Fingernails

[Guest guest]

> My fingernails are separating from the nail bed. 5 out of the 10

of

> them are only connected by the skin closest to where they grow out

> of.

I have periods of time when I have problems with my nails lifting,

that's what keyed my GP into the fact that I was at risk for PA. His

mother had P, so this is a disease he's very familiar with. He noted

the lifting and warned me ahead of time to be on the look out for

PA.

I found what was best for me was to keep my nails short and just to

be careful with what I was lifting. I was also bothered by the way

they grow in all goofy like, so I would paint my nails with clear

polish after I had soaked my hands in water. This seemed to form the

nail better. lol I may be goofy..who knows. Otherwise, I just

waited out the flare.

Good Luck!

[Guest guest]

Hi , I am just starting to have psoriasis under my nails and was told

to treat it with tea tree oil, I just found this out yesterday so I don't

know how it works yet, but I will give anything a try. Good Luck,

Michele

[Guest guest]

Michele,

The tea tree oil - is that something you can buy at a health store? I am

willing to try anything.

Thanks,

>>> Michiepez@... 08/04/01 15:27 PM >>>

Hi , I am just starting to have psoriasis under my nails and was told

to treat it with tea tree oil, I just found this out yesterday so I don't

know how it works yet, but I will give anything a try. Good Luck,

Michele

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 08/05/2001 9:05:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

lesliesa@... writes:

<< The tea tree oil - is that something you can buy at a health store? I am

willing to try anything. >>

- any pharmacy should have it as well and many products now contain

tea tree oil

[Guest guest]

Thanks!

>>> TADEL630@... 08/08/01 07:27AM >>>

In a message dated 08/05/2001 9:05:25 PM Eastern Daylight Time,

lesliesa@... writes:

<< The tea tree oil - is that something you can buy at a health store? I am

willing to try anything. >>

- any pharmacy should have it as well and many products now contain

tea tree oil

[Guest guest]

>>after being on lamisil for three months and both my docs thinking it

>>was fungal, i think it is p thet hurt have a hump in the middle

>>length wise and are thick. what is the treatment for this,or is there

>>one. my meds have cleared my skin but my toes have flaired. i better

>>find a mate before i am all crusty and crooked! whishing you all

>>well..kyle

>

> and All,

> I've had psoriasis on my hands and feet

> for many years, but was only diagnosed correctly about a year

> ago. Working with a dermatologist (for the P) and a

> rheumatologist (for the PA), I'm on MTX and folic acid for both

> the P and PA. I also take Mobic each day (this is one of the

> newer non steriod anit inflammatory drugs). I also use a

> steriod cream called Psorcon-E on my hands and feet for the

> psoriasis

> Even after using all these medications, my fingernails

> and toenails have never returned to normal, healthy nails. Two

> years ago, my fingers were so bad that I actually lost 6 of the

> nails. They have grown back, but now my nails are very thin

> and have ridges in them. It's called 'pitting' of the nails.

> Some months they begin to grow and will actually have a good

> growth on them, but I've noticed when they do grow out, they

> become hard and brittle and break very easily. I keep them

> trimmed because they feel better. It may sound odd, but they

> actually hurt if they get any length to them because of getting

> thicker.

> I've asked both the dermatologist and the

> rheumatologist if I can ever have normal, pretty nails. They

> both have said it is very doubtful. The dermatologist said to

> be sure and keep both the fingernails and the toenails cut

> straight across; not too short and not too long. I also don't

> wear polish of any kind because it seems to aggravate the

> psoriasis.

> I know none of this sounds hopeful, but sometimes it's

> best to look at the picture with open eyes :-) Your situation

> may be different than mine. If anyone else has experienced

> nail difficulties and found a way of getting the nails back to

> healthy nails, please do share this with us :-)

> Regards,

> P

I have to add more personal experience to this one. If you can correct the

psoriasis situation your nails will grow back out normal. Some people have

mentioned that psoriasis causes scarring. I suppose that the scarring will

only occur if broken skin due to psoriasis gets infected. Also on this point

I tried using nail filler like for sculpted nails to improve the aesthetics

of my nails that were pitted and distorted. After about a month of using

those chemicals It seemed to exacerbate the psoriasis and the nails got much

worse. Besides that the sculpting material would not adhere well to the

damaged or missing nail material so I would usually have to re-do them an

about 2 days. As for treatment tips, My nails are in the best shape theyve

been in 10 years theres 1 thumbnail with significant distortion but the new

growth is normal, 1 middle finger still has surface erosion on new growth. 6

months ago I had 2 nails that were so messed up that by the time they were

half way out there was no nail and if i remember there wasnt a single finger

nail that wasnt affected. Ive been using distilled water for cooking and

everything i drink for about 4 months. I make a point to drink at least 3

quarts a day. for 3 months ive been eating a lot of fresh garlic some raw

and some cooked also cilantro, a lot more vitamin c (from whole lemon, lime

and orange), fish and flaxseed oil capsules, reduce intake of hydrogenated

oils and replace with olive and safflower oils, selenium and zinc

supplements. It is getting better. I've tried this same thing on some

family members with positive results. My brother was diagnosed for reiters

syndrome. His eyes have been bloodshot like a stoner for 15 years they

arent after 1 week of this treatment. His morning stiffness and pain are

reported to be significantly improved after almost 2 weeks. This is

reasonably cheap to try and even if it doesnt make a huge difference to your

complaints it may be sound advice for general health. Orin

[Guest guest]

