Nail strengthening

Casdon

For years I’ve used Sally Hansen Hard as Nails, I spend hours in the garden and my nails don’t break or split. It looks like clear nail varnish on, so it physically protects your nails from drying out as well as strengthening them.

I use that, too. Probably not quite often enough, but IMO the clear layer does protect nails, as well as looking nice. (I do my own nails but never use coloured varnish any more.)

People mention eating eggs, and gelatine.

Chia seeds

Folic acid not only strengthened my nails. I had one damaged nail from removing a stubborn false one and it grew back very well. You can buy folic acid over the counter. Never again will I use false nails- they ruin the surface of your nails. My sewing teacher has to wear false ones all the time as her nails are so damaged.

With tongue in cheek prednisolone strengthened nails according to the net it does for a lot of folk. Just about the only positive side effect this nasty drug had for me

Found Nailtiques excellent for this but difficult to get hold of the product now. My nails after menopause were dreadful just kept flaking away and breaking. Nailtiques remedied this for years but I now find that they split at the edges along the vertical ridges.

I use Boots No.7 nail strengthener. It is the only one I have found to work.

Here is one previous conversation on the subject

www.gransnet.com/forums/style_and_beauty/a1260065-Nails

Here's another

www.gransnet.com/forums/health/1278101-Is-anyone-else-having-problems-with-their-finger-nails

Neither of these two are the one that I remember, though.

Quite a few years ago I developed a contact dermatitis on my face and despite many visits to the GP, I could not figure out what caused it, Finally I was referred to a hospital and within 10 minutes of seeing a dermatologist he told me I had the signs of a nail varnish allergy. I had been trying to grow my nails and was using Sally Hanson's Hard as Nails. I took it off and my eczema like dermatology problem disappeared. Just a warning!

Always had strong good growing nails until recently even though I garden etc.

Following my birthday in May I kept getting texts from the surgery to go for my annual blood test. Not had one since 2017. Everything was fine but I am Iron deficient (not anaemic) So I'm assuming this is causing my nail problem?

Not sure if this may help. Some of my toe nails have thickened and a friend mentioned using Vicks vapour rub on them! I've used it daily for 2 months and they are a lot healthier and strong.

I use OpI check out qvc you can get different sets from them. I used to work as a chef and was constantly washing my hands and I’ve been using OPI for years along with a good hand cream and a crystal nail file but as we age our nails become weaker so you need I also use emu oil I’ve long nails and long hair but I use Philip Kingsley for that lol

Nailtiques 2. I am a swimmer and my nails used to peel off in layers. Now they are long and strong and are often commented on.

I take vitamin E, and a multi for over 50s plus calcium, B complex and Vitamin C. Mainly because of hair loss but since taking all this my nails grow really quickly and I'm always having to cut them, not improved my hair though.

Biotin is a useful inexpensive supplement for supporting healthy nails and hair growth. Your diet may not be deficient but it's possible that your body isn't processing the diet intake as efficiently as it used to

My elderly Mum had been advised to eat almonds to help with the problem of thinning hair. She told me that her hair seemed to have stayed the same but that her nails had definitely improved. Might be worth a try.

I used Sally Hanson Advanced Hard as Nails and it's very good.

My dry flaking nails have responded to daily moisturising with nail oil. Superdrug do an excellent one reasonably priced. Might take a few months but definitely worked.

Remember that splitting nails is a sign of thyroid issues - hypothyroidism. Menopause also causes massive issues. I now take try round medication and HRT as well as a collagen supplement and Vitamin D and Calcium supplements (was recommended at quite a high dose by GP). My nails are better now than they have been in years and hair and skin are also improved! Another benefit of collagen if peri menopausal or menopausal is that ligaments and tendons also become more rigid and collagen again helps them stay more flexible.

Other sign of thyroid issues is cold hands/feet and fatigue - feeling really exhausted.

Definitely Vitamin D for nails and hair as mentioned before, but also try CeraVe hand cream to keep your nails and cuticles healthy and moisturised. It's available from larger Boots sores and online.

Take Lysine tablets 1000mg two daily on an empty stomach. I started taking it as a prophylactic for herpes and after 4-6 months I realised both my nails and hair were much stronger. I wasn’t taking any other supplements. A very happy side effect! After 6 months I dropped down to one tablet first thing in the morning, more beneficial taken well before food although might say differently on the product directions. I’ve been taking lysine regularly now for nearly 3 years and my nails have gone from flakey to strong and my hair is blonde! ( in my 50’s it became dull and I dyed it) I’m now 70 and I like to think the lysine has helped and that others can benefit from it too.

A sprinkling of pumpkin seeds on my cereal has really strengthened my nails. They used to split and break but since I've been adding these my nails are much stronger.

OPI Nail Envy is my go to.

I take both Collagen and Biotin, started off with Biotin for 3 months and added Collagen as I have had severe inflammation in my arm tissue. It was recommended by my Osteopath. They work on healing tissue, skin, nails and hair, and I have never in my life had long nails. They are now claws that have to be filed right down every 5 weeks. Collagen is a bit pricey but worth every penny.