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dry hair and brittle nails

Posted: Jun 22, 2010

I have fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome and just turned 40. I have been told that the hair/nail problem may also be somewhat related to an autoimmune condition, but the doctors really don't know for sure:( Any ideas?

;

have you tried a google search? - see message

[ In Reply To ..]
The first thing that comes to mind is a thyroid problem. Have you been tested? Having chronic fatigue syndrome, I would assume you have had thorough testing of your thyroid levels.

I did a quick google search, and it could be related to a low estrogen level or a deficiency in a B vitamin, for which you could take biotin, which is a vitamin B complex. If you wanted to, you could do a more extensive search on google, and I believe you could find more information.

thx - I have been through

[ In Reply To ..]
many different specialists and tests over the past few years. Nobody and nothing has ever helped. I was just looking for maybe a personal experience that worked for someone with a similar problem. I wish I could talk them into vitamin B12 shots. I always wondered if that would help. So far no one would do it. They always said my B12 was fine.

You could always buy sublingual B12 - Kendra

[ In Reply To ..]
if you really wanted to. :)

dry hair brittle nails - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
I have a thyroid condition and that causes the same symptoms. Have you had your thyroid checked?

yes, many times:( - it is always fine

[ In Reply To ..]
it has been checked many times by a few different specialties. It always comes back to the mystery of an unknown and uncharacterized autoimmune disease and that there is not a lot they can do for me.

re: dry hair and brittle nails - hm

[ In Reply To ..]
I have recently been having a whole bunch of really annoying symptoms, dry hair, dry itchy skin, easy bruising, muscle aches and pains, sweating, dry mouth and dry hoo ha, dribbling urine and accidents with sneezing and coughing, sore boobies and wanting to just sleep my life away, on and on and on. Never have I had so much going on at once!

Last month I had 3 "seemingly normal" periods! I went to my GYN and he did a battery of tests and is pretty sure that all these symptoms are related to menopause and assures me that I'm not crazy. that's a relief! He's given me tips and tricks, suggested estrogen replacement and other stuff.

With your medical conditions, could it be a possibility for you also, perhaps early?

PS, this menopause stuff is wretched! (for me anyway. My mom was lucky, didn't have symptoms)

wow, if perimenopause - starts at age 40

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm in serious trouble. lol I have enough going on as it is.

Hope you figure out what is going on with you and feel better soon.

yes, it's true: premenopause starts around 40, - sm

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so they say, hormonally, menopause between 45 and 50, with 55-60 it's over and you can enjoy life!

see inside - list for you

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Vitamin B complex (all the B vitamins !)
Omega-3-fatty acids
Vitamin E
Vitamin C
Calcium

I forgot: Olive oil, the best, eat it, also good - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
for skin and hair, applied outside:

Make a hot-oil-wrap for your hair before shampooing it. Leave in for 20 minutes.

Put olive oil and lemon juice on our nails,

just make a "salad."

No kidding!

dry hair/nails - sm

[ In Reply To ..]
First of all sorry you're going through all of this!

Is you hair thinning at all? I started perimenopause,like someone else mentioned above, around 40 after my last baby at 38, cycles never the same but continued in some fashion for 10 more years. About the same time noticed the change in hair/skin/nails, thyroid always okay for tests, too. But FSH was dropping, indicating the perimen. Hair was always fine but getting worse and drier beginning then. Even though never had great hair was pretty nice when was PG, I suppose with all the hormones.

Several years later, I saw a derm who said in many cases of women he sees with dry hair/thinning/fine etc. ferritin is low. Mine was at the borderline of low so suggested I take some iron if not getting enough in diet, can be constipating for some people though. Just a couple of other ideas.

Dry Hair, etc - spitfire 78

[ In Reply To ..]
Would agree with perimenopausal. Hate to say it,but age and decreasing hormones is the biggest cause. Don't remember if anyone has mentioned this, but every female needs to take folic acid 1 mg EVERY DAY. Get the 800 ug tablets at Wally-World, cheap, and a their generic Centrum (I take generic Centrum Silver just because it has a little bit more of the B vitamins). This has about 200 ug of Folic Acid which will add up to your 1 mg a day. All of us gals need folic acid and a good MVI as well as calcium w/D EVERY DAY. Also, as someone mentioned, olive oil is great for your nails. You might also notice that you have, or getting, ridges in your nails. That is also age-hormone related and is normal. Sorry, getting old sucks.

I also have hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis. Fortunately, my late husband was a pharmacist and was there for me through all of the above diagnoses. He, along with my docs' approval, set out the above vitamin regimen for me. I've been taking it now for >15 years. I believe it helps my immune system, which, of course, is shot with the meds I take for RA. Also,I take a minimum of 1000 mg a day of vitamin C. During flu season, or if my seasonal allergies of dust and cedar are acting up, I will take up to 4000 mg a day of Vit C.

Maybe some of the above will help you. Sure hope so. I emphathize w/you.

thanks for your input, also: fish oil capsules - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

thank you all and yes, my hair - stylist

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says that my hair has really changed over the past 2 years. It used to be very thick and normal. Now it's thinning and so dry.

My ferritin was fine at my last lab work. I will have it all rechecked in August. Thanks for the reminder.

Thank you all for your ideas. I appreciate the help very much!

yw :-) - nm

[ In Reply To ..]
nm

How about CoEnzyme Q10 with L-carnitine? - New diabetic & maybe cancer

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm over at the Puritan Pride vitamin website (such deals, everything's buy 1 get 2 free right now). I'm under treatment for a tumor and awaiting surgery while tanked up on steroids and a newly-diagnosed Type 2 diabetic and still learning the entire insulin routine. Anyway, for supplements my PCP really advocated the CEQ10 for a variety of things. He also suggested garlic, colostrum (kinda expensive), and a few other things.

Vitamin E might be a good topical for your nails and even olive oil is supposed to be really good if you warm it and soak your hands/nails. Also, you can add a tablespoon of olive oil to your shampoo (doesn't have to be EVOO, just the cheaper grade) and shake it up (just read that tip in InStyle Magazine).

Hope those ideas help. Now I'm going to post and ask if anyone is using the CoEnzyme Q10 and colostrum and see what benefits they've gleaned, lol!

I love this site :-) Sorry for any typos or ramblings...I'm doing this between reports, lol!

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