Brittle chipping nails that are also really hard

[Wired123]

Hi I’ve noticed since I’ve started T3 and reduced my T4 that my nails keep chipping (in both hands and feet). I don’t do any manual labour so it’s strange.

My both big toenails are so hard that I almost broke the nail cutter trying to cut them. The nail cutter really struggled to trim these.

Anyone else experienced this? Is there a solution?

[SlowDragon Administrator]

Nails are supposed to be hard

Cutting after a bath makes it easier

Or you can get heavy duty toe nail clippers

Probably got use to them being soft when hypothyroid

[Wired123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Well I’ve been Hypo for 12 years, this is something new that I’ve noticed after starting T3 and reducing T4. So it’s more a specific question about whether this is showing over or under medication or a side effect from adding T3.

[Wired123 in reply to Wired123]

I’m using the same clippers I’ve used for a year, so clearly there’s a change in my body which I’m trying to get to the bottom of

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Wired123]

I think our vitamin absorption gets much better with addition of T3

My nails are significantly stronger

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Wired123]

Nails get much harder as we get older too

[Wired123 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks, i stated T3 2 months ago and reduced T4 3 weeks ago, not enough time for age to catch up with me. Maybe it’s the vitamin absorption but nails shouldn’t be so hard that a decent pair of clippers can’t get through them.

[Wired123 in reply to Wired123]

Plus we still don’t know what’s causing the chipping of nails, both in the hands and feet. I wonder what is causing that given I don’t do any manual labour that makes me at risk of chipping.

[Serendipitious]

Are you under any stress? Have you changed any supplements in the last few months? Dietary changes? Have you got vitamin blood results to compare from before and now?

Nails and nutritional status

youtube.com/watch?v=RopzcyB...(Not working as expected?)

Identifying Nutritional Deficiencies Through Nails, Skin & Hair

youtube.com/watch?v=ReRnWVP...(Not working as expected?)

[Wired123 in reply to Serendipitious]

Thanks for the links. It’s all happened in the space of 2 months and the only things that have changed is introducing T3 and reducing T4.

[Serendipitious in reply to Wired123]

Interesting, my nails have fine vertical ridges, they grow very quickly but they’re quite soft and sometimes snap off without me even noticing. Not the nails I had years ago but my hair has thinned too. Hope you get to the bottom of this all.

[serenfach]

My nails are pretty good apart from my thumb nails which chip and flake all the time. To stop them getting sore, I run a thin line of superglue on the top tip of the nail and it helps for a couple of days to get a bit of growth.

I bought some electricial scissors to be able to cut my hair as they are so sharp and tough with very slightly serrated edges so the hair does not slide out. They are brilliant getting through my toe nails too, as the nail cutters would not close unless I hit them with a hammer which is not a good idea.

Have a look on line -mine are bright orange and red to give you some reference.