will help. My fingers were a problem because I was allowed to get hypo while being treated for Graves Disease. Hope that works -  I can imagine the pain you are in - it is awful.

[zoobsmum in reply to Fruitandnutcase]

Thanks for that  will try opi nail envy.

[shaws Administrator in reply to zoobsmum]

If you would like to order through Amazon - the following is a link which can help Thyroiduk.org.uk . I give a link and you will see the 1,000+ replies re Nail Envy.

amazon.co.uk/OPI-Original-N...

This is identical through the Affilate but cheaper. Theabove has the most reviews.

amazon.co.uk/Original-Nail-...

[zoobsmum in reply to shaws]

Thank you

[Stourie in reply to zoobsmum]

Ridged nails are one of the symptoms of b12 deficiency.

Jo  xx

[Esya47 in reply to Stourie]

Hello Stourie! I have the same problems with my nails for 5-6yrs, meanwhile my B12 is around 800u

Which is optimal... I think,is something else is in deficiency .

Esther

[Stourie in reply to Esya47]

Hi Esther, if you find out what it is please let me know.  All of the nails on my hands are ridged .

Jo  xx

[Esya47 in reply to Stourie]

Yes I will inform, I think, my problems are inherited . I remember the nails of my grand mother( paternal side) her nails has been cracked and broken... And I was wandering  even after the Manicur she had very bad looking nails. My is the same . I will try to buy Opi

Nail envy. Just my concern is that Opi company as all of them add farmaldehyte

And this is bad for us! I always try to find with out this toxic chemicals.

[linlow]

You could try rubbing coconut oil into the cuticles to help moisturise them.

If you get one split below the growth plate then, rather than cutting it off and suffering the associated pain of raw flesh wounds, try 'gluing' the split (I normally use nail varnish - or superglue if the flesh isn't torn).  Trim the nail as short as is comfortable then coat what's left with nail varnish, press on a layer of tissue over the split whilst it is still tacky (trim to size if necessary), once dry add a second coat of varnish.  I normally find that this gives me enough growth before having to cut the nail so the split has grown beyond the nail bed - saving an awful lot of pain into the bargain.