Nail Care -- Chemo Damage

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MountainMia
MountainMia Member Posts: 1,307
edited November 2019 in Chemotherapy - Before, During, and After

I'm 4.5 months past final chemo. My fingernails didn't get badly damaged, but they did end up with growth rings from each chemo treatment. They also developed white spots as they grew out. The white spots are nearly grown out. However, my nails are still brittle and split easily. I've been keeping them VERY short to deal with that. I'd like them a bit longer.

Just wondering if anyone has nail care tips for dealing with their brittleness. Do I need to be eating more protein or something? My strong preference is to do very little with them, just trimming and smoothing. Thoughts?

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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited November 2019

    MountainMia:

    My chemo nails would break a few millimeters below the quick, in the nail bec and I would have to trim what I could or glue them with nail glue. I am now 13 months PFC and my chemo nails have not finished growing out yet. They have about 5mn to go, and I kid you not, my most recent break was yesterday! I guess I could have just totally lacquered them or do acrylics but I'm not really much for those things.

    My toenails are only half grown out. I have a huge ridge where my big toe nail stopped growing for a few months.

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  • MountainMia
    MountainMia Member Posts: 1,307
    edited November 2019

    Thanks, WC3, for the comment. Does the tamoxifen have any effect on your hair and nail growth? I'm done with treatment so that wouldn't affect me.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited November 2019

    I've been off Taxol for 18 months but I still have very brittle nails. Taking Vitamin B6 may help. I used and still use 100% Vitamin E oil and Nailtiques nail hardener on my nails. It does help but didn't completely prevent nail problems. When I slack off on keeping them oiled and polished, they do become even more brittle and start breaking.

    One caveat - Nailtiques contains formaldehyde so if you are trying to avoid toxic chemicals you should not use it. I don't use hair dye anymore, but I do use the Nailtiques because the nail hardeners with formaldehyde are really the only ones that work. The nails breaking off low is so painful that I am taking the risk.

    Coconut oil is also good for lubricating nails and cuticles and much less toxic than nail hardener.

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  • MountainMia
    MountainMia Member Posts: 1,307
    edited November 2019

    Olma, I frequently rub Aquaphor into and around my nails, which seems to help the cuticles a lot. But I'm not sure if it does any good for the nails themselves. If nothing else, it's reassuring that I'm not the only one! :) Thanks.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited November 2019

    At the recommendation of my dermatologist (hair, skin & nails) and a podiatrist - I took Biotin tablets for 3 years - 5000 mg. It was very helpful.

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  • Ingerp
    Ingerp Member Posts: 2,624
    edited November 2019

    I’ve been taking Biotin since before BC. I’m about 16 months PFC. I still have ridges in my fingernails and pinky nails sometimes split. Big toenails are still weird. I saw a dermatologist about a month ago and she recommended a product called DermaNail. OTC, available through Amazon,but it was slightly cheaper on the company’s website if I bought two bottles. I’m committed to using it for three months and see where I am. I *think* the new growth area of my fingernails is looking better but it’s really too early to tell. All of these nail treatments take patience. Grrrrrrr. . .

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  • WC3
    WC3 Member Posts: 1,540
    edited November 2019

    MointainMia:

    I don't think the Tamoxifen has had any affect on my nails and hair. I hear it can cause hair thinning in some women but my hair has actually stopped shedding. I think that's just because it's still short and in it's growth phase whereas before, I wore it long and it would fall out when it was done growing.

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  • Kamboka
    Kamboka Member Posts: 975
    edited November 2019

    I started using Gena brand Healthy Hoof before chemo. My nails were so long and strong. Chemo cause me to lose my nail halfway down the bed. I continued to use the cream and I think my nails grew faster. They are normal looking now but I need a few more months before they will be longer. The cream is only about $3 on Amazon. It's what they use on horses and I think it really works.

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited November 2019

    I lost every finger and toe nail 7 years ago. They grew back just fine, I didn’t do or take anything special. Did about 6-7 months on tamoxifen no damage to any nails. 4 years on Arimidex, nothing. Currently on ibrance/letrozole, no damage.

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