Hormones and nails

[Shelina]

This is a NEW change I am starting to notice after 3 months now on hormones. My nails before were straight and flat, now it's becoming more rounded and curvy.

Any experience with hormone and nails on your side?

[FairyGirl]

only that they're thinner and seem to break easier. I'm so totally going to go acrylic next time I seem my hairdresser lol

[Suzy]

Yes I also noticed that mine were much more brittle. While it gave me a good excuse to wear clear polish it was a PITA because I am a guitar player. I started taking Biotin and after about a month it made an amazing difference.

Kristi

[MaggieB]

Mine delaminate all the time so I have to wear tons of clear nail polish.  I'm gonna try Biotin. Thanks, Kristi!

Maggie

[Steffi]

Presume that delaminate refers to that slate-like faking? .... Yeah, that's really common with estrogen 

Acrylic nails is a bit of a one-way trip 'cos it really screws your own nails up so makes natural nails even harder to revert to.

[MaggieB]

Presume that delaminate refers to that slate-like faking? .... Yeah, that's really common with estrogen 

Acrylic nails is a bit of a one-way trip 'cos it really screws your own nails up so makes natural nails even harder to revert to.

Yes, that is what I have. The top layer just separates and flakes off. VERY irritating. I don't go for the acrylic nails because of the cost and I do understand they really mess up the natural nail.


So I keep a six way nail file handy at all times and lots of polish.  It bugs me so much that I sometimes have to fix a nail even at a red light in traffic. Not polish but sand a flaked area smooth.

Maggie

[FairyGirl]

Presume that delaminate refers to that slate-like faking? .... Yeah, that's really common with estrogen 

Acrylic nails is a bit of a one-way trip 'cos it really screws your own nails up so makes natural nails even harder to revert to.

yeah that's exactly what I'm experiencing and I too keep a nail file handy at all times! funny, it seems to affect certain fingers more than others. I've been taking vitamins specifically for strengthening hair and nails but they take a while to really work properly.

I had heard that before about acrylic nails, but it's just so frustrating when you finally get one to grow out a little bit only to chip it right back down to the quick and have to start over.

[Steffi]

......it's just so frustrating when you finally get one to grow out a little bit only to chip it right back down to the quick and have to start over.

Yeah, tell me about it 

I've tried all sorts. These days I'm using a clear nail strengthener/hardener called "Nail Care" from the Collection 2000 range.  It's quite viscous and a good coat of that, allowed to dry before applying nail varnish seems to help a lot.
- for a little extra strength you can also apply a layer of that to the underside of your nails.
If I do get a deep chip of delamination, I put a blob of that into the crater and let it thoroughly harden...... then sand it down with a fine emery board, finishing with one of those sponge sander/buffer things before varnishing with colour.
- in extreme cases or where I've partly torn a nail, I have in the past used Araldite!  (epoxy resin.)  Done with care, a thin layer will flow out over the nail and harden. Any flutes or ridges can be sanded down and filled in as above, then a colour applied on top.  The resulting repair is undetectable if done carefully, is pretty strong/durable and should last until your own nail grows long enough again.   

[sd]

It took my mom 8 years for her nails to recover from years of acrylics.

I'll pass.

Try using the Hard As Wraps by Sally Hansen.
I also use their nail growth solution before putting that on.

Has it helped, well, my nails are certainly stronger, and I can grow them longer, but I used to bite and keep them really short, so some of the changes could be because I am just not abusing them as much as well as a few other things, but I do think the wraps work well.

By the way, someone is making a clear wrap with carbon fiber in it.  Not sure how good it works though. I'm happy with what I am using for now.



Oh also delaminating at the tip, if you are using a metal file, get rid of it. They have been shown to promote that. Switch to emery boards.

[Suzy]

Mine delaminate all the time so I have to wear tons of clear nail polish.  I'm gonna try Biotin. Thanks, Kristi!

Maggie

Yeah, I hate flaky nails.  If you do try the Biotin, make sure you get the 5 mg kind.  Most of them are weaker.  You can find it with the vitamins in the grocery store.

Kristi

[Myself]

Try to eat a lot more calcium.

My blood tests show my calcium is at the top and everyone tells me that's why my nails shine and are so healthy.

People asked me if i have nail polish on when I don't.

