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Brittle Nails
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
I have just broken yet another finger nail. Recently I seem to have very brittle nails and they keep on breaking. Any advice? When I were but a wee piglet, my Mum made me eat squares of jelly, for my nails. Has nutrition moved on since?
F-P -
Message 2
Posted by amethy5t (U13830783) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
hmmmm, Fire-Pig,
...a friend of mine used to smooth a piece of tissue or something similar onto the break (only if it's a partial break really) and then use nail varnish to cover - it worked for a while, long enough for her to reshape her other nails to match...yes, I remember the jelly cube advice but that's more down to the gelatine in it than the jelly itself...all I know is that now I'm older, my nails are much stronger, and that's strange since I've been veggie for thirty years...
are you otherwise well as you use the word 'recently' - has anything changed? sometimes it's the littlest things that we notice that say that there may be something that needs attending to (sorry to sound down about this, but...have a think). -
Message 3
Posted by Bearhug (U2258283) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
Mine too. It's partly that I've been doing a lot more gardening recently. It could also be that a winter of central heating means they're too dry - certainly my skin has been needing industrial quantities of moisturiser.
I caught one on a Tesco trolley, and it broke straight off. I decided it was probably not the done thing to nip round to the toiletries shelves to borrow clippers and emery board to neaten it up...
I think if you're eating jelly, it's meant to be non-vegetarian jelly, with gelatine. -
Message 4
Posted by Miladou bloody but unbowed (U3518248) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:26 GMT, in reply to Fire-Pig in message 1
My nails have always been very brittle. The only time they ever look decent is for about 6 weeks in the summer - I can't explain why. Now I'm older, my cuticles seem to get overgrown too, so at present I'm rubbing in cuticle oil twice a day and it seems to be producing an improvement. The problem is that I don't know how long I can keep up the routine - I don;t have a good track record at this sort of thing. -
Message 5
Posted by Lili Bolero and the band played on (U10534540) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
The only way I've found to protect my very brittle nails is to use clear nail varnish pretty much all the time. I snapped one on Thursday playing Ten Pin Bowling!
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Message 6
Posted by savannahlady (U2362903) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
Sat, 11 Apr 2009 20:27 GMT, in reply to Fire-Pig in message 1
Go and have gel nails FP. I used to have perfectly strong nails until about the age of 50 or so and then they all started to break and flake - in the end I put it down to hormonal changes. I can't stand nails that don't look good and I always have worn varnish so I went and had gel put over my natural nails - they come in a load of colours and I have them done every 2/3 weeks. Saves much grief on my part and they are pretty robust too.
Savvie -
Message 7
Posted by Eliza Bennet (U2508760) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
My nails are terrible - I bite them, too, but that's mainly because they're not worth growing...
They are also quite ridgy. I'm told this is down to some mineral deficiency or something but I eat a reasonably balanced diet and take a good mult-vitamin/mineral supplement. I was quite ill a few years ago now and the nails have not been right since. Teeth are the same. -
Message 8
Posted by happydays (U13769339) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
My nails are best in the summer as well. I think it is because they (and hair) grow faster then. Despite wearing gloves for gardening and washing- up mine flake and break even if kept short. I have found oil products work best. Last year I found a brilliant oil made from Sesame but it is no longer available in this country (I was so desperate I wrote to the manufacturer - no luck). Think I might give olive oil a try.
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Message 9
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
Thanks for all the replies - nobody has come up with a nutritional supplement so it looks like hand/cuticle cream, nail varnish.
It does seem to be fairly recent, but can't think of anything that has changed except I have been eating better, more veggies and less nibbling on cheese and chocolate. Ah well I'll get a chocolate fix tomorrow!
