Hypothyroidism Nails – Do You Have Dry, Ridged, Brittle, or Splitting Nails?
Dry, ridged, brittle, splitting or peeling nails, aka hypothyroidism nails, is just one of the many symptoms of hypothyroidism that can affect someone who is suffering from low thyroid.
One of my first recommendations to you if you have these symptoms would be to contact your doctor to run tests for hypothyroidism and any of the other many diseases that brittle nails could be a symptom of. Our focus here will be on the causes and effects of hypothyroidism nail ridges and what you have to do to promote good thyroid health and healthy nail growth.
Why Does Hypothyroidism Cause Vertical Ridges, Splitting or Peeling Fingernails?
The reason that a person who suffers from hypothyroidism develops brittle nails and fingernail ridges is because; hypothyroidism is a disease that, if left untreated, will eventually slow down all of your bodily functions including metabolism. When this happens your body creates less heat and sweats less because as cells slow down they require less energy. Your sweat glands provide moisture to both your nails and skin. Because your sweat glands are not operating to full capacity, they are not providing the proper amounts of moisture to your nails and nail bed therefore causing your hypothyroidism nail ridges and/or brittle nails. This can be frustrating for anyone who likes healthy fingernails.
So What is the Treatment to Reducing hypothyroidism nail ridges?
Should you run right out and purchase all of the nail care products and nail strengtheners on the market?
You absolutely should not. If you notice that you hypothyroidism nail ridges or dry, cracked, splitting nails call your Doctor and have him or her run T3, T4, and TSH tests to find out if you do in fact have hypothyroidism. If the test results prove that you do have hypothyroidism, you should have your Doctor refer you to a good endocrinologist for proper treatment for thyroid disease.
How Can an Endocrinologist Help With hypothyroidism nail ridges?
An endocrinologist will track your T-levels: T3, T4 and TSH on a regular basis, making sure that your thyroid medication is properly regulated. At first this will be every 6-8 weeks until your thyroid levels are normal and after that the thyroid tests will either be annually or bi-annually depending on your situation and your endocrinologist. One of the things that your endocrinologist will check on during your appointments is your fingernails. He or she will be looking for the tell tale signs of hypothyroidism nail ridges.
After you have been tested thyroid disease and it turns out that your T3, T4 and TSH levels have been regulated then it’s possible that care for your hypothyroidism nail ridges is just a matter of adding more water to your diet regularly as well as simple cardiovascular exercise, such as walking, to get your blood pumping better and to increase these bodily functions that have kicked into slow gear and caused your brittle nail ridges.
Your endocrinologist certainly should be able to determine whether you require an adjustment in your thyroid medication or if adding water to your diet and simple exercise to your daily routine will contribute to your healthy nail growth and make hypothyroidism nail ridges a thing of the past and as a matter of fact he or she will probably make this healthy recommendation anyway.
Now I know what would be the symptoms to look out for hypothyroidism. Will be back to check out more info on hypothyroidism.
Wow, checking T levels for cracked fingernails. Science has come a long way. I love the fact you let me know not to run out and purchase nail products. Good Stuff
That is great information – I had no idea that Hypothyroidism Nail Ridges would be a tell-tale sign of this condition. I wish I knew about this before my diagnosis. Keep up the great work.
Thanks for the kind words. There are many symptoms to hypothyroidism. All it takes is taking the time to listen to your body and then try to understand what it’s telling you.
In today’s high paced/high stressed world it’s easy to overlook what’s going on inside your body and chalk up weight gain to stress or a poor diet without looking for something systemic.
I have to admit that I was very surprised to hear that the nail ridges could be a system of hypothyroidism – Thanks once again for a great article.
Great post! I’m sending it to a friend who has these ridges on her nails. I know it’ll answer a lot of the questions she has.
Wow… what am informative post. Hasn’t medicine technologically so advanced these days! It’s still mind-boggling how a medical equipment system knows that T3, T4 and TSH levels are regulated, and that “it’s possible that care for your hypothyroidism nail ridges is just a matter of adding more water to your diet regularly…”
I too, was stunned to learn that ridges in our nails can by a sign of hypothyroidism! Thanks for a great post!!!
