Some one here posted a "how to" make a hand lotion using: Baby lotion, vitamin E cream and vaseline. Beat it with electric mixer until mixed well. I tried it and love it for dry cracking hands. I only made have the amount to start with and am giving each quilter some for Cmas.

I, too, have your problem. I have been taking Biotin for hair and nails for almost five months and can see NO results. I use a lot of lotion but that doesn't really help the nails. I have used a variety of nail streghtener polishes to no avail. My liver and thyroid has been checked and I am fine. I would love to hear of a product that really works too. What is the HOOF?

My fingers split this time of the year and I use lip balm on them and it usually clears it up, but I need to keep using it all winter . Working with fabrics does not help because it tends to dry my hands. I would think any bee balm would help.

My nails are ok, but my cuticles ! OMGoodness! Only thing I have found that works for me is Burts Bees lemon butter cuticle creme. If I have ragged cuticles, I pick at them absentmindedly...and that just makes everything WORSE! I keep one of these in my purse and use it a couple times a day. I have seen it at Walgreens, Safeway and Sprouts.

heard if i kept my nails in olive oil for 1/2 hour a day it would make them stronger. I've been working on that, but close to 15 min is all I get in and it seems to help. (put in a small bowl, soak fingers, cover bowl, reuse over and over)

I would not recommend reusing any kind of oil over and over...think of all
the bacteria on our hands and under our fingernails.

I teach water aerobics so my nails are in chlorine every day for several hours. At one point I had such a bad split I used super glue to hold it in place until the nail grew out.

Burt's Bees makes a wonderful cuticle cream and hand lotion. Those have helped greatly. Also, Mary Kay sells a cream that I've used as well.

Be sure to get checked out by your doctor, but I can say these lotions have helped.

My doc told me that zinc is good for the nails. It is also good for acne too.
I take a multivitamin with zinc in it and the only time I have problems with splitting nails is when they get too long

Your condition is listed as Onychoschizia a common nail disorder usually from exposure to water. If your doctor cannot find any medical problem using gloves when your hands are in water and handcream may be of help. The mineral Bioten may help too - just check with your Dr.

I can agree with the casued by water. I spend half of my day in the pool. Became much worse when I started teaching classes.

I have been hypothyroid for seven years and am now on T3 & T4, but would second Stitchnripper's recommendation for Prostrong. I use the strengthener, the calcium treatment and the moisturiser once a day. For the first time in my life I no longer have peeling and flaking. It only takes a couple of minutes a day, but kept up, I've found it really works.

for healthy nail, eat gelatin, yep just regular j-e-l-l-o

I have psoriasis in my fingernails and they do that, too. I try to keep my hands 'lotioned' and not dry. My doctor has prescribed some medication that I use at night when it's really bad - you might check with your dermatologist to rule it out...

Most nail hardeners just make my nails brittls. You may not realize it but you are probably dehydrated. When I make myself drink more water (and less coffee) my skin, hair and nails all benefit.

I'm going to try WalMart...thanks.

Thyroid disease is THE MOST UNDERDIAGNOSED condition in women! I have Graves disease - hyper active thyroid + other stuff. Have taken care of the hyper part, but other things go wrong - all related to the thyroid. That little gland controls so much other functions of our bodies! Fortunately, it's an easy disease to live with if taken care of and controlled. Synthroid daily and frequent Dr. visits & lab work to make sure everything is in working order.

Just wish I could get a metabolism back! 8-)

I used to have my nails done every three weeks so they looked nice when I visited clients. My Dr. put me on a high dose of Calcium,2/750mg,2/150mg magnesium, 2/750mg Vitamin D 1000mg Fish oil. My hair at 72 is lush and thick, my nails are long and strong. I haven't had a broken nail in over 6 months. My bone scan was, according the my dear DR. incredible for my age.

my thanks to everyone -- I do not have my hands in water -- my wonderful new husband does the dishes at the summer cottage and dishwasher in winter. Nail strengther and polish made everything worse.

As a child and thru teens, I evidently had thyroid deficiency. As soon as I was out on my own I went to a doc and got suppliments. The result was fantastic!! No more exhaustion and overweight.

I had forgotten those bad times. I will definitely get a blood test and checkup. Allso add zinc and magnesium to the vitamins..

Also I will start to buff, buff, buff. I imagine that is how our ancester "mothers did it

Thank you all -- Mim

I found a nail strengthener I love. OPI makes one for nails that are brittle and dry. My nails look great. I also use Burt's Bees Cuticle salve. It lasts forever (it doesn't take much). It really helps me.

all winter I religiously use eucerin cream not lotion

I have tried everything. What helps me the most is plain old Vaseline. I put hand cream (not lotion) on my hands at bedtime and then I put a on very small amount of Vaseline. The amount is very small - more like a slight film on my hands. I do this sometimes during the day, especially if my hands have been in water.