F-P -
Message 10
Posted by Mylovelyhorse (U7473297) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
I have possibly the shortest nails in the world. Unlike Eliza, I pick my nails rather than biting them. But the result is the same - ridiculously short nails. And mine are a bit ridgy too. Someone recently told me that this may be a signal that there's some arthritis/osteoporosis likely to head my way, but I don't know if that's a load of rubbish or not. It certainly runs in the family. But generally my diet is excellent, so I don't think my ridging nails are because of any deficiency. Unless it's a meat/fish deficiency, as I'm vegetarian and have been for over 20 years...
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Message 11
Posted by Eliza Bennet (U2508760) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
Hmmm. I'm vegetarian too, Mylovely. But other vegetarians of my acquaintance have smashing nails...
I dunno. -
Message 12
Posted by Miladou bloody but unbowed (U3518248) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
Sat, 11 Apr 2009 21:46 GMT, in reply to savannahlady in message 6
Savvie, I've wondered about gel nails. How do they work? The only time I hard false nails put on, they caused a lot of damage to my own nails underneath, but it was a long time ago. Are gel nails better from that point of view? -
Message 13
Posted by Millefiori (U11324150) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
I used to have brittle nails until I started taking zinc supplements. Zinc is mostly found in protein-rich foods such as fish, meat and dairy, but pumpkin seeds and peanuts are also a good source.
Mx -
Message 14
Posted by Eliza Bennet (U2508760) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
I eat quite a lot of peanut butter. Obviously I must eat more.
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Message 15
Posted by amethy5t (U13830783) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
veggie here too - no probs with nails...
does anyone remember that black stuff (in the 50s iirc) that children had painted on their nails to stop them being bitten...aloe something (not suggesting that as a remedy, tho!). -
Message 16
Posted by Westsussexbird or Birdy aka Westie (U6316532) on Saturday, 11th April 2009
A friend has noticed improvement in her hair and nails with a supplement from Holland and Barrett.
She is just 60.
She waits for it to be on offer and then pounces and buys loads of it. -
Message 17
Posted by savannahlady (U2362903) on Sunday, 12th April 2009
Sun, 12 Apr 2009 11:40 GMT, in reply to miladou in message 12
They don't do the damage that acrylics do miladou - I tried those and they made my nails even weaker. The gel is just like a slightly thicker varnish - they put two coats of clear on first, two coats of whatever colour you choose (as well as a whole range of colours you can have French polish or natural) and then two coats of top coat - so you are using your own nails as a base rather than having them covered up as with acrylic.
I had to have them taken off when I was in hospital recently and it was about 3 weeks or more until I could get to the salon to get new ones - I was surprised at how good my nails were 'bare' of anything.
Give them a whirl and see what you think. I love the fact that I don't have to think at all about my nails until the next time I go into the salon. Make sure you find a good place though (a recommendation is always best) and find out who the best person is for doing them too - like everything else some therapists are better than others!
Savvie -
Message 18
Posted by DeeKay Bee - Disenfranchised (U236881) on Sunday, 12th April 2009
I find that 'Strong Results' from Avon does help to strengthen the nails, at the moment I can't be bothered (and I'm biting my nails again anyway) but I do paint it on the lads* nails and the do seem improved.
* his guitar wears them down, then he gets moaned at for not having long enough nails for his guitar -
Message 19
Posted by Rwth of the Cornovii (U2570790) on Sunday, 12th April 2009
Sun, 12 Apr 2009 14:31 GMT, in reply to clearwhitecloud in message 8
I have found oil products work best. Last year I found a brilliant oil made from Sesame but it is no longer available in this country (I was so desperate I wrote to the manufacturer - no luck). Think I might give olive oil a try.Ìý
I keep a dropper bottle nearly full of Almond oil (from Tescoids)and a few drops of Lavender oil. I massage this into my nails quite often and when it is almost disappeared, I run my fingers through my hair and massage my scalp. It seems better than anything for nourishing nails and hair. Don't knock it till you've tried it, and if it doesn't work, use it as a salad dressing. Lavender is edible, as long as you don't have too much. -
Message 20
Posted by plaintiff (U13839859) on Sunday, 12th April 2009
I was recommended to buy a nail hardener which I bought from Boots and apply like nail varnish.. The problem is you need to keep using it
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Message 21
Posted by jane c (U2234970) on Sunday, 12th April 2009
just bookmarking, really. Hoping someone comes up with a winner for me.