[Autumn]

Yeah, I hate flaky nails.  If you do try the Biotin, make sure you get the 5 mg kind.  Most of them are weaker.  You can find it with the vitamins in the grocery store.

Kristi

I came here to post this

I've taken 5mg/day (plus an extra .3 mg from my multivitamin) for years, I've never broken a nail while taking biotin and respecting my nails. One time I used that dead sea crap they pander at malls, and my nails broke clean off on every finger. Otherwise, 4 years, no broken nails. And I wear my nails up to and sometimes over a centimeter long, and I do have to move boxes and stuff sometimes. I dropped a stack of lawnmower blades on ny thumb nail, no problem - carried 40 pound boxes that I lost my grip on and caught with my nail, no problem. Painful for a few hours, but no worse for wear really.

For a while, I was taking a double dose (10.6mg/day), but after several months, my nails got too strong - when instead of bending back painfully, the nail actually bled because the bed gave instead of the nail, I dialed back to my usual dose.

If your nails are traumatized, or if you get fungus, it can change the shape. Some careful shaping can remove lumps and bumps - I had a hump on one middle finger for as far back as I can remember, I filed it away and the nail has been smooth since. Doesn't seem to have affected the nail quality, either. Buffing the striations out of your nails can help, too - and makes them look and feel nicer.

Natural nails are the way to go. Biotin helps your skin and hair too.


Oh, yeah, and the nails have gotten me lots of positive and negative attention over the years. I used to get a LOT of "I'm so jealous!" "How do you...!?" "I hate it when a boy has better nails than me..." from women, but the more I pass, the less they comment.

[sd]

Careful with bumps and ridges, they usually are indications of a health issue. Mine were a bit wavy because I was anemic (iron deficiency) due to a digestive issue I was unaware of.

Any odd streaks, waves or discoloration all has meaning about your health. Smoothing them is fine, but you should look into why you have them.  You should need very little smoothing to make a nicely shaped nail.

[Autumn]

Careful with bumps and ridges, they usually are indications of a health issue. Mine were a bit wavy because I was anemic (iron deficiency) due to a digestive issue I was unaware of.

Any odd streaks, waves or discoloration all has meaning about your health. Smoothing them is fine, but you should look into why you have them.  You should need very little smoothing to make a nicely shaped nail.

*shrug*

I've had natural long nails for around 4 years now, since I stopped biting them. The one had the lump for I'm not sure how long - I expected it to reemerge after the nail grew out, but it hasn't months later. Natural nails are not all entirely perfect, trauma to the nail bed and the different way the nails themselves grow out of your fingers can make them take on different shapes too. When your nail itself is crooked from the finger, it's hard to shape it properly.

[Autumn]

It's metric. Mg is milligrams.


300 MCG = 0.3 MG

This is why we say that 5MG pills work and 300 mcg pills do not.

Google answers and converts measurement questions for us Americans who don't know those weird outlander measurements, too.

[Dana Lane]

I have been blocking T for about 3 months or so and on E for about 2 months.  My nails are very strong and looking fabulous.   My shrink's receptionist even commented on them that she was jealous and can't grow hers out like mine.  I do keep clear nail polish on them.  Usually about 2 coats which may be helping.

[Steffi]

I have been blocking T for about 3 months or so and on E for about 2 months.  My nails are very strong and looking fabulous.

YMMV ...... but that's too short a time for the bad things to really start happening.  This flaky-nail thing is REALLY common among us   

[Dana Lane]

  YMMV ...... but that's too short a time for the bad things to really start happening.  This flaky-nail thing is REALLY common among us   

Dammit! 

[Dana Lane]

@ Dana Lane - Yep.  All in good time.  Probably best to take action NOW to KEEP them strong.
Otherwise, in a year you'll have them trimmed back to the quick.

I bought a large bottle of Biotin the other day and have started on them. Can't wait until my nails are long and strong again.  I miss my ten little box cutters.

I have been taking "Ultra Woman" Daily Multi (love the name) and I believe it has biotin. Well, we will see what happens. For now I will just enjoy the nails I have and smile at the reactions I get (guy having long manicured nails).

[Autumn]

Look at the dose numbers we're talking about in this thread. Unless it's got like 3mg and you take two a day or something, it's not going to help much if you have weak nails.