Hair and Nails,
 

I have to pet peeves that are driving me nuts and I wanted to ask you about them.

First my nails. No matter what kind of nail polish I use it will not stay on my nails. No matter how expensive.

Second, my hair has curls in it that I never had before I got sick. Could meds do this? Sounds crazy but my hair gets curlier all of the time and I hate it.

I'm wondering if these are connected to the meds or the changes in our bodies from the illnesses.

Thanks guys,

Ada

I have noticed that my hair has taken on VERY different changes since getting RSD. I have gotten curly spot on the under side of my head.. and the rest is straight.. AND that it has changed colors! notthing drastic, but i had a light brown/aubrun hair color before and now its a medium to dark brown. you can tell where the colors change bc my hair is very long.. i just dont want to dye it or cut it.. soo..lol

Youre not alone..

:hug:
Amber

Hi Amber,
 

You hit the nail on the head. Mine is curlier underneath. The top is pretty much straight but I can see it is getting some curl. As far as color. My hair is blonde. Not my natural color but I went to blonde a few years back just to see if it would make me feel different. I just try new things every once in awhile to see if it will perk me up. Nothing does for long but I do try to keep myself up so when I go out I look decent.

Your hair is about the color mine was and as long. I like it on you.

Ada

Could be something to do with sulphite suplphite bonds? (That's what causes curls - you get a S=S trple bond or something in the hair.) Not sure how it could occur? maybe Sulphite is more likely to occur with skin deoxygenation?. I only have A level chem so can only guess - wiill ask some people..

Also, my hair has changed as well - it's not as red as it used to be and has now gone strawberry blonde, it also falls out REALLY easily.. nails - don't even go there.....

Rxxxxxxxxxxx

Hair\Nails
 

:grouphug:

I have not had the curlly problem on the hair side, but the grey's seem to be poping up more often. I am not taking Sulfates so maybe this does have something to do with it.

Also, since going on the Lyrica my hair has been falling out of my head rather rapidly. The Dr's cannot find it on the side effect list and said it may be stress related. Do not know but I think it is stinky LOL

Nail polish. My nails have been quite brittle and are pitting and groved since July 06. I frequently have been cracking them right at the qick area and placing clear nail polish on them to assist them in staying until the grow past the quick point. The polish only lasts a day or two and if I soak them in the water they automatically need to be redone (bathing, showers, dishes). I think is because real nails do not hold polish as well as fake nails. Nails are porous and when you get them wet they expand and contract. This causes the polish to chip and peal.

Just my 2 cents. Hope this gives a little insite....

Gentle Hugs

Rain :)

I would suggest taking some MSM - you can post and verify with Mrs D for interactions and safety.
or use the interaction checkers in the sticky here- I'm sure i posted them here as well as the TOS forum.

It is a version or in the family of sulfur but doesn't usually cause any allergic reactions like sulfur medicines.

I used to have good links for it but lost them.
I took it regularly when I had my severe RSI and also again when the RSI/TOS showed up 2 yrs later- but have been lax about taking most of my vits and supplements since the kitchen remodel - just got out of the habit - since everything was moved around.

Supposedly it it good for so many body and cell functions- and it did make my nails grow and my hair texture was much smoother- I have thick coarse hair.

Hair / Nails
 

I have curly hair and if anything it has gotten straighter...go figure!!! It also has gotten very thin to me anyway - and that's what counts - right?

The nails - I was told from the very beginning(or read about it) that brittle and breaking nails are a symptom of RSD. I finally gave up on trying to keep them colored or even just clear cause they were all different lengths and just looked ridiculous. I do try and buff them at times. First they grow, then they begin to break; what I've noticed most is that mine are breaking and cracking vertically in the center tip of the nail, not at the edges where they used to. So for me, that's how I know that it's rsd related somehow.

The positive side for the hair I haven't figured out, BUT the positive to the nail condition is that it sure saves me a whole lot of time!!!