I had ridges for years , and now I dont, fab info again !!
Had britle, ridged nails. Suspected hypothyroidism because of a family history. My internist refused to listen to my concerns because my blood work wasn’t way out of range.
I talked to an alternative doctor about my symptoms; he suggested the hypothyroid problem after seeing my blood work.
3 weeks after starting meds…ridges are less, brittle is almost gone, my basal temperature is higher, seem to have more energy.
Morale: You are in charge of your own health; find a doctor who will listen to you
Hi Kathleen,
Great comment and I absolutely love and agree with your advice on finding a Doctor who will listen to you. I can’t stress enough how important it is to do that. An endocrinologist usually specializes in things like hypothyroidism and will be more detailed in treating your condition.
I have been hypothyroid for over 30 years and have been on Levothyroid. However, I still have ridges in my nails and still don’t feel “normal”. Can anybody recommend a good doctor in the Portland metropolitan area (Oregon)?
Thanks for post.
I have hypothyroidism but have never had ridged nails, not even before I began taking thyroxine replacement.
I also have to say that I was only referred to an endocrinologist after losing a baby, as hypothyroidism is normally treated by a family GP with levothyroxine.
The endocrinologist was charming but uninformative. He didn’t know of a link to itchy legs or soya milk and didn’t really want to engage in answering peripheral questions. My sense was that he had on his books some seriously ill thyroid cancer patients and that my little hormone disorder really didn’t require a million and one questions to be answered.
So, you may not find the answers you need from an endocrinologist, if you are referred in the first place.
I have brittle nail with ridges which have been getting worse. I also don’t have as much energy. I was on synthroid but recently stopped taking it as they were giving me headaches. I talked to my doctor about this and was sent for a blood test which he said was normal. Is there another medication or natural remedy that can be used?
have been on synthroid for yrs,cytamil was added and within 10 days my nails were back to normal,no more flaking or splitting,much less hairloss feeling much less lethargic!!!
Who added or approved cytomil to your daily meds?
Florence,
How much water do you drink on a daily basis and has your doctor considered testing you for anything else? A doctor is trained to analyze your symptoms and apply them to different possible issues that you might have. Don’t be afraid to speak up and ask him what would cause brittle nails, head aches and fatigue if it’s not your thyroid. That’s what you pay him for.
Just be a little bit careful – blood tests aren’t all they’re cracked up to be! Particularly the TSH which is used almost exclusively in the UK.
If you can get T3 nd T$ as well it’s a bit better, but in the end the best test is “are you well?” Careful self medication is often much better once the diagnosos is confirmed
Look for all the other sypmtoms – always feelding cold, tiredness, weight gain, hair loss, regular low grade illnesses, low libido. The list is endless and some or all may affect you. It’s been suggested that up to 1 in 4 of us have thyroid problems aggravated by flouride in water whicn can dmanage the thyroid
Very nice Caroline.
This is why I stress the importance in many of my posts of seeking the help of a specialist. I see an endocrinologist that specializes in thyroid. She is very thorough and extremely knowledgeable in this area. She checks my skin, my fingernails, my ankles and arms for bloating, checks my thyroid gland, blood work and has a list of questions that she goes through with regard to how I’ve been feeling as well as body functions. All of which pertain to the symptoms of an under-active thyroid. She also won’t let me be treated with anything but Synthroid.
In the case of an under-active thyroid condition I don’t recommend self medication at all.
Could I be hypothyroid? I have ridges in my nails ever since I can remember. I had my second baby one year ago today, but my hair is still falling out. I am always tired, but I am up once a night feeding the baby. Low libido, but again, I’m tired and up once a night. Am I post-partum or hypothyroid?? I have dry skin and really dry feet and toenails. I guess its time for T3, T4 and TSH?
I have also always had slightly swollen ankles.
Diana,
From what I understand postpartum can affect your thyroid, it also can cause these symptoms. But I’m not a Dr. so I can’t say whether or not you have a thyroid issue.
I will however tell you that it wouldn’t hurt you to discuss these symptoms with your Dr. especially if they persist or get worse. A doctor will order the blood work that’s necessary to figure out what’s causing your symptoms.
