Do your nails ever split? I’m talking about a split that starts at the top of your fingernail or toenail and may go part or all the way down to the nail bed. Unfortunately, I have.
Splits may be associated with menopause, nail trauma, etc. Figuring out what to do about it can be a conundrum. I asked my doctor, I asked my friends, but no one had any ideas. Frankly, it wasn’t something they were even aware of.
I searched online and eventually found a dermatology chat board on which someone suggested Appearex, a branded version of the coenzyme and form of vitamin B called biotin. Biotin supports the health of skin, nerves, digestive tract, and is important in pregnancy. Some research has shown that it can be helpful in the treatment of brittle nails. Biotin does not appear to have any known risks or side effects. However, it is important to discuss taking any supplements with your doctor first.
Since I had already tried almost every type of external, polish type of treatment, I decided to treat my split nails from the inside out and give Appearex a try. You can take generic forms of biotin, but Appearex was developed specifically to strengthen nails, and it’s easier to take the recommended amount — 2.5 mg that’s a lot more than the normal dosage in a daily vitamin complex — in Appearex’s tiny coated pill.
It doesn’t happen overnight, in fact it requires patience to see results. But with time, the split seems to both knit back together and grow out. I’m satisfied. It’s the only thing I’ve tried that has worked so far.
If you’ve had good results with something else, please tell me about it. If you try Appearex, let me know how it works for you.
2 Comments
I love your blog! Haven’t seen an entry yet that didn’t interest me.
My nails started to split down the middle, as you described, during my late 40s, especially during the dry New England winters. I’ve also tried nail oils and creams with limited success. I have discovered–quite by accident–that taking 2 or 3 Omega-3 capsules every day helps a lot with my nails! I believe it makes my skin plumper and less dry as well. I switch back and forth between Omegas from flaxseed oil and from fish oil; I prefer the flaxseed oil because it doesn’t cause “seal burps” later in the day! I know lots of folks take these supplements daily, so maybe it won’t work for everyone, but it does seem to help me….. it may also help prevent those painful vertical cracks many of us experience on our fingertips.
I’m looking forward to trying appearex as well–sounds like I might see even better results! Thanks for the info.
Thanks, Kim, for the recommendations! I think you’re right that different treatments work for different people. I recently gave up on TheraTears Omega-3 because I was falling off the wagon; I just couldn’t take 3 of those horse capsules a day! Now, I’m trying Schiff’s MegaRed Omega-3 krill oil. According to the label, you only need one small capsule that about 1/3 the size of the TheraTears. However, I haven’t checked to see whether the amount of fatty acids/EPA/DHA is the same or lower. Because I wasn’t taking the omegas regularly prior to starting on Appearex, I don’t know whether they actually helped my nails or not. But that’s great that it has worked for you!