Have a great and pain free weekend to all.
Cathy

Thanks for the replies,
 

Cathy, mine are breaking in the center also. I also tried 4 different times to get fake fingernails at 4 different places and they wouldn't stay on. They would start falling of in just a day or two.

I can't remember ever having good nails though even before RSD.

Thanks to all of you,

Ada

Nail growth and nail loss
 

Hi all! I am new here. My nails have grown like crazy, but and this is a big but, they are separating from the nail bed, are grooved and pitted and have started developing dark spots under the nail. Any idea on what sort of Doc I should see about this? :confused: My Neuro and pain doc just looks at them and informs me "well, it is progressing, and we don't mean in a good way". Thanks Doc!

I note you all have spoken about hair, mine was always silky, but now it is like straw, no change in color, but will keep my eye on that one.

Thanks in advance for any advise and nice to meet you!
TevyesDaughter

Hi and welcome,
 

My nails drive me nuts still. They break off so bad. I try and keep them polished in hopes they will grow more or not break anyway. It doesn't work. The polish doesn't stay on to protect them anyway. They still break in the middle and I am constantly using clippers on them to even them out.

As far as my hair. I seem to lose a lot when I wash and comb it. It still curls underneath. I used a straightener on it not long after I started this thread and it didn't keep the underneath straight.

I go through times where it feels lifeless and feeling like straw too. I believe it's when I am having my worst days in pain and everything else that goes with the RSD. What I do is sleep with conditioner on it. I'll put a shower cap on it so as not to get it on the pillow. That helps. It doesn't grow fast either. It use to but since RSD it doesn't. I haven't had it cut in about 8 years. A normal person it would be twice as long as mine, I have seen that from comparing to others.

Just some of the perks of RSD that never seem to go away.

Ada

Increases in depakote causes hair loss.

My toe nails were a mess and I started working on them about twelve years ago (two years before the RSD). I was making great headway but it faltered when I got sick. They still seem to be improving but it requires a great deal of work.

This is so common with RSD that I wonder if it might be more than a mere symptom.

Hair and nail problems
 

Hi there,
RSD does cause nail and hair changes. I used to have lovely straight hair before I got RSD but now it is really curly and it is always knotty. I too am getting sick of it. No matter how much I try to straighten it it wont go straight.
My nails are a lot longer than they were before I got RSD.
I do believe that the medications we are taking can cause this to happenn
Take care
Love
Alison

Hi Everyone,
Ever since etting the RSD, I've had a bad hair day everyday.No matter what I do, my hair looks dull and lifeless. Its so embaressing to have to go anywhere.
I talked to my hairdresser andshe said its most likley all the meds. My nails are bad too. My toenails look so bad. I keep them covered so no one can see.

Sue K

Toenail and hair problems
 

The toenails on my bad leg are terrible. They seem to grow really fast and I am unable to cut them due to the hypersenstivity, it is so annoying.
I get embarrassed whenever I go to the hospital because they all laugh at my toes. The hairs on my bad leg grow a lot faster too. I am dark haired so it is awful, they show a lot. ;
Take care and if you need anything I am always here
Love
Alison
_X_

hello
 

I have hair and nail changes too..
Actualy I have lost 3 my toenails so far, 2 in my right foot and my big left toenail too. The left big toenail stayed bright red after a block like for like a month and a half then it seperated from the nail bed and jus fell off. This is not a normal reaction to blocks from what I hear. My toenails used to grow faster at first but now they seem to have slowed down.

The nails on my hands are starting to crack alot and have little pits in them.. the nails in my feet are rudged across and the nails on my hands are ridging in a downward direction.. is all weird with RSD and it IS part of the RSD rather than the meds.

