Tuesday 1 May 2018

Warning, I don't holdback and talk about how gross my nails can get because of DWD...

I have always had terrible nails. I have never not picked at my nails and throughout my life they look like raw meat: red, chapped, falling apart... I rarely have anything that goes past my finger to form a "nail" as in they never grow that far. I always thought it was my anxiety, as a coping method I pick my nails, especially if there is any hangnails and that happens ALL the time.

I recently saw in the Facebook Group that nails get the Darier's White Disorder treatment, meaning they get messed up. Now my thin, brittle, red, chapped fingernails make more sense. And my toes, oh dear, it's like a Victorian monster down there! Frankenstein's toenails! They grow weirdly, like on angles, split, ingrown... it's just, gross. And so my anxiety sets to work and I usually pick them down to the quick/cuticle. I used to paint my fingernails to give them more structure, but working at a historic museum I can't have painted nails as it's not exactly accurate :P But my toenails are ALWAYS painted so they don't look so gross, though it is weird to paint toenails that grow every which way - I usually trim my toenails down as far as I can to avoid splitting and showcasing those weird Franken-Nails. 

I have found that with the supplements I take to combat DWD it does end up helping my nails, (and hair!), as things like omega fats and zinc are good for that. My love of eating fish (hello sushi) helps too. But then I did a google search and found this:

Biotin (a.k.a. vitamin H) can improve hair that is splitting or thinning as well as strengthen weakened nails. Taken with zinc and the corticosteroid clobetasol propionate, biotin has even been used to treat alopecia, an autoimmune skin disease marked by the loss of hair.

Has anyone ever tried using Vitamin H as a supplement? I think I may have to ask my doctor about this! 

I also read somewhere that DWD nails are also susceptible to build up under their non existent nails and I have to say I believe it - I mean look at mine: I barely HAVE nails and I am typing all day so how do I get gross stuff under there?!


These are actually quite healthy for me with little to no splits and hangnails. I guess putting the zinc back in daily really helps. 

Do you have really sore or gross nails too? What do you use to help it?

7 comments:

  1. wow your nails look normal. Mine are much worse. I am going to start your vitamin regimen and eat healthier.

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    1. The pine bark pills were the game changer, but I recently saw a steady change for the better when I put zinc back in at lunch and vit A at night. Let me know what works for you!

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    2. I was put on high dosage of vitamin A back in 1998 and I developed a toxicity level that caused a pseudo-tumor, terrible migraines, had to stop. I will use pine bark and zinc. Vitamin A that you take. Is it just over the counter?

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    3. Yup, it's just 10000 IU, I take it before bed, and sometimes I break the gel caps to put on my flare ups, but I find the Germolene better for that these days.

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  2. It's 10am here in Virginia. Sorry to bother you so early in the morning.

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    1. No worries! The internet buffers to when I can get to replying :)

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