I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism before I got pregnant with my daughter so they watched for changes in my thyroid levels through my entire pregnancy and for quite a while after I gave birth.
I have been on synthroid since 2003 and have had less fatigue, so I thought that was good enough. My brain fog has gotten so bad, it interferes with my job. I also have ridges on my nails, but didn’t know it had anything to do with hypothyroid. I just found a great dr. in Mount Vernon, Wa. and he is already changing my meds to Armour, as Synthroid is only T4. So sad that it takes so long to get balanced. Keep a journal and pray to find a good dr that listens to symtoms, not just blood tests. Don’t give up.
Love this site. I was just diagnosed with hypo after I went to urgent care thinking something was caught in my throat. Dr. said I could be on medication if I want. Since it was a spike,7.1 he said wait 6 more weeks and test again I’m trying to treat myself in the meantime with 4 drops of iodine because I do not eat out or processed foods and very little sea food.
I have had ulcerative colitis in the past and had colon removed. I requested a new Dr. I’m also going to try coconut oil. I was on choleserol medication and perhaps this changed my blood? My goal is to treat it on my own if possible.
Keep your appointments with your Doctor. He/she is the one that will find out what is causing your hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is something that you shouldn’t try to self treat. That can cause you more health issues than anybody should have to deal with.
hypothyroid condition just sucks….i want to be healthy… wanna get rid of this hypothyroid….
Sonia,
I’m sorry to say that you can’t get rid of hypothyroidism. But you can live a normal life with this condition under proper medical supervision.
Thanks Cindy. I have been on levothyroxine for more than a year. It has helped many symptoms. I have noticed the ridges in the nails. I did not know until reading these postings that it was related to hypothyroidism.
I have been taking biotin supplements for a month or so. Thinking it would help my nails to be stronger. Am I wasting my time with biotin?
Or will water and biotin be beneficial.
Yes I will be speaking to my doctor. I am not sure that my heath insurance covers endocrinology, but I will look into that. You have
been a wealth of information. Thanks again.
Rose
Hi Rose,
I was told by my doctor that drinking proper amounts of water should eliminate most of my nail ridges. Because I’m a person who is not personally into the idea of ingesting any form of supplement I really couldn’t tell you anything about biotin. You should however always consult your pharmacist or doctor before mixing supplements with your thyroid medication because they would know if there could be a bad interaction mixing the two.
If you’re on thyroid meds but your symptoms haven’t improved, talk to your doctor about whether you need meds that provide T3 AND T4. A lot of medications are T4 only and some people need both!
I had dry brittle nails for at least 15 years before I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism. 7 years ago I started taking Levothyroxin 25mg. My nails improved, but I still had problems. In the past few months I had up to 4 severely torn nails at one time. After a blood test, my dosage was increased to 50mg. Vast improvement in my nails. This is the first article that I’ve ever read that lead me to understand the connection between the thyroid and condition of my nails. I’m happy to see improvements, but sorry it took so long to get my medication right.
Thank you Sarah.
I found out I had Hypothyroidism about 6 months ago. I was feeling exhausted. I work out really hard all the time, and all of a sudden I felt I did not have the same energy I use too.
I also noticed my hair was thinning and my nails had ridges and brittle. I started talking lots of calcium, fish oils, immune support products, biotin, multivitamins, antioxidants,creams for nails, hair products for hair growth, etc… Nothing was working and getting very frustrated. I went to my regular Dr. and asked him to give me a blood test for everything. He said every thing came back normal. I continued to spend more money on products that were not helping at all. I have always been a healthy eater, I figured I was not getting enough nutrients, I started over dossing on everything that was raw, organic and good for you. Nothing changed.
I pulled a muscle on my leg after doing a yoga class to stretch from the soreness of running a half marathon. I was not healing ..I got all kinds of therapy and every Dr. would give me a different answer. My Pilates instructor after working with me on my leg suggested I go see a Dr. at The Center For New Medicine who would do this heat therapy and acupuncture. While I was there I was sent to the wrong Dr(good thing). she started asking me a million an one question about my health from what I was eating to family history. She immediately said I believe you might have a hormone problem and when she noticed my nails she said you have a thyroid problem. She suggested we do a blood test. She checked for all the T3, T4 and TSH. The thyroid was low.
