My nails are peeling!

[Chicadee16]

My nails are going haywire! First since taking Thyroxine they were unusually strong and long, then they've all split or broken and seem to be peeling! Could it be a lack if something Im wondering and if what? Any ideas welcome!.......pS Im taking Selenium

[Miffie]

I can’t offer any advice as I have suffered with problem weak and flaky nails for as long as I can remember. They are least awful when optimally medicated but still pretty grim. I hope you find an answer.

[Chicadee16 in reply to Miffie]

Many thanks anyway xx

[MichelleHarris]

My toe nails dropped off when I was on much too little Thyroid replacement. Also my Consultant found I had a severe Zinc deficiency which is common with Hypo. I was shocked as I eat really healthily but maybe due to aborption issues and maybe the body uses more to fight viruses such as Hzv Ebv and Hpv x

[Chicadee16 in reply to MichelleHarris]

And did the problem resolve once you added the extra Thyroxine and zinc etc?

[MichelleHarris in reply to Chicadee16]

Yes. I was told they wouldnt grow back properly by podiatrist. He explained that they are a first casually when the body has essential needs. However they did grow back a bit strange and a year later are normal again x

[Lora7again in reply to MichelleHarris]

I agree, the first thing to go is hair and nails but they do recover once your levels are right for you.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Low vitamin levels are extremely common when hypothyroid.....especially if under medicated

How much levothyroxine are you currently taking?

Do you always get same brand of levothyroxine

When were levels last tested

What vitamin supplements are you currently taking

When were vitamin levels last tested

For full Thyroid evaluation you need TSH, FT4 and FT3 plus both TPO and TG thyroid antibodies tested. Also EXTREMELY important to test vitamin D, folate, ferritin and B12

Ask GP to test vitamin levels

Recommended on here that all thyroid blood tests should ideally be done as early as possible in morning and before eating or drinking anything other than water .

Last dose of Levothyroxine 24 hours prior to blood test. (taking delayed dose immediately after blood draw).

This gives highest TSH, lowest FT4 and most consistent results. (Patient to patient tip)

Is this how you do your tests?

Private tests are available as NHS currently rarely tests Ft3 or thyroid antibodies or all relevant vitamins

List of private testing options

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

Medichecks Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins

medichecks.com/products/adv...

Thriva Thyroid plus antibodies and vitamins By DIY fingerpick test

thriva.co/tests/thyroid-test

Thriva also offer just vitamin testing

Blue Horizon Thyroid Premium Gold includes antibodies, cortisol and vitamins by DIY fingerprick test

bluehorizonbloodtests.co.uk...

If you can get GP to test vitamins and antibodies then cheapest option for just TSH, FT4 and FT3

£29 (via NHS private service ) and 10% off down to £26.10 if go on thyroid uk for code

thyroiduk.org/getting-a-dia...

monitormyhealth.org.uk/

Also vitamin D available as separate test via MMH

Or alternative Vitamin D NHS postal kit

vitamindtest.org.uk

[Chicadee16 in reply to SlowDragon]

Hello Slowdragon, and thanks for your reply.I am on 100mg of Thyroxine and I am very well, with all symptoms reversed through the drugs. Same brand of drugs always used. Last tested July then Sept. I take Vitamin D, Selenium and have just ordered a B vitamin complex. Would you have the extra tests done if no ither symptoms and feeling well? I think of myself as one of the lucky ones for whom Thyroxine works fine!

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Chicadee16]

Yes I would always test all four vitamins once a year ....because they have a tendency to drop

On vitamin D supplements you should test vitamin D levels twice a year

Important to test TSH, Ft4 and Ft3 at least annually too

Remember to stop taking any supplements that contain biotin a week before ALL BLOOD TESTS...as biotin can falsely affect test results

Vitamin B complex contains biotin

[Chicadee16 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks for the useful information. I will look into the tests. Many thanks x

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Just reread your previous post here healthunlocked.com/thyroidu......

TSH was 75 at diagnosis

Not had thyroid antibodies tested yet

Or vitamin levels

Ask GP to do further testing

Or test privately

Come back with new post once you get results

All thyroid tests should be done as early as possible in morning before eating or drinking anything other than water and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

[Kimkat]

My finger nails are covered in ridges which seem to have gotten worse recently, also they bend right over on a few of my fingers. When I mentioned it to my GP he didn’t seem overly concerned but I’m sure it’s due to a vitamin deficiency.

[Babette]

My nails flake if they're dry so I use a good hand cream every night (and sometimes during the day, depending on what I'm doing). I do need to use foot cream again!

I also take zinc when a blood test by my GP confirmed a deficiency.

[Salcombe]

Try using Fulvic Acid Nail cream. It does not cure the underlying problem but helps a lot to return nail to a good condition

[Chicadee16]

Thanks muchly, I will look into that cream 😉