Orin,

I think the advice you gave is good for general good health. I have always

cooked using lots of fresh garlic. I don't eat it raw often. Only if it is in

a salad or sometimes over fish. I don't cook/eat cilantro much but I will

definitely give it a try. As for the olive oil, I have always cooked w/ that

too. I hardly ever fry foods or eat fried foods. I hardly ever eat out either

and I never eat fast food. I was eating very healthy until I started those

antidepressants. They killed my apetite. Now I have to force myself to eat

even though I quit taking them. I will try the supplements though. Maybe the

combination will work. At this moment I am willing to give any thing a try.

Thanks for the good advice!

[Guest guest]

Hi, !

These are called Beau's lines, and can result from several things, including

zinc deficiency, uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, high fevers from infectious

diseases, etc.

[ ] fingernails

One of my sons has VERY growing fingernails, and they all have several

convex narrow ridges from base to tip. Does anyone have any ideas what

this might indicate? I know that white spots mean he needs zinc, which

he does and we are supplementing that. Is this just a regular thing,

nothing to worry about, or is it a deficiency of some type.

Thanks,

in Arkansas

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/15/2002 10:11:42 PM Central Daylight Time,

mhurst@... writes:

> I looked at pictures of Beau's lines. Those go from side to side, not

> cuticle to tip like my son's. I looked at the pictures of psoriasis,

> and it doesn't look like that either. So I'm still not sure what it is,

> if anything. They grow extremely fast. Past the end of his finger

> within a week.

>

Hi,

A nutrionist whom I took my son to a few years ago told me that the lines

running from cuticle to tip mean a fatty acid defiency. Both my son and I

have those. And my husband has psoriasis, so I'm familiar with the look of

those nails. Not the same as the lines we have. Now my husband's nails do

grow very, very quickly, which is consistant with psoriasis. But my son's and

my nails seem to grow at a normal rate.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

My ds has this. I never thought to question it. It did always seem odd though.

I thought maybe he had damaged his cuticles but perfectly damaged his

cuticles?!?!?! He has to cut his nails about every 2-3 days and they all have

these long ridges that run from cuticle to end.

Tonya Dillingham--who's having an 'ah-ha' moment

Mothersheart1996@...

[ ] fingernails

One of my sons has VERY growing fingernails, and they all have several

convex narrow ridges from base to tip. Does anyone have any ideas what

this might indicate? I know that white spots mean he needs zinc, which

he does and we are supplementing that. Is this just a regular thing,

nothing to worry about, or is it a deficiency of some type.

Thanks,

in Arkansas

[Guest guest]

I just examined his nails and they are more like millions of pits in the nails

than ridge lines. Is this the same?

Tonya Dillingham

Mothersheart1996@...

[ ] fingernails

One of my sons has VERY growing fingernails, and they all have several

convex narrow ridges from base to tip. Does anyone have any ideas what

this might indicate? I know that white spots mean he needs zinc, which

he does and we are supplementing that. Is this just a regular thing,

nothing to worry about, or is it a deficiency of some type.

Thanks,

in Arkansas

[Guest guest]

No, it is not. He might have psoriasis of the nail. In any case, take him to

an excellent dermatologist to have them looked at.

[ ] fingernails

One of my sons has VERY growing fingernails, and they all have several

convex narrow ridges from base to tip. Does anyone have any ideas what

this might indicate? I know that white spots mean he needs zinc, which

he does and we are supplementing that. Is this just a regular thing,

nothing to worry about, or is it a deficiency of some type.

Thanks,

in Arkansas

[Guest guest]

I looked at pictures of Beau's lines. Those go from side to side, not

cuticle to tip like my son's. I looked at the pictures of psoriasis,

and it doesn't look like that either. So I'm still not sure what it is,

if anything. They grow extremely fast. Past the end of his finger

within a week.

in Arkansas

Re: [ ] fingernails

My ds has this. I never thought to question it. It did always seem odd

though. I thought maybe he had damaged his cuticles but perfectly

damaged his cuticles?!?!?! He has to cut his nails about every 2-3 days

and they all have these long ridges that run from cuticle to end.