I was put on medication, and after about 6 months of monitoring(doing blood test every 6 weeks and increasing the medication) my thyroid results finally came back normal. I will now be on the medication for a year and will check again at that time.
My nails are finally starting to look normal, my hair is thick again, and my energy levels are a lot better and yes! my leg finally healed.
Anna,
Congratulations. I’m sitting here thinking YAY! SUCCESS WOO HOO! : )
I’m so glad that you shared your story with us because it shows just how some doctors don’t properly find the right diagnosis of hypothyroidism and that it does so very often require second opinions to obtain a proper diagnosis of an underactive thyroid. This is very important information. Thank you so much for sharing your story.
Thank you for this article! I have congenital hypothyroidism, so I’ve experienced so much of this all my life. My TSH was slightly too low last fall, then after dropping my med level my TSH spiked last winter and it has been (another) rollercoaster of med changes and blood work. I’m back on 125 mcg and feel so much better at this dose. Still trying to cope with the extra 20 lbs I’m carrying around now, but that’s a different story!
Anyways, I just wanted to thank you for the info about my nails! I’m still learning new info about this disease every day, and noticed my nails have been extremely ridged. Googling it brought up this website, and I’m excited I’ve found it. It feels great to know that I’m not alone. I can sometimes feel along because this is an invisible disability that we have. Strangers can’t tell just by looking at us that we can be feeling very horrible.
Thanks for what you do, and keep up the great work!!
Michelle,
You are so very welcome! Thank you for sharing your story and experience with all of us. Yes you are right about this being an invisible disability and support can be our greatest ally! Don’t worry about that 20 lbs you’ll eventually take control of that as well. Again Thank you for sharing with us.
I was just diagnosed with Hypothyroidism, but I had no idea until today that the weird yellow lines in my thumb nails and big toes may be related to this! Also, I’ve had infections in those exact areas over the past year that I had to treat mediocally…has anyone else haev infections in the nail due to hypothyroidism? Thanks!
Thank you Dawn,
I’ve never had any nail infections but certainly do have plenty of pesky ridges in my nails. I also don’t get any yellowing unless I’ve worn darker shades of nail polish for long periods of time.
I have been treated for hypothyroidism for years more than 4 years and no one has ever checked my nails. I was commenting to my doctor last month about the ridges in my nails and she said that was a common symptom of this disease. More than 3 years ago I had to have the lower right lobe of my thyroid removed and they still haven’t gotten my medication regulated correctly. So my hair, nails and skin continue to worsen….I drink about 3 quarts of water daily but it doesn’t seem to help. I want off of this unnatural way of controlling this. Isn’t there an herb or some kind of vitamin I can take instead of prescriptions drugs. Obviously they are not helping anyway. Every 3 months when they do a re-check, they have to increase my dose again. Does anyone have a suggestion ? Thank you……
Jane,
If you had surgery 3 years ago and they are still having to increase your thyroid dosage every three months then there is something more wrong with your thyroid gland. Unfortunately there isn’t any magic herb or vitamin that you can take that will replace the t4 that your thyroid isn’t making. That T4 needs to be there to be converted to t3 by your liver and other organs and tissues inside of your body. By any chance are you also receiving any kind of radiation therapy?
Asked several Drs over period of 30+ yrs about nails. Always disregarded. Approx 3 yrs ago GP looking for something else found TSH 6X below normal. On 100mcg Levothyroxin symptoms improved but some persist including cold when others aren’t, hair loss & thin, peeling nails. Ridges new development within last yr or so. Endocrinologists out of town & I’m not free to travel.
Mom clearly has hypothyroidism symptoms but her Dr refuses to test TSH.
Elizabeth,
Can you get out to another doctor and when was your blood work last checked. You should have that done at least 2 times a year.
I have been on thyroid mess for ten years and my tsh is normal but my nails are horrible What can I do? They are very ridged and splitting.
L parker,
Nail ridges is an issue that I have had and my endocrinologist told me to drink more water. She’s right because mine start to go away when I drink more water and come back when I don’t drink enough of it.