Help: Toenail Strengthening Suggestions - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

Help: Toenail Strengthening Suggestions

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Over the last two months, BOTH my big toe toenails have torn right in the middle of the nail - on the other side of the nail bed, IYKWIM. Awful to look at, and a horrible feeling. I'm using nail glue to see it through on the one toenail (to prevent it from hooking and tearing further). And trimmed the other as best I could, and hope that I don't get an ingrown toenail. Applying disinfectant spray twice a day too. The strategies seem to be working okay for now.

How can I prevent this from happening again? All suggestions welcome.

(P.s. I believe that this happens to runners quite frequently. I don't run, but I do yoga regularly, and walk very fast. I guess the pressure on my big toe is hectic for my too soft nails).

General

41 replies

Latest reply was from Lisa

Joy

Veteran

Using a buffer on my nails seems to strengthen them. To prevent ingrown toenails, be sure to use a nail clippers that will leave the middle of the nail slightly lower than the edges so that the nail grows toward the middle. These have become hard to find as most toenail clippers are now shaped like fingernail clippers. They should be the opposite.
photo: silver clipper on left has the correct shape of cutting edge for toenails. The gold one on the right is shaped for fingernails but will cause ingrown toenails.

People used to say that drinking gelatin helps strengthen nails, but I don't know if it works. My toenails get weaker if I polish them, especially if changing the polish often. I've heard that gel polish is especially hard on nails and weakens them.

1

Ginger

Veteran

Perhaps a biotin supplement would help as well. I've been taking the Central Market store brand, and it's helped stop my hair from falling out from stress. (I think it's helping with regrowth as well.) My nails have always been pretty strong so I haven't noticed a difference there.

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Try a hair/skin/nail supplement....or just Biotin. Sally Hanson also has some brush on nail strengthening solution.

Anonymous

From what I understand (and I lost BOTH big toenails at this time last year - they are just now fully grown back) , it is the pushing /pressure on your toe from running or from your toe consistently hitting the end of your shoe . Mine happened over the course of only one 14 hour day on my feet in what I thought were well-fitting comfortable boots, albeit with a pointier toe (not extreme though ) . Tearing is a different story though . They must be catching on something inside one of your new pair of boots.....

Chris987

Veteran

I used to have a much lighter version of this problem where the nails on my ring fingers would split a little in winter, just enough to need dealing with. It still happens once in a while but I started wanted my nails VERY short and that seems to have helped. This may not help you, with toenails you are probably already wearing them very short. Wearing polish does seem to weaken nails, with gel being worse than regular.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Angie, I'm so sorry this is happening to you. I don't have a solution, alas, but I will be reading carefully. I have some toenail woes of my own, but slightly different. After I sustained some damage from hiking in Banff a few years ago, two nails fell off. They grew back, apparently just fine, but since then have regrown thicker which makes it always more likely they will sustain further pressure damage, with the result that I pretty much always have one blackened nail now, and that is neither pretty, nor fun!

LaPed

Veteran

1. Cuticle cream: http://www.paulaschoice.com/sh.....nt?sku=553.

2. I think it's true that polish and polish remover both dry out nails and make them more brittle. Some of the cosmetic products marketed as "hardeners" do more harm than good, because they dry the nails instead of strengthening. The real trick is to keep the whole foot well moisturized.

3. If you want to do biotin supplements, talk to your dermatologist or PCP first. The recommended daily dose for most people is 2.5 mg, but it's a B-complex vitamin so you want to be careful not to overdo it. Avocados, nuts, and seeds are all good dietary sources of biotin.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

ETA -- I adjusted my footwear but it hasn't helped much. I am even more careful now to ensure my toes are not "bumping" when I walk -- but except for that overly aggressive hiking experiment a few years ago on a steep grade, I have never really been conscious of that sensation, and a fitter in a shoe store agreed my toes had lots of room to move in a few pairs that I brought in. So it's awfully hard to tell.

In my case, clipping the offending nail as short as possible without risk of ingrown nail is of some help. Sandals are also somewhat helpful since there is absolutely no risk of bump or pressure on the nail bed. But of course I can't wear sandals for the whole year.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Angie - yikes, sorry you are dealing with that. I know you don't eat meat, are you absolutely sure you're getting enough iron and other minerals? Do you eat nuts every day and beans and beets and deep greens? It takes a lot to get 100% RDA of iron and if your already low, it takes even more.

Most everyone is deficient, esp. women when it comes to iron. A thorough test with ferritin level check is really the only way to know and you can't eat iron rich food for a few days leading up to the test or take too much Vit. C or it can skew the results. Zinc, selenium, magnesium and calcium are also important.

That said, too much moisture from being closed in shoes can make your nails weak.

Tisa

Are you sure the reason for this is that your nails are too soft? Were the nails discolored before they broke off or did you perhaps notice some other anomaly? If yes, your problem could be a fungal infection. Quite common, especially for runners and swimmers. People also often get it from showers in the swimming pools or saunas, or when their feet get a bit sweaty (for example during running or when wearing warm winter footwear indoors).