Tonya Dillingham--who's having an 'ah-ha' moment

Mothersheart1996@...

[ ] fingernails

One of my sons has VERY growing fingernails, and they all have

several

convex narrow ridges from base to tip. Does anyone have any ideas

what

this might indicate? I know that white spots mean he needs zinc,

which

he does and we are supplementing that. Is this just a regular

thing,

nothing to worry about, or is it a deficiency of some type.

Thanks,

in Arkansas

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/16/2002 8:39:11 AM Central Daylight Time,

_Shepard@... writes:

> Some of us when mercury toxic have bodies which cycle the cells faster than

> normal.

, the last part of this sentence could be describing psoriasis. I've

always wondered if my husband's psoriasis was related to his mouthful of

mercury. He thinks not, since his mom had psoriasis. He doesn't know how many

fillings she had, but his dad was a dentist. Makes me wonder.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

Thanks so much for the heads up...I had no idea but after some web research,

it's exactly how his nails look and act. I understand now why they grow way

past his fingers in about 5 days.

Tonya Dillingham

Mothersheart1996@...

[ ] fingernails

One of my sons has VERY growing fingernails, and they all have several

convex narrow ridges from base to tip. Does anyone have any ideas what

this might indicate? I know that white spots mean he needs zinc, which

he does and we are supplementing that. Is this just a regular thing,

nothing to worry about, or is it a deficiency of some type.

Thanks,

in Arkansas

[Guest guest]

Does your son have trouble gaining, keeping on weight? Nails are dead cells.

Some of us when mercury toxic have bodies which cycle the cells faster than

normal. Enzymes may help the body use nutrients from food rather than trying to

get it from cells (i.e. from sometimes very limited body reserves). S ---

On Mon 09/16, Tonya Dillingham & lt; mothersheart1996@... & gt; wrote:

From: Tonya Dillingham [mailto: mothersheart1996@...]To:

@...: Mon, 16 Sep 2002 09:21:08 -0400Subject: Re:

[ ] fingernailsThanks so much for the heads up...I had no idea but

after some web research, it's exactly how his nails look and act. I understand

now why they grow way past his fingers in about 5 days.Tonya

DillinghamMothersheart1996@... [ ] fingernails One of my sons has VERY

growing fingernails, and they all have several convex narrow ridges from

base to tip. Does anyone have any ideas what this might indicate? I

know that white spots mean he needs zinc, which he does and we are

supplementing that. Is this just a regular thing, nothing to worry

about, or is it a deficiency of some type. Thanks, in

Arkansas

[Guest guest]

Thanks Debbie, this makes MUCH more sense. Of course we are

supplementing fatty acids. How disappointing to get this indication

that it isn't working.

Hurst.

Re: [ ] fingernails

In a message dated 9/15/2002 10:11:42 PM Central Daylight Time,

mhurst@... writes:

> I looked at pictures of Beau's lines. Those go from side to side, not

> cuticle to tip like my son's. I looked at the pictures of psoriasis,

> and it doesn't look like that either. So I'm still not sure what it

is,

> if anything. They grow extremely fast. Past the end of his finger

> within a week.

>

Hi,

A nutrionist whom I took my son to a few years ago told me that the

lines

running from cuticle to tip mean a fatty acid defiency. Both my son and

I

have those. And my husband has psoriasis, so I'm familiar with the look

of

those nails. Not the same as the lines we have. Now my husband's nails

do

grow very, very quickly, which is consistant with psoriasis. But my

son's and

my nails seem to grow at a normal rate.

Debbie

[Guest guest]

> I looked at pictures of Beau's lines. Those go from side to side,

not

> cuticle to tip like my son's. I looked at the pictures of

psoriasis,

> and it doesn't look like that either. So I'm still not sure what it

is,

> if anything. They grow extremely fast. Past the end of his finger

> within a week.

This thread is confusing to me, so I will just report my family's

experience.

One of my kids has lines/ridges from base to tip. They can be deep,

causing the nail to split and/or peel.

One of my kids has nails which grow very fast and also very unevenly.

After a week, the edges are grown out past the end of the nail, but

the center has not grown that long. This applies both to toenails and

fingernails. He had a fungus under one toenail once, which caused

the nail to eventually fall off.

This problem for both these kids is improving as chelation is

progressing.

Dana

[Guest guest]

>

> [Meghan's Note: I've had really terrific success with all of the

> psoriasis problems since I started on Remicade several months ago.

> My nails have healed up in addition to the plaques. The arthritis

> pain goes away the first 3-4 weeks after an infusion, but it

> itermittently comes back for the next 4 weeks until the next

> infusion. I'm trying Enbrel next, hoping for more consistency and

> equally good results for the psoriasis.]

