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a slightly OT girlie question for the beauty gurus.

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 2/10/2010 8:20 AM (GMT 0)
I've been in hospital a lot lately and my hands are a mess because I haven't been able to give them the care I'd like. I'm slowly getting them in order, but am having a lot of trouble getting rid of the daggy bits at the side of the nails: those annoying nail splinters that break away from the main nail and then catch on clothing etc.

What can be done about them? Are they happening because I've been caring for my nails incorrectly? Will they go away with time? Or is there something else I should be doing to get rid of them?

They don't seem to be going away by themselves, despite the fact that I'm cutting and filing my nails more regularly than I was last year...

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. I *could* get a manicure, but they are expensive and I'd rather spend that money on essentials.

Thanks,

Ivy.
Posted 2/10/2010 9:06 AM (GMT 0)
uuhhh... got nothin' ;-)
Posted 2/10/2010 12:00 PM (GMT 0)
I use a really good hand cream and rub it into the area around my nails really well. I also use cuticle oil once a day. My hands aren't in great shape, but those two things seem to help! When I do get those 'hang nails' I trim them with those funky looking trimmers (that can get close to the base) so they don't catch on things...they're SO frustrating:(
Posted 2/10/2010 12:17 PM (GMT 0)
If you keep them moisturized (so hard in this cold, drying weather!) it will be a little easier - keep a little bottle of cuticle oil and hand cream in a little tote in your bag with an orange stick, some cuticle nippers and an emory board (if you have room for all that or if you are in the hospital and have time for it :)

A few times a day after you wash your hands moisturize them and rub the cuticle oil into your nail beds and around the sides.  Clipping your cuticles is sometimes frowned upin (esp if you are in the hospital you don't want any extra place where germs can come in) but if you do it sensibly then you can keep them neat and stop the splitting.

It seems when I am in Prednisone my nails grow faster and stronger - only other benefit to Pred? :)

Posted 2/10/2010 2:06 PM (GMT 0)
It depends you could use a gentle file (make sure you only file in one direction) or trim (as long as it is an area that is not going to hurt) and then use gloves and vasilene at night.
Posted 2/10/2010 2:48 PM (GMT 0)
honestly, the little side skin things.. hang nails etc.. take the little pain and pull them off and kinda groom each finger, than from there use like a johnson and johnson baby lotion or petrolium gelly. Promise it will work.
Posted 2/10/2010 2:59 PM (GMT 0)
Are these hang nails (which are actually the skin around the cutical) or is this actual parts of your nail?
Posted 2/10/2010 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
Here's my beauty secret! I do work in a hospital and all of the patients skin always gets dry! I always make the families bring in the Eucerin lotion for the skin. Its amazing. But for your cuticles and hang nails I use Aquaphor.. its made by Eucerin. This stuff is even more amazing... I use it as a lip gloss too! A little goes a long way with this stuff. I just massage it into my cuticles at night.. you'll see almost instant results! :)
Posted 2/10/2010 9:06 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, all.

I use moisturiser several times a day and wear the gloves at night, and I use cuticle oil a couple of times a week, so do you think they'll go away eventually, if I just keep up with my current routine?

On a related note, what can be done about the raised red skin at the base of the nail, and those ugly bits of skin that tear away and become inflamed? Anything?

I really am sensitive about my hands. Ever since I was diagnosed as a teenager they've been very inflamed and swollen and covered with a strange rash that nobody has been able to diagnose or treat, and that seems to be affecting the health of my nails too. Now that my health is starting to improve I'm moving into circles where it's important that I look well-groomed, and my hands keep sabotaging my appearance.

Thanks again.

Ivy.
Posted 2/10/2010 9:22 PM (GMT 0)
Have you ever tried Aquaphor? It's the absolute best moisturizer I've ever run across...it's kind of like extra-thick vaseline. I use it as chapstick, b/c I can't use anythng with suncscreen in it on my mouth; my stupid crazy sensitive skin goes nuts if I do. Anyway, it's awesome!
Posted 2/10/2010 9:59 PM (GMT 0)
You could try soaking your fingertips in some warm olive oil (microwave a small dish) for a few minutes a day, then wipe off the extra and rub in whatever is leftover. Put on some lotion on top and then your gloves and go to bed. Olive oil is suppose to be really good for nails. Not sure if it will help, but its worth a shot.
Posted 2/10/2010 11:14 PM (GMT 0)
Ivy, do you think it is an infection?
Posted 2/11/2010 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Navy, my feeling is that it is an undiagnosed AI condition. It's not as bad as it has been, now that my Crohn's is a little more stable (or maybe because of Humira?). It also improves with cortisone cream, but of course I can't use that all the time.

It's both the nail and the skin around it that breaks off and forms these dags.

I've FINALLY been referred to an allergy clinic, so may be able to get some help there (when I do actually get to the appointment, which is a few months away yet). In the meantime, I want my hands to look prettier!

No brand recommendations, please. I'm in Australia, and our brands are different.

Thanks again,

I.
Posted 2/11/2010 1:08 AM (GMT 0)
I do get bits of nail or skin breaking away sometimes. I take the sharpest pair of nail scissors that we own and cut as much as I can off, but sometimes I have to leave a stumpy bit because it's impossible to get at or, if it's skin, too painful to cut. I find that it grows out sooner or later if I just ignore it. Got a small one now on my left thumb, but otherwise my nails look good at the moment -- or maybe it's just the dim lighting :p

I don't know if this makes a difference but I do keep my nails short and not long. If you want long nails, are false ones a possibility?

For frazzled hands, I'd be inclined to recommend an antiseptic cream. Put it this way, the one I used when my right hand got seriously frazzled (itching, rash, scabs, etc.) did the job. Took about a month, but each night I'd rub in a tiny amount, let it sink in, rub in a bit more, etc. But that said, if you've got an ongoing allergic reaction, it might not work.
Posted 2/11/2010 4:13 AM (GMT 0)
ok, 187 views of this thread, and only 13 replies! how many of you 'guys' out there peeked in here to see what was up? devil nono

i guess i kind of expected it of randy ( yeah ), but the rest of you guys, i'm ashamed! blush

sorry, ivy, i got nuthin' on the nail thing. i just looked in to see if sniper had responded. he was dealing with something like this recently. confused

vv
Posted 2/11/2010 4:22 AM (GMT 0)
I have read that the supplement Biotin is supposed to be great for having healthy hair and nails. Maybe you could try that? Available anywhere supplements are sold.
Posted 2/11/2010 12:42 PM (GMT 0)
Is it the nails that are cracking, or the skin adjacent to the nails? I used to get a lot of that, and it was a vitamin A deficiency. Try taking one vitamin capsule a day (preferably the fish oil type) and see if that fixes it. Remember, just ONE capsule a day - vitamin A is something you can overdose on.

cheers,
Robert
Posted 2/11/2010 1:01 PM (GMT 0)
I use Sally Hansen Maximum Growth Cuticle pens. It looks kind of like clear nail polish going on but it's just oil. If you get it on your clothes it dries right up, doesn't leave a stain. You can use them however many times you want during the day and I noticed a biggg difference after maybe 2 or 3 days. My nails were much stronger and I don't have problems with them breaking anymore. And the best part is you can even use it over nail polish. It's pretty cheap, I get mine at Walgreens.
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