Eliza - more peanut butter is a no-no. Trust Aunty Jane. It tends to "repair", i.e. Increase, other bits More Effectively than nails.
Rwth. Just love the bit about swishing the stuff thru your hair. It sounds so romantic and enticing and, oh, I dunno, just so Effective. I might even try it.
Oh, and Happy Easter everyone
jx -
Message 22
Posted by Rwth of the Cornovii (U2570790) on Sunday, 12th April 2009
Sun, 12 Apr 2009 22:28 GMT, in reply to jane c. in message 21
It is incredibly enticing. Every time I do it, I have to do it again next time. -
Message 23
Posted by stolenkisses (U6230663) on Monday, 13th April 2009
I knew this thread rang bells with me, but it took a phone call from my sister this morning to remind me.
A few people I know who take glucosamine for joint problems have all noticed and mentioned to me independently of each other that it also seems to strengthen their nails, as a side effect. However it does take 2-3 months for the effect to become apparent.
I've never tried it myself, so can't vouch for it personally, but I would give it a try if I was bothered with brittle nails.
Apparently the gelatine and eating jelly cubes thing was a marketing scam with no scientific input, based on the fact that gelatine was originally prepared from pigs' trotters!
sk -
Message 24
Posted by Eliza Bennet (U2508760) on Monday, 13th April 2009
Huh.
I take glucosamine on a regular basis and have done for about ten years.
Huh. -
Message 25
Posted by DeeKay Bee - Disenfranchised (U236881) on Monday, 13th April 2009
Ah but you (presumably) take vegetarian glucosamine -
Message 26
Posted by stolenkisses (U6230663) on Monday, 13th April 2009
Huh.
Ìý
Oh dear....
Clearly doesn't work for everyone then!
Sorry Eliza
sk -
Message 27
Posted by Fire-Pig - proud to wave the protest banner (U12231213) on Monday, 13th April 2009
Huh.
I take glucosamine on a regular basis and have done for about ten years.
HuhÌý
What she said applies here too.
F-P -
Message 28
Posted by stolenkisses (U6230663) on Monday, 13th April 2009
Then I guess this is where I suggest you try stopping the glucosamine...
If you google this problem, most sources say it is lack of hydration that causes brittle nails, and suggest using clear polish to keep the moisture in.
sk -
Message 29
Posted by Helen (U1476131) on Monday, 13th April 2009
My nails seem to be competing in some sort of sprint event at the moment, and aren't anywhere near as feak and weeble as usual. But I might eat jelly cubes anyway, I have just got a real hankering for green jelly now, thanks to reading this thread.
Oh, does that make it a craving? How exciting, I haven't had any cravings before. Does Tesbury's shut at Sunday hours on a bank holiday? -
Message 30
Posted by Rwth of the Cornovii (U2570790) on Monday, 13th April 2009
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:25 GMT, in reply to Helen in message 29
I saw that Sainsbugs would be closing at 6, but have only just noticed your post. Hope you satisfied your craving. Hope it is the first of many. -
Message 31
Posted by Angua - the vegetarian werewolf and Official Shoe Monitor (U3750755) on Monday, 13th April 2009
Mon, 13 Apr 2009 19:40 GMT, in reply to Rwth of Cornovii in message 30
The Avon product up thread was great and I used to soak nails in warm olive oil 10 mins per had once a week, can't be @rsed now but that worked too for me -
Message 32
Posted by Blondie21 (U2249148) on Monday, 13th April 2009
Hi there,
Just for what it is worth, in my experience(and I have no medical/ dietry training)there are a couple of things that I wanted to add to this thread:
If my nails are becoming brittle, get knocked off by supermarket trollies, splitting and are just generally in bad condition, for me it is a not necessarily what I am doing now, but what was happening several months ago (exactly how many months - depends on how quickly your nails grow). For example, if I was very upset for a few weeks (moving houses, losing a job, dealing with a bad situation), a few months back, then yes my nails will look very bad later. This seems to me to be reasonable as the nails take some time to be formed and then grow...but that may be because when I'm upset i don't treat myself too well at the time (ie diet not so good).