>

Meghan, a question: It sounds like you've only been on Remicade for a

few months but are planning to start Enbrel fairly soon -- Is that

right? I thought all the stuff that was out there for P and PA took

several-to-many months (in some cases more than a year) before results

could be expected and/or confirmed. At least, that's what I've heard (or

read) about Arava, MTX, etc. Have I misinterpreted your note and you

really aren't switching as quickly as it sounds?

--Louise

....still messing with Lidex et al. and UVB for the P...

[Guest guest]

Hi Louise,

From what I have read on here, and people I know... Remicade and Enbrel for some

people start working VERY fast. Some people say they can feel a difference

several hours after the first infusion/injection. In the Enbrel trials

(www.Enbrel.com) some people noticed there skin being 75% clearer in 12 weeks

time.

Go to the Enbrel site and look at all of the trials done on PA. It's very

exciting and interesting.

In a message dated 12/16/2002 9:57:26 AM Eastern Standard Time,

lbodonald@... writes:

> Meghan, a question: It sounds like you've only been on Remicade for a

> few months but are planning to start Enbrel fairly soon -- Is that

> right? I thought all the stuff that was out there for P and PA took

> several-to-many months (in some cases more than a year) before results

> could be expected and/or confirmed. At least, that's what I've heard (or

> read) about Arava, MTX, etc. Have I misinterpreted your

> note and you

> really aren't switching as quickly as it sounds?

>

> --Louise

> ...still messing with Lidex et al. and

[Guest guest]

Hi Cindi,

I have been " off " for a long time, due to my husband's illness and the baby

kittens I was nursing. Both the kittens are fine and in goods homes, and my

husband is back at work.

I too have strange things with my fingernails. My Rheumy says I have Mixed

Connective Tissue Disorder - and my fingernails were one of the deciding

factors in some of his diagnosis- I have Psoriatic Arthritis as well as,

Rheumatoid Arthritis LOL.

But, my nails do grow very fast. My husband helps me cut my toe nails, and

they really grow. My hips are so stiff that I cannot reach my toes. My

fingernails have ridges in them, kinda like the potato chips but smaller. The

ridges split vertically down the middle if I do not keep my nails cut below the

finger tip. These cuts will go all the way down to the cuticle and really

hurt. Filing does not work, I have tried all kinds, but cutting them seems to

be the best. I have tried polishes, hardeners, etc. when I had special

occasions, but nothing works. Generally I use a type of nail oil called TIPS -

I

get it on QVC - it does keep them looking groomed and I have less splits.

Hope this helps,

Gentle Hugs,

Carol M. in CA

[Guest guest]

Hi Everybody,

I just wanted to ask a question and see if anyone here had the

same symptoms as I have. Ever since I started on my RA meds, my

fingernails and toenails grow really, really fast and long, but they

are real rubbery and they bend easily, like Play Dough, has any one

else noticed this happening to them ?

Thanks, Cindi

[Guest guest]

Hi Everybody,

I just wanted to ask a question and see if anyone here had the

same symptoms as I have. Ever since I started on my RA meds, my

fingernails and toenails grow really, really fast and long, but they

are real rubbery and they bend easily, like Play Dough, has any one

else noticed this happening to them ?

Thanks, Cindi

[Guest guest]

My nails have become very hard. I actually have to cut them ... they used to

just break all of the time. I think it's the prednesone. I am constantly

checking myself for any new " facial hair " too. So far none. Thank God!!!

Cristen

[ ] RE: Fingernails

Hi Everybody,

I just wanted to ask a question and see if anyone here had the

same symptoms as I have. Ever since I started on my RA meds, my

fingernails and toenails grow really, really fast and long, but they

are real rubbery and they bend easily, like Play Dough, has any one

else noticed this happening to them ?

Thanks, Cindi

[Guest guest]

One of my thumb nails has a vertical line going all the way to the

cuticle. I have to keep that nail cut below the finger tip, too,

because it splits there, not all the way down to the cuticle. All of my

fingernails are very brittle and break and become all uneven unless I

cut them as short as possible very often.

I read the article on fingernails that posted, and my nails don't

fit into any of those categories. My fingernails have been brittle far

longer than I've had RA, too. Someone said to take biotin, so I do, but

have had no improvement. I guess it's something I'll have to live with.

Sue

On Thursday, September 23, 2004, at 01:53 PM, Dandcmayer@... wrote:

>

> My fingernails have ridges in them, kinda like the potato chips but

> smaller. The

> ridges split vertically down the middle if I do not keep my nails cut

> below the

> finger tip. These cuts will go all the way down to the cuticle and

> really

> hurt. Filing does not work, I have tried all kinds, but cutting them

> seems to

> be the best. I have tried polishes, hardeners, etc. when I had

> special

> occasions, but nothing works. Generally I use a type of nail oil

> called TIPS - I

> get it on QVC - it does keep them looking groomed and I have less

> splits.