I have this problem also. Ragged cuticles and split nails.
I think our overall health has something to do with it as well as age. I have used vitiamin E oil on mine and lots of lotion.

BTW, I was told by my dermatologist to always use hand cream and not lotion.

We were given Tea Tree Oil you apply it to nails and rub in all around, Got mine at health food store.

I have the same problems, but I also have excema on my fingers and toes. The only thing that helps is gloves for using detergents, and very think hand CREAM, not lotion.

You need B Complex. It will make the nails strong & stop most nail issues. I have done vitamins and herbs for over 25 years and you need some supplements. If they are chipping, peeling, cracking or break easily, it shows a general nutritional deficiency and insuffiecient hydrochloric acid and protein. You also need minerals. Most drs. won't prescribe these things. You can also apply pretrolleum jelly on each nail and rub it in and it will help strengthen them. But to solve the other issues, you need some supplements.

Problems with nails can indicate all sorts of problems from vitamin/mineral deficiency to thyroid problems. Not wearing rubber gloves when washing up or using chemicals when cleaning can be a cause as well. I do not recommend self - medication, as taking too large a dose of some vitamins can be toxic as well. I would suggest you have a good medical check - up to make sure you don't have any underlying problems or even fungal infections in your nails and take it from there. I keep very short nails because of thyroid problems causing them to be fragile, so I know how frustrating it is for a crafter.All the best with finding a solution.

I could agree more than with wht you have said ....after having mine checked it was low ....one little tablet each morning before breakfast and I feel like a new woman, I call them my magic pills. Checking is only a quick blood test .

go to a doctor that specializes in thyroids - i've had trouble for years and on meds but recently was sent to a specialist and he ordered labwork for TSH, Free T4 and Free T3 tests. Our local doctor's clinic couldn't do these tests, had to go to hospital and even they didn't do one of them and had to send it to another more specialized lab. The 'free t3 & t4' is not the same as regular T3 & T4.

I to had the same thing going on feel much better being on thyroid meds.

My nails started spliting and my doc recommended collegen supplements. They are working.

Lots of good suggestions here. The only nail polish I can use is OPI. otherwise my nails turn yellow. I use nail polish only occationally. hobo is correct Calcium, Magnesium, Vit D (Vit D also great for cancer prevention) and Carlson Norwegian Cod Liver Oil. (always take calcium and magnesium together as if not used together they are not absorbed by your body) Zink good also.
Just attended a worshop in Qigong and tapping the fingers either together or on a table or such is great for your health, excellent for strooke victiums too.
Another good oil is coconut oil, internal and external. VERY good for your health. and water, water, water.

If you don't want to try your dr. you could go to a certified naturepath and they could tell you what the problem is and what to take for it, if all of these other things fail. If could be a health related issue or just a lack of something. The naturepath I went to put me on sillica which helped. It isn't that I am against Dr.s but sometimes they don't get to the root of the problem and it's important to do that. I was misdiagonized (sp?) when I was trying to get pregnant and a chiopractor helped me. If I had taken my dr.s advice, I would still be waiting for motherhood.

I do remember seeng the recipe for the hand lotion, however can't find it now, help me find it will some body??? jacie

It seems counterintuitive, but we really need to scrub our skin and nails vigorously every day to get rid of the dead cell layers that prevent creams and moisturizers from penetrating to where they are needed. It's important to keep the cuticle area unbroken as that's where the growing nails arise -- no clipping and no picking -- so you don't let in bacteria that can damage the cells the nails grow from. If you push back the cuticles with the towel every time you wash your hands they will soon be smooth and tight against the nails, and it only takes 5-10 seconds.

I agree, vit for hair, skin, and nails has helped me.
Bonnie

I am retired from being a hairstylist and nail tech. I have heard it all, believe me. One thing is certain: with today’s lack of nutrients in the soil many of us do not get adequate vitamins and minerals. Also as we age our digestive systems do not process the foods that we eat to properly supply what our skin and nails need like it does when we were younger. Thyroid and many other disorders can affect our skin and nails but it also creates many other problems in our bodies too. A naturopathic physician is more likely to find what is missing than a regular doctor. You may need digestive enzymes and help getting the supplements he prescribes absorbed into your body. There are many good things listed here on the forum and any one of them can be helpful. Finding what works best for each one of you is a journey unique to your specific needs and the answers will be different for each one according to your unique design. May you all find exactly what you need. And we are all blessed to have this forum to share our ideas about so many things. It is wonderful to learn from each other isn't it?

I have had the same problem for many years until I discovered that a proper balanced diet made mine much better. It is still working today. Good Luck on your quest.
:D :D :D :D

Have you tried Utter Cream at night?
Biotin (over counter vitamin) for nails, hair and skin