What's going on with my nails?

[MedusasBadHairDay]

The last few weeks I've noticed white lines agitating on my nails, only my thumb nails, and worse on the left one. Aside from these my nails are in the best condition they've ever been, which makes this more confusing.

It kind of looks like I've scraped them, but I haven't as far as I know.

Any idea what these are? Or how to prevent them/reduce them?

Agitating?? Appearing.

I was always told white lines in your nails mean you need a bit more calcium. My mum always said drink a glass of milk 😁

@Ladymouse

I was always told white lines in your nails mean you need a bit more calcium. My mum always said drink a glass of milk 😁

Ah. That would actually make sense, I don't have much dairy - I was always lactose intolerant a a child, and thought I'd grown out of it recently, but had realised recently that I wasn't handling dairy too well and cut it right down. Which would be around the time the lines started appearing. 🤔

Did you over-buffer them?

Nope, haven't buffered them in years. Aside from trimming/filing and moisturiser I largely leave them alone. I rarely even paint them, let alone anything more.

I was going to say you need more calcium too :).

Probably that's good advice regardless of the nails. 😁

Bumping this because my nails appear to be getting worse, I've now got a split I'm the nail, at the nail bed, and the nail appears to be growing curved. Definitely not injured myself, so no idea why.

@MedusasBadHairDay do you have any other symptoms or health conditions?

Watching OP
Sorry no advice to give but I have this too and put it down to age

[quote nolovelost]@MedusasBadHairDay do you have any other symptoms or health conditions?[/quote]
No, I mean I've got hypermobility syndrome, but never heard of it affecting nails. Otherwise a far as I'm aware I'm healthy. And all my other nails seem fine, just my thumbnails for some reason.

Op, book a Gp appointment. I qualified as a nail tech years ago and they said that nails can be very early indicators of all sorts of issues. At the time I thought it was ridiculous but then a few years later my nails became pitted and heavily lined and I remembered what they said. Sure enough I had a blood test and was diagnosed with an auto immune disease. Different Mail issues can indicate different conditions but aren't fool proof. But don't panic, it could be nothing or even a side effect of any medication you are on etc.

It's just dryness isn't it? Washing hands and sanitiser several times a day. Your cuticles look very dry. Buy some cuticle oil and apply it 5 times a day and lots of hand cream and see if it gets better?

@ChiefBabySniffer

Op, book a Gp appointment. I qualified as a nail tech years ago and they said that nails can be very early indicators of all sorts of issues. At the time I thought it was ridiculous but then a few years later my nails became pitted and heavily lined and I remembered what they said. Sure enough I had a blood test and was diagnosed with an auto immune disease. Different Mail issues can indicate different conditions but aren't fool proof. But don't panic, it could be nothing or even a side effect of any medication you are on etc.

Yeah, I think I'm going to. If only because it's now a little sore to touch. Better to check it out and find it's nothing.

@BigusBumus

It's just dryness isn't it? Washing hands and sanitiser several times a day. Your cuticles look very dry. Buy some cuticle oil and apply it 5 times a day and lots of hand cream and see if it gets better?

They actually aren't dry, as I basically don't leave the house now I never use sanitiser, and always make sure I moisturise after washing hands. Most days I apply an oily moisturiser and leave it to soak in.

Just dryness! 😂 Why didn't you think of that op. 😂

Just bumping this. I managed to see the GP about my nails, they referred me to a dermatologist, and I'm still waiting to actually see them though. My first appointment got cancelled typically.

In the meantime it's now affecting all my nails, the thumb nails are much worse than the others. But they're all ridged, brittle, kind of blue and weirdly shaped. The split in the one nail is now the full length (see attached) and I have to keep it cut really short to stop it catching on everything. The other thumbnail is lumpy and white in patches.

It's also affecting my toenails, I've developed 3 ingrown nails, and managed to stub both my little toes (not particularly hard) which resulted in my nails tearing off.

Posting here not really expecting an answer, but maybe one day I'll find out what's caused my nails to go from strong and healthy to utterly wrecked, in which case I'll update the thread and it might help someone else.

Could be psoriasis??? I have only have small patches on knees and elbows but it really affects my nails (hands and feet). They are heavily ridged, soft and split often. Can't wear nail polish as it causes my nails to flake. I find vaseline helps, if that's any use while you wait for your appointment .

Agree @whysorude

Are they clubbing? Put your index fingers nails together back to back and check there is a diamond shaped gap. Clubbing can be a sign of various illnesses and you would need some checks.

@whysorude

Could be psoriasis??? I have only have small patches on knees and elbows but it really affects my nails (hands and feet). They are heavily ridged, soft and split often. Can't wear nail polish as it causes my nails to flake. I find vaseline helps, if that's any use while you wait for your appointment .

Oh that does seem to match. Got to admit I'm hoping it's something less permanent. We'll see what the dermatologist says later this month (if it doesn't get cancelled again)

@Teenylittlefella no that's not clubbing. I think they could be psoriatic nail changes. Will be interested to hear what the dermatologist has to say.

I'll definitely come back and update you. But I suspect you are right

How awful for you Op, they look so sore.

We finally have an answer! whysorude and flyingbymypants were right, it's psoriasis. Turns out I've always had it, but just didn't realise that was what the dry patches of skin on my elbows were (I thought it was normal)

Been given some cream to use morning and night, hopefully that will clear it up, though I have been warned it can be difficult to treat the nails. However I've also been told it's ok to paint my nails or use false nails to hide it.