In any case, disinfectant is a good choice. Also, make sure that you always dry your toes and toenails really well.
If I were in your shoes, I would go to the local pharmacist/drug store. Depending on your actual problem you can either get a nail polish that facilitates nail growth and helps them get a bit stronger, or you can get something against a nail fungal infection. For the latter I would recommend a nail lacquer or cream with ciclopirox, because this active ingredient works. I should mention that you should keep using your medicine of choice until your toenail is back to normal and a few weeks after that as well.

Apart from that I would also recommend disinfecting your shoes every evening. You can sprey the disinfectant on a paper towel and leave it in the shoes for a little while.
Another good way of disinfecting shoes is to put them in the freezer for the night. Although you might have to be a bit careful about which shoes (and material) fare well in cold temperatures and which don't.

Ingrown toenails are a real concern when nails are as short as you say. It really helps if you avoid constricting footwear until your toenails grow back. Unfortunatelly most pumps, pointed toes and even some trainers put too much pressure on the toe and toenail from the side and should therefore be avoided for a while.

All the best to you and good luck!

catseye

Veteran

When I have toenail trouble, it was always caused by socks that got tangled with the toes. Luckily, I have never lost a nail.

So now I wear only socks like this. They are kind of slippery, i can adjust my foot in them in any shoe. It seems to prevent any chafing or pressure for me.

https://www.amazon.com/Coromos....._11?ie=UTF

Janet

(website)

Veteran

I've never had trouble with my toenails, but a common culprit for runners with this issue is wearing shoes too small *for that activity*. Shoes might feel fine but toes pushing into the end of the shoes even slightly can create problems. Maybe sizing up half a size in your waking shoes? My regular shoe size is 8, but I go all the way up to a 9 for running shoes.

I second the suggestion of biotin supplements. I have had some splitting of my fingernails in the last year (hormonal changes likely), and biotin seems to help.

Tisa

A link with information about nail splitting:

https://www.skinsight.com/skin.....choschizia

Isabel

Veteran

I just want to throw in my 2 cents : it may be a good idea to have a blood panel done on vitamins and minerals. : ) Things like this are sometimes deficiencies that we develop.

WebMD

http://www.webmd.com/beauty/tc.....c-overview

Are you taking anything new ? Like new vitamin or something ? Or taking extra long baths ?

Ginger

Veteran

Joy, I am fascinated by the convex clippers! I've been having a few wannabe ingrown toenails recently, so I went on an Amazon search. In addition to some straight blades, I found two options that are convex. (Sorry the Finds are so big!)

TWEEZERMAN Tweezerman Straight Edge Toenail Clipper

View Info

Top Pick

2

Personna Personna Toolworx 3 1/2" Straight Edge Toenail Clipper TX35550

View Info

Top Pick

3

SandyG

Veteran

If soft nails are an ongoing problem, please see a doctor to check for anemia, hypothyroidism or nutritional deficiencies. I had health problems that needed attention, in spite of a very healthy diet. My nails were showing the frustrating symptoms -- they would split, crumble and delaminate at the ends, just no structural integrity to them, in spite of lotions, gloves, polish and glue. A couple of doctors later, I was healthier all over.

In addition, I saw big improvements when I started a raw, plant-based calcium supplement AND switched out my favorite OPI polishes (made with formaldehyde) for "Caption", which is made with ingredients that don't irritate my nails. It's taken most of a year to grow strong, healthy toe- and fingernails. Totally worth it

RobinF

Veteran

Another vote for giving Biotin a try. It seemed to help the strength of my hair and nails (thicker hair enough that my stylist noticed). If it is caused by a fungal infection then you need to use a different lotion (Lotrimin is a name brand) so if you try lotions to no effect you might consider that. Good luck, sounds like no fun at all!

Teresa

I have to second the idea of biotin. I take it for my hair, but I notice the side effect is stronger, faster growing nails.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

WOW. Thanks so much, ladies.

Can someone PLEASE link to the Biotin!

(For the record, I have never lost a toenail or had an ingrown toenail, and hope it stays that way).

Diana, good nail clipper tip.

Ginger, is that a tablet?

Khris, I saw that. Might get it.

Lisap, good point. If only I knew which boots…..BLAST. Glad your toenails have grown back.

Chris, you’re right. I keep my nails short already, and don’t use gel.

Oh, Suz. Not fun. Do new nails really grown back thicker and more brittle? And you can cover a black nail with dark polish!

LP, extra moisturizer on the feet never hurts!

Tex and SandyG, yes. I have a good diet. Very balanced, WITH carbs. Lots of greens, fish, chicken, dairy, fibre and nuts. Ample veg. (I’m the Veggie Queen). I doubt I have an iron deficiency. Have never had one, and have lots and lots of energy. It has also never been a point of concern when blood testing. I DO have a bone density issue though - another story. But I will bring up my nail problem at my next annual with the GP, which I will book soon.

