[karilann]

I've always had exceptionally strong fingernails. The last few months the nails on my LEFT hand only have begun to become soft, weak and split vertically. My right hand nails are strong as ever. So now I have short nails on the left and long nails on the right!!
I am right handed so it is not from over use of my dominate hand. I've been wondering about the meds we take possibly being the culprit.
Anyone else experience this change in fingernail strength?

[Erin524]

My fingernails have always been a little weird (I was born missing the fingernail on my left index finger)

I noticed that since my left hand went numb, my fingernails feel really weird (I know that the numbness is what's making the nails feel weird), and they seem to break a heck of a lot easier than they used to. The nails on my right hand seem to be ok tho. Altho the nails on both hands seem to be becoming a little flakey (pieces flake off the end of the nails.)

I am having problems with hangnails on the left hand. Seem to have more of those since the numbness started.

[SallyC]

I always had soft weak nails, until LDN. Now they are strong and grow fast.

Every now and then, they will chip and split, but it seems just a temp thing. Maybe Meds or maybe infection or illness???

[Koala77]

My nails sound just like your's. I remember asking a while back about the vertical ridges that had developed in mine and one kind person told me the ridges were due to old age.

I remember the name of that person, and she's a real sweetie so I won't embarrass her by mentioning her name.

My nails are also soft again at the moment, and I put that down to me being unwell recently. My hair and my nails tend to tell more about my health than my own words can say. My hair stylist can always tell me when I am unwell, if I've been sick or if I have an ailment coming on.

I do believe our nails are a good indication of current health status, but Calcium tablets or gelatin capsules will certainly strengthen them for you.

[mrsD]

Do you stick your left hand into dish suds doing the dishes etc?
Do you wear gloves when cleaning etc?

I ask because I am allergic to something in the water on vacation, and my left hand and forearm get the rash worse and faster than any other body part! (I would be pumping the pump with my right.). It took me a while to figure out this rash, and we zeroed in on the algae bloom there, since it only comes during a certain time of year.

[braingonebad]

My nails have always been soft, split and peeled easily, grown slow. Suddenly last year they grew in nice and strong. Then they died again.



Then while in FL, they grew back all perfect.

This time when they went back to being all weak and slow, I noted that my hair started falling out by the handfuls!



Calcium may be a good idea. It's that time of year when nobody gets enough. And I have been slacking on my supplements. I tell ya, my legs are in crazy pain when I don't take them.

[karilann]

Hmmmm......I do use my left hand to dip into the dish water and then use a scubby and rinse under running water with my right hand. Maybe the left hand is getting the brunt of the dishwater........ Anyway I hope thats all it is....and yes I am getting older too.

[mrsD]

Originally Posted by karilann

Hmmmm......I do use my left hand to dip into the dish water and then use a scubby and rinse under running water with my right hand. Maybe the left hand is getting the brunt of the dishwater........ Anyway I hope thats all it is....and yes I am getting older too.

My nails get soft when wet. Also the dish soaps are very strong,
and are a surfactant, meaning they defat skin and get into pores etc. I vote for the dish washing soap...Try wearing a glove from now on and see if that helps!

I have one finger on my right hand, that got severely pinched between rocks while gardening. Something happened to the growth plate (this is the same finger my Dad accidently closed in a car door when I was small--so it was damaged once already)..Since that more recent pinch, there is a deep vertical groove in it, about 4 cm wide, and that part is thinner now, and constantly splits! Looking at it on end, it is also curvy. I have to keep it now, trimmed really really short. It is a total pain in the "you know what".

[slmcafac2002]

I have soft nails.Don't have much left of me i can call pretty as i have gained weight.So i use the gell nails.It dose make me feel better.Whatever helps.
slmcsfsc2002
AKA
slm

[Dejibo]

I have always had strong nails that grow very quickly. Really hard to break or split, but just before I was showing sx of MS I was getting "splinter hemmorhages" under my nail beds. lil dots or streaks of blood would appear. Wierdest thing I ever saw. My naturopath said it was a Vit D def. Now I know why.