My hair is not curling (alas I have always wished for curls) but it has thinned out alot and grows VERY fast on my head and legs, I have thicker hair on my legs and hobit toes (long hair on my toes) I get imbarrased to show my feet and that is dificult because my feet hate to be covered in socks or anything, I have a big toenail on the right foot that is so hard and thick it is very hard to cut through and always hurts me.. it gets ingrown too cause the toe nail is curling inwards at the sides. It hurts alot to cut them but I do it because I don't want anyone else at my feet.:o

Hugz
Sandra

I don't know about the reasons and don't know if these suggestion will help but thought I would share. As for polish make sure you have a strong base coat underneath the polish. Also a strong top coat. For hair issues what has helped me is to not wash it everyday and to not blow dry it so much. I let it air dry partially. Also a good protein rich shampoo and conditioner and even a protein mask at the salon. Also for those who color or treat there hair in similar that really damages your hair as many know. Probabaly didin't help much but thought I would share

Hair and nails
 

Hi, I hate my nails they are so grooved and dented I try to polish them and it looks worse. My hair is naturally curly but hasnt been behaving. I cant walk very well it is important that I at least look good. lol at least try.When my hands dont hurt to much I can do my hair, as long as my feet dont hurt to bad to stand in the shower. I used to take a shower everyday now 4 or 5 times a week. Just wanted to share my story thanks. Julie

my hair was thin to begin with now its almost non exsitant it falls out if the wind blows LOL the have also bitten my nails so i cant answer that one. have no curl to hair but i have white spot that is down the back of my head underneath and the color went from california blonde to dirty blond have to dye now because of the bright white i look like cruela deville LOL

heres another question anyone else got acne type things goin on ? i never did till 2 yrs ago i wonder if its the sweating ? anyone else ?i do have the groved nails toes and hands

hair & nails
 

Hi everyone,:You-Rock:
First I want to say this is a pleasure listening to you veterans. You have so much to share and such knowledge. Even though i am a sort of remission state I still have questions and have an eagerness to learn about my illness........just want to thank you all.....you really make a difference.
Now while I was swimming through this thread caught my eye. My hair is growing extremely fast. Fortunate for me my daughter is hairdresser. My nails also grow much faster during flare but have slowed now again. There are vertical ridges on fingernails and also crack in middle or split in layers. Coconut oil on them at night helps some or almond oil unscented. I actually kept them short (painfully so) but more painful when they touched skin. It is common for me to have sores around nails treated with anti fungal meds. the dr. believes due to long standing antibiotic treatment from lymphangitis and cellulitis. Old infection 8/07 from injury.......but fungal stuff still resurfaces....on probiotics also.......

Thanks again my friends,

Debbie

Good Morning,
 

First off Carrie, I would gladly give you some of my hair. Mine is very thick. I have to have it thinned at least 2 to 3 times a year. When Bill and I got married they couldn't get it to stay up because of the length and how heavy it was. It's still pretty thick. It's about the color of yours so we wouldn't have to do much to it to make you a wig. LOL

Hi Debbie,
By you being in remission I can almost bet that you have as much to share with us as we do you. I am glad you are doing good and I'm sure some of the things you have done to get there would help many on here.

My toenails have ridges also. My fingernails seem to be growing a little more these days. I drink lots of milk and I think that's helping. I've never heard of the coconut oil being used for the nails, nor almond oil. Told you that you'd have a lot to share with us too. I will try it. I would love to keep my nails from cracking and breaking. I snag everything with them.

My hair grows slow. It's funny how it either goes one way or another with RSD. I wish mine would grow faster.

I don't have to shave my legs as often due to no hair growth. That's a good thing.

Ada

good day
 

yea please share. my oldest has shirley temple curls since a baby she gets it from my husband they both have brillo pad thick hair and curls that dont stop he keeps his short hers is past her butt when wet ..

yea that would mean no dye job for the wig LOL

debbie im so glad that you are in remission. never heard of the oils for the fingers i couldnt do it tho my youngest has nut allergies so we are stricly nut free. !!! sounds like it would work tho !!!!