Tisa, as far as I can remember, my nails looked 100% before they tore. Thanks for all the tips. I DO have very long toes.

catseye, your socks make me smile.

Janet, sizing up makes sense, but is very hard to do when you have low volume feet. What Biotin are you using?

Isabel, I NEVER bath. Can’t stand it. And I’ve been amping up my vitamin C the last two weeks, but my nails split before that.

Mary Beth (formerly LBD)

(website)

Veteran

I dance flamenco, and my toenails are invariably covered with white stress marks and/or bruising - but I haven't lost a nail in a couple of years. I take pre-natal vitamins, which I feel helps keep my bones from developing hairline fractures or shin splints from the footwork. As a side-effect, it seems to keep my toenails on my toes, and my hair growing in nicely.

I also wear toe pouches inside my dance shoes - these are my favorite. I toss them in the gentle cycle and air dry, every couple of classes.

https://www.discountsporting.c.....language=e

gradfashionista

(website)

Veteran

Ugh, that sounds painful and difficult. I've never had this issue, but there seem to be some great suggestions already here. My first thought turned to diet, since you seem to be uncompromising on shoe comfort. Biotin and zinc (consume with food, otherwise it'll make you nauseous) supplements might help, as would increasing your protein (which helps the body heal more quickly, and makes hair and nails grow faster). A shake of 25g (a scoop) plus almond milk would be easy to consume at home or on the go, and wouldn't be wasted calories.

Tisa

Biotin is also named Vitamin B7 or sometimes Vitamin H. It is sold as a supplement, so you should be able to get it easily in your local drug store or even in a supermarket. You'll find it in a combinaton of pre-natal vitamins, as a part of B-complex supplements (look at declarations) or it will be named individually as biotin.
Unfortunately I can't give you actual brand names, since in the US it's probably sold under different names than in Europe.

If you like eggs, you might not even need supplements - a more egg-rich diet could help enough, since eggs are the natural source of biotin.

Ginger

Veteran

Angie, this is the kind I take:
https://www.heb.com/product-de.....les/797765

A medium-sized clear capsule, easy to take. It's probably not a chain up where you are. FWIW, my aunt has tried several different brands, and she found this one to work the best. I can ask her which ones she tried for negative recommendations if that would help.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Thanks, Gradfashionista. I like your suggestions. I don't eat mammals so my protein assortment is more limited. But I can always do with uping the quantity.

Tisa, you are very well versed on vitamins. Thank you. Love eggs. Eat about 5 a week.

Thanks, Ginger. Very helpful.

texstyle

(website)

Veteran

Angie - just curious if you don't mind sharing - what are the proteins you choose to eat on a daily basis? I eat a variety too (and am once again trying to go back to vegetarian) but without eating a lot of nuts, I find it hard to get enough iron unless I eat spinach and lentils/beans every day (and that's boring to me). I do eat tofu and tempeh maybe 2 or three times in a month, but those seem to take more creativity and time to make. I do like Gimme Lean as a meat free breakfast sausage. When I eat vegetarian and calculate my iron and it seems like I'm usually only coming up with about 70% of the RDA even with snacks unless I try really hard or eat a lot of seeds/nuts (which I can't tolerate well).

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Angie, thanks -- nails don't necessarily grow back thicker or more brittle if they fall off. I think it only happened in my case because the trauma was so severe. I was hiking distances on a steep grade every day for a month, and then I think my streetwear shoes were also "bumping" my toes a bit because I was wearing my Cons Hi-Ness and they had shrunk a bit in the wash. It didn't hurt at the time so I wasn't aware until it did start to hurt, if you know what I mean. And then I was a bit limited in response -- I only had a few changes of shoes because I was travelling. Plus, I had already dropped a weight on that toe previously, so it was perhaps a bit compromised. Anyway, the upshot was toe trauma. I do cover it up with polish in summer. And summer is a good time for the nail anyway because it does not get any pressure at all when I am wearing sandals.

It sounds as if in your case a few nutritional changes might help. I do hope so!

And LBD -- thank you for that link to the toe protectors -- I think that might be precisely what I need to ensure a complete healing!! I'm going to get some. I'm not conscious that my toes are getting repeatedly bumped or pressed, but they must be, and these things would be the perfect solution!!

Gigi

Veteran

Another possibility would be to take a collagen supplement. I just started taking one called BioSil, which is by Natural Factors. It is clinically tested. Since I haven't been taking it for too long, I can't speak to whether it works or not, though the bottle says that it is supposed to strengthen nails.

JAileen

Veteran

Back when I golfed, one day I took off my shoes and was surprised to see that my big toe had a black toenail. I thought my shoes were comfortable, but something about them caused that. I don't have any suggestions. Some of the suggestions above sound good. I hope one of them works for you.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Wow, this thread is a fount - or make that foot - of information!

12