Hormones and nails

[Naturally Blonde]

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?

Before I was on HRT I could grow my nails quite long. Since I've been on HRT they break far more and are hard to grow now.

[BrandiOK]

Pre-hrt I had beautiful nails..shape was perfect, no flaking and could grow them as long as I wanted.

Post-hrt my nails are terrible..some of them tend to curl when they get too long because they are so thin now, they flake, they break constantly.

I've tried every hardener, enhancer and snake oil I could find to improve them but no such luck until trying OPI Original Nail Envy.  I'm not saying it's perfect but it has been the only thing that works and works well that I've found.  I'll definitely be trying the biotin as suggested by some of you.  I went the acrylic route but, while they looked fantastic, the upkeep was a pain and my nails were twice as bad when I had the acrylics removed.  Perhaps a combo of biotin and the OPI Nail Envy might be the answer.

When I brought up the subject of my post-hrt nail problems with my endo she smiled and said "welcome to womanhood" lol. 

[FairyGirl]

I had actually been taking a supplement (Blackmores Nails, Skin and Hair Heath, available in Australia) for about 3 weeks when I first posted to this thread. I looked and sure enough it contains biotin as one of the ingredients, but only 1.3 mg along with some other stuff. At 2 pills a day that was still only 2.6 mg. Since this thread I have supplemented my supplement with an extra 3 mg a day pure biotin and already it seems to be making some difference.

Thanks Brandi for the tip. This also made me wonder if the hormones are affecting my hair the same way? Making it more brittle, prone to breakage, etc.  It doesn't seem to be so far, but I'm thinking biotin is going to be good for that too. A lot of mothers I've talk to about it all say that prenatal vitamins are excellent for skin, hair, and nails, but I wouldn't want to O.D. on too many vitamins lol

[Autumn]

Biotin is for hair, skin, and nails all. I've been out for 4 days, finally got a bottle, time to double dose for a bit 

Though, I noticed that wal-mart finally stocks a 5mg pill. 120 of them for $7. HEB is 60 for $12. So... I may just switch to buying it from wal-mart. $21 for a year supply of anything is good times. Of course, you assume the manufacturer is the same quality... if you are really short on cash, do it.

Hair, buy a deep conditioning protein treatment and use it twice a month or so, do occasional olive oil treatments (can buy them in the black girl hair care isle), use a clarifying shampoo once or twice a week, and always use a moisturizing conditioner. Trim damaged ends. Acknowledge that pulling it back or updoes will wreck your hair, and either stop, use soft scrunchies, or live with it.

[FairyGirl]

I never tie my hair back, Not ever. Haven't for years. I nurture it pretty well, and it's been good to me in return. I just got the ends trimmed about 2 weeks ago and always keep it clean and well conditioned with quality products. But it had just occurred to me that if E can wreak such havoc on nails, would it also cause hair to become weaker too. It hasn't seemed to so far, at least it doesn't seem to be breaking or falling out. In fact it seems to be getting thicker if anything.

[r.morgan]

Well, I'm doomed then. 
My nails are scary short, they have damn near NO white.  They end maybe an eighth of an inch before the end of my fingers.
My nails are paper, even at this short length.  They tear if I try to open a can of pop with my fingertips.  
I'm not even looking at hormones yet.
I just (2 days ago) started using a clear polish (by OPI), that's supposed to strengthen the nails. 

[FairyGirl]

well I can also confirm the biotin does work. Mine are finally growing past the ends without splitting or flaking or breaking off so that's a good sign

[Dana Lane]

Well, my nails finally got feminized. grrrr.  Ended up having to cut them all down except for the pinkies. I am on a megadose of biotin now and use nail hardener and cuticle oil. If these break again after they get grown out I'm getting acrylics.

[FairyGirl]

Well, my nails finally got feminized. grrrr.  Ended up having to cut them all down except for the pinkies. I am on a megadose of biotin now and use nail hardener and cuticle oil. If these break again after they get grown out I'm getting acrylics.

I finally had enough fretting over them and broke down and got acrylics. Now my nails look fabulous and my stepdaughter is totally jealous lol. Best decision I could have made.

[Cyndigurl45]

OK so that's what's going on I tried prenatal vitamins but can't stomach them... I'll try the Biotin

[FairyGirl]

yes I'm still taking biotin too but in the meantime went with acrylics for my own sanity lol

[Maddie Secutura]

I must be the only one who doesn't care about her nails.  Then again I'm a nail-biter and will never understand why everyone says its a bad habit.  I keep a few millimeters of white on the ends but not really any longer.   As for how strong they are, I've been on HRT for 7 months now and they're strong as ever.

[Dana Lane]

I must be the only one who doesn't care about her nails.  Then again I'm a nail-biter and will never understand why everyone says its a bad habit.  I keep a few millimeters of white on the ends but not really any longer.   As for how strong they are, I've been on HRT for 7 months now and they're strong as ever.

Are you aware of what kind of germs are underneath your fingernails? yuck!!!!!

[mmelny]

Before HRT, I had very strong nails.  After about a year into HRT, I they were brittle and breaking when much longer then the fingertip.   I really wasn't too concerned at that time, there were much bigger issues then growing a sexy set of nails.....  However, I was concerned about my hair, and started taking Biotin (5000 mcg, a dose usually recommended for vegetarians), and noticed a side effect of stronger nails, I think!       With all of the changes going on with HRT, it's really hard to tell what's doing what, and what changes over time.   That was 1.5 years or so, ago.   

At this point, I'm still on Biotin, growing nails well, and have no idea if Biotin's the thing that's making my hair a bit better, or just experience with caring for it.   In regards to nails, they are still growing strong, and I've recently adopted the use of Sally Hansen's witchcraft, the 4-in-one, 'which' is utterly amazing for getting even longer, talon-like growth!   Meow!  I started using that about two months ago.....

Good luck!

Melan

[Hannah]

I really wasn't too concerned at that time, there were much bigger issues then growing a sexy set of nails

Preach on. I was getting antsy about it too but had that exact thought lol. The biotin is good advice though, after taking huge doses for a while it seems to be helping a little.

[YoungSoulRebel]

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?

on FTM HRT, yes, I've noticed that my nails have gotten thicker and stronger.  Not flattened out -- the only nail that's ever been "flat" is the middle figer on my left hand, which got smashed in a car door when i was sixteen.  (On the plus-side to that accident, my step-mother and I both got to get out of my father's "gift" of us having a "Mother's Day Special" at GlamourShots -- which even she wasn't into.)