About My Nails

This was happening to me and I happened to save this article!! I hope it helps you as much as it did me!! It won't make it a link, you'll have to copy and paste!

health.msn.com/health-topics/skin-and-hair/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100146019

You really should see a doctor. Doctors can tell a lot from your nails. He/she can also order a blood test which would identify if you have an deficiences.

In the meantime, a few things that might help..
keep clear finger nail polish on
wear gloves when doing dishes and other cleaning
keep your nails filed so there are no rough edges that can get caught

Fish oil. The CVS supplement you are taking may be good too. You will need to wait about 4-6 weeks see an improvement though.

I am under treatment for hypothyroid (low production). I know when it's time to be checked again by the condition of my nails, thinning hair, & overwhelming tiredness. Good Luck!

Hi M., I had a similar issue with my nails a number of years ago and didn't do much about it (other than be really bothered). Like you, I was taking multivitamins from CVS. A few years ago, I began taking Shaklee's all-natural pharmaceutical-grade multivitamins for health reasons (nothing to do with my nail issues). Co-incidentally, my nails became very strong and stopped splitting and breaking. Having read a great deal on the subject and listened to many nutritionists and doctors, I honestly believe now that most of the vitamins available in stores, even health food stores, simply do not contain what is listed on the label - or contain it, but it has lost its potency. Shaklee tests and re-tests its ingredients before putting them in, thereby ensuring safety and validity. Please feel free to contact me if you want to talk more about this. ____@____.com E. Taft

According to the Physicians Desk Reference, the vast majority of pills (vitamins, etc. - really anything) are only absorbed around 20-25% So you are wasting your money with them, frankly - you absorb only a portion (and that can be just the coating & filler, which contains a lot of wax and even shellac so the pill pops out of the mold during manufacture). That's why, with 75% of the population taking supplements, we still have epidemic rates of disease & deficiencies. Our food is deficient too - fruits/vegetables are down as much as 40% in nutrients.

I have friends whose nails have improved dramatically after they switched to liquid supplementation (which the American Medical Association says is best) - you don't want a pre-mixed liquid as it degrades over time. My friends, colleagues and I all take a patented and totally comprehensive powder which you mix with water just before taking it - with its high absorption rate, we get the best value AND have the nutrition working at the cellular level in about 20 minutes. Don't take a particular vitamin or mineral - nature is designed so that all vitamins, minerals, amino acids, phytonutrients, etc. work in partnership with each other. Isolating one or two elements does not work, and it can get people in trouble. Megadosing has been condemned by all reputable authorities, but people still do it frequently.

You could have a thyroid problem but since you aren't getting enough good nutrition (none of us is, according to the AMA), you won't really know until you supplement properly.

Check your thyroid like a lot of the other moms have said, especially if this is a newer symptom.. I find that when I'm really good at using a hand lotion and cuticle oil several times a day that my nails will grow nicer and stronger. I have terrible nails never have been able to grow them very well, but I do not take care of them like I should. (like using rubber gloves when cleaning and doing dishes and keeping them moisturized) I hope you can find something that works and I would love to know what it is cause I need help with that too.. but try to keep them moisturized and away from detergents that's the only time I've have any success with my nails.

You might have a mineral deficiency. Try to find one of those eastern medicine accupunturist/herbalist. I get my vitamins and minerals from her and it's done wonders for my hair and nails.

I honestly think it's pretty common to have this problem as a mom. If you use your hands a lot, they're just more likely to split and break.

Are you good about keeping some form of polish on them? That can help a lot in protecting them. Mine tend to break and split a lot more when I'm not good about keeping a clear coat on them.

I would definitely followup with your doctor for blood work. As someone else already mentioned, doctor's can tell a lot from your nails. I have the same problem. My nails split and break as soon as the get to the tip of my finger. They also have ridges on them--I have an autoimmune disorder. I tried all kinds of nail strengtheners, etc. Just this week I found something I am happy with. It's a nail polish called axxium. It's from OPI and it has gel in it. So it's your own nail, but the polish is thinker to keep nails stronger. I was told the polish lasts for about two weeks. It is very shiny and dries under UV light, so you can leave the salon right away--no waiting for nails to dry. Hope this helps.

How is your hair? Is your hair thin? Dry? Breaks easily? Your hair and nails are made up of the same protein. If your hair is ok, I would get a clear polish from Nail-Tech. They have a bunch of different ones that are especially for different nail conditions. They have one specifically for dry nails that break, for weak nails, etc. Its about 5- 7 dollars. Look them up online. Its a great professional treatment. Or get clear nail polish and put small peices of garlic in there, chopped. It helps strengthen the nail bed. Hope this helped!!!

If you are concerned have the bloodwork to check your thyroid and for anything else you might be deficient in. For now, you can go back to CVS and there are nail strengthner polish that is clear and that will help protect your nails from splitting.