I also sometimes get exzema, and if that is bad, then a few weeks later my nails also suffer. I think that as skin and nails are formed simialrly then I should expect a similarity.
I try to treat my nails like my skin, so yes, do use hand and nails creams ordinarily. Can't do any harm and may do some good!
All that being said, cold weather, long haul flights, handling more papaer than usual, etc dries my nails out and causes problems in the short term.
If your nails are bad now, and aren't normally, look at what was different when the nails are being formed - you may find ther is somehing you could do differently (again for me, I try to counter the efects of a long haul flight by moisturising heavily before, during and after and the problen is not so bad now).
Again just for me, if my nails are in a bad state, (and I like to keep mine long), I keep a nail file on me at all times. If snagging, splitting etc happens, I file the nail to be as smooth as possible so as to make sure no futher snagging easliy happens - (and having been a nail bitter for a long time, to prevent the tempation to nibble at any loose bits!).
And finally, for me, although nail varnish etc can keep a damaged nail looking OK in the short term, it wrecks my nails in the long term (can't do false ones). The nail harderner wrecks them too, but the thing that is most damaging for me is really red nail varnish (though I also find that red lipsitck dries my lips out too, so I may just be very odd!!)
Goodness, my longest post to date! Didn't know that I had thought so much about this! Sorry to go on.
However, am very interested if anyone does come up with anything that gives much more instant results. -
Message 33
Posted by notsoglitzynow (U6881218) on Tuesday, 14th April 2009
Tue, 14 Apr 2009 12:51 GMT, in reply to Blondie21 in message 32
As a teenager I was a nail-biter, but managed to give up. My nails were very brittle. And then I read in a magazine that the people with the strongest nails in the world are sheep shearers, because of the lanolin in the sheep fleece. For several years I rubbed lanolin into my nails every night, and my nails have been long and strong ever since.
These day I use Vaseline Intensive care routinely, rubbing it into the cuticles, and around the hands, arms and elbows. I finish up by treating my feet and knees the same way - it's wonderful for hard skin on feet. And it just takes a minute at bedtime. -
Message 34
Posted by jane c (U2234970) on Tuesday, 14th April 2009
Replying to Blondie21
Your point about looking back to what was happening when the nails were forming is a very good one.
Have noticed this, too. And a few years ago a doctor looked at my nails while doing a check-up. She said something like, "good to see you're getting over that nasty patch you went thru"
I hadn't a clue what she meant, but she pointed to the white patches and the ridges on the nails. Both were about half way up the nail when she looked. Beneath them everything looked very healthy.
Ho hum. Old wives' tales? or is there a doctorate in there somewhere for someone?
jx -
Message 35
Posted by Eliza Bennet (U2508760) on Tuesday, 14th April 2009
No, that's not an old wives' tale, Jane. I remember being amazed by the state of my nails after a very severe (pregnancy-related) illness, resulting in a (very) emergency caesarean section - a massive horizontal ridge, straight through all of them, finger and toe nails. They're like a record of what's been happening in the rest of your body. A sudden trauma/illness shows up very clearly!
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Message 36
Posted by Anne-Marie (U1474870) on Tuesday, 14th April 2009
I can concur about the nails being a mini history of your body and events. When son no1 was born, it was a rather traumatic event - a few months later all my fingers nails had a horizontal dip in them which took ages to grow out. The only thing we could put it down to was the labour and birth of his lordship.
Sounds like several of us have experienced something similar.
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