Paper thin fingernails

[Autoimmunity]

Sorry, dumb questions, but all of a sudden I have paper thing finger nails.  My entire life I have had long, hard, gorgeous fingernails, all of a sudden they are bending and splitting and paper thin.  I have no idea what is going on?  I had to cut my nails down to nothing.  I also have swelling in my finger joints and got a steroid shot in December that did nothing!  It seems my vitamin levels would be low or something?  I supplement with 4000mg vit d3 and I think 2000 mcg b12 due to low levels of both.  I also take 1-2 multi-vits a day, clearly not doing me very much good.  The other thing is I have had severe exhaustion.  Go to work, sometimes fall asleep at work, come home, eat something, shower, then basically fall asleep for the night.  I don't see my doctor for another 4 weeks.
Anyway, wondering if anyone has every gone from rock hard nails to paper thin basically overnight?   

Thanks.

[Piebird]

I always had terrific nail too. Now mine split and bend. Wearing nail polish makes it even worse.

[Joe S.]

Biotin is the supplement that you are looking for. I also used to eat Knox gelatin.

[LisaMarie]

I'm not making excuses for my nail biting.  But because I've always had thin nails that are splitting, peeling, etc., my need to constantly groom my nails and remove all snags, etc. have caused me to be a nail biter.  Sure, I can carry around a file that has buffing qualities to it, but I often don't have it available.  So I bite off snags, etc.  My husband doesn't understand this at all. 

I recently saw a news report on how nail biters are not always nervous people as first thought.  They may be "groomers."  Sort of like the apes that have a need to constantly pick.  I have a need to rid my nails of all snags.  I know it only makes it worse, but I can't help it.

[olmphoto2]

Amen, LisaMarie.

Autoim...cause might be another autoimmune disease which I have also:  Lichen planus.

[grammad97]

My nails went downhill from sjogrens. I get my nails shellaced tor strength ;I wear gloves to do the dishes and to clean and I take the supplement "hair, skin, nails ". My nails are growing again!

[gurs]

My nails are paper thin....mostly from my extreme hormone changes..menopause and falling estrogen levels.

Im sure SS plays some part, but hormones for certain!

Gursie

[Scottietottie]

Hi 

Have a thyroid test. Flaking nails is a possible sign of hypothyroidism. I'm hypo and if my numbers change my nails start splitting. When my meds are right I have good, fast growing, strong nails.

Take care - Scottie 

[Autoimmunity]

Hi 

Have a thyroid test. Flaking nails is a possible sign of hypothyroidism. I'm hypo and if my numbers change my nails start splitting. When my meds are right I have good, fast growing, strong nails.

Take care - Scottie 

Yes, I have hashi's and take armour thyroid..for years.  Have never had this problem.  I am not taking a high enough dose, but my endocrinologist and I do not see eye to eye on that, but nothing has changed on that front for many, many years.

[Carolina]

My nails have always been paper thin.

One son inherited my nails, and keeps them short short short.

One son inherited my husbands nails, which you can hear him clipping in the next room they are so thick and strong.

For me it's just genetic.

A sudden change means a change in your body.........lots of ideas here.

Good Luck Autoimmunity!

Keep us posted.

Paper thin nails are very difficult.  For one thing they don't protect your fingers properly.

I wear acrylic nails over my nails, just to keep from damaging my cuticles constantly.

Hugs

Elaine

[Sooki]

My nails have been paper thin for some time now, except for the ring fingers and thumbs which are heavily ridged.  If they get long, I can read through them.  All of them are also very brittle.  A little chip can crack off the top of the nail.  I have to keep them short, too.

[reesatay]

Wondering if any of the meds you are one can effect the growth of your nails?

[Scottietottie]

Hi Autoimmunity

Maybe your numbers have changed and you need more thyroid med. Not sure how Armour works but I know its a combo of T4 and T3 and natural. Maybe your nails would strengthen with an increased dose.

Take care - Scottie  (I have Hashis too and have needed meds changed upwards and downwards about 6 times since dx)

[chrisr]

PPI meds can affect your bones and nails.  Zantac could be the culprit.  i would recommend trying HCL with Pepsin instead of PPIs to fix acid reflux.  PPIs remove all acid from your stomach which makes it very hard for your body to absorb minerals (calcium, magnesium zinc etc) and B vitamins.

[meow]

Biotin, 5000 units, and zinc. Hair and nail rescuers!!!!!