The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Coconut Oil
Posted by Bleug8 (Fairfield, California) on 01/05/2011
★★★★★
I heard ridges come with age. I am 54 and also had them. I use coconut oil and just from getting the oil out of the jar the ridges have dissapeared! Love coconut oil!
Nail Issues
Posted by Addy (Flowery Branch, Ga) on 01/05/2011
I have the same issue with my fingernails. I recently asked a friend of mine who is a beautician for her two cents about it and she said I am vitamin deficient but which one, no telling. I can add that I take Prevacid which is known to rob you of your A & B vitamins.. Specifically, it doesn't allow for these vitamins to be absorbed into your blood stream. I just started taking supplements to see if I get anywhere with it. If anyone has further feedback.. Please share!
Nail Issues
Posted by Brooke (Montgomery, Tx, Usa) on 01/05/2011
It is usually due to an iron or zinc deficiency.
Nail Issues
Posted by Mesem (Toulon, France) on 01/05/2011
My finger nails have many long ridges at the moment. I read a long time ago that this is due to stress. Makes sense as a sort of contraction at the base of the nails would cause this effect. There must be more to it though and would like some ideas as my nails are not pretty or healthy looking and do tend to break easily. Nails are essentially keratin and only the base of the nail is alive. Not finding info. On this... Help!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Mickey3233 (Dallas, Tx) on 11/29/2010
★★★★★
Toenail Fungus.... I've read plenty on here on how to get rid of toenail fungus. I had a white spot on the tip of my big toe. Didn't think anything of it for a while until it kept growing and growing down to the base. It formed 2 white thick lines and a brown spot was forming. When I cut my nails there was solid white stuff under the nail I cut and the white and brown was already down half of my right big toe nail bed. That's when I started reading on here about cures.
I tried the ACV and Tea tree oil. And you really need to be patient here. I'm talking 3 months at least. I put apple cider vinegar on every morning and tea tree oil on every night. Every time I cut my nails, about every 2 weeks, I could see it moving up. Very little, but I could see it. I added Fungoid Tincture after about 2 months with FT and tea tree oil. And I only used the Fungoid for about 7 or 9 days and after that just tea tree oil. My nail is back to normal and it took about 6 months. So it worked for me. I didn't skip a day the whole time. You gotta really fight this. Now I put tea tree oil on about twice a week to prevent this from coming back.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Forevemine1958 (Rialto, U.s.) on 11/08/2010
What kind of plaster did you secure it with?
Neem Oil
Posted by Lane (New York, New York, Usa) on 10/28/2010
★★★★★
The person in question had it on their two big toes. The fungus was highly yellow near the top of the nails, then a frightening black near the bottom. Candida has been an issue, but is clearing up nicely thanks to MMS, finally--after strenuous yeast free diet and wild oregano, and more failed to do the entire job.
Anyway, we separated the nail from the toe bed somewhat so we could get the neem oil in there. It sounds disgusting but separating the nail really did the trick, I think. The Neem oil settles in there and will stay for days if you don't wash it out. Within a week the fungus and black was nearly completely gone. It was only applied 3-4 times. There is still a dark spot on one nail which is more red than black now, but I feel a couple of additional applications of the neem oil should finish it off nicely. Two thumbs up!
Dark Patches: Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by L. (Red Deer, Alberta Canada) on 07/21/2010
No, it's definitely dark red/brown patches, with every passing year another nail is affected. I actually do not wear dark polish that often anymore because of this and at that, just in the summer months/special occasions. When I used to wear the pinks and reds more often, the polish would stain all the nails yellow and it would have to just grow out. These 3 patches do not grow out which is why I've resorted to a 'strong' peroxide. The question I'm left with is, is this a nail fungus? I was hoping someone else had a similar experience.
Dark Patches: Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by Blanche (New Iberia, Louisiana, Usa) on 07/21/2010
Is it possible that the darker colors of nail polish are staining your nails and the hydrogen peroxide is bleaching the stains away?
Dark Patches: Hydrogen Peroxide
Posted by L. (Red Deer, Alberta Canada) on 07/19/2010
★★★★★
After removing my 'toxic trio free' polish from my toes I discovered a dark patch, three years ago, and again last year. This year I removed the colored polish to find dark patches on three nails. After the first occurrence, I left it unpolished but the nail did not clear until the peroxide was used. Each time I soaked cotton in a strong peroxide solution, and held it on by making toe covers from a surgical glove. One application does it. This treatment does cause some pain for a couple hours, but it's worth it to have clear nails after only one application. So, for me, the remedy is so simple, but what I'm wondering about is why after 'colored' polish the nails darken to a brown/red color. The pale colors didn't seem to cause a problem.
Onycholysis
Posted by Lora (Bonita Springs, Florida) on 07/10/2010
Ted, or anyone. Does anybody have a remedy for onycholysis? (nail separating from the nail bed). The doctors and dermatologists tell me it is trauma but I have had this condition for about 5 yrs. And I know it is not trauma. I take Levothyroxine for Hypothyroidism and have noticed (on some websites) a link between this medication and onycholysis. I OP and take Ted's ACV and BS remedy every day.
Nail Biting
Posted by Jeannie (Franklin, Wi) on 07/10/2010
I discovered this totally by accident and I have no clue why this works for me, but it does every time so far. If I drink tea with blackstrap molasses for approx. 3-7 days, I quit biting my nails and they seem to get stronger too. I'm assuming its the vitamins and minerals in the BSM, but I'm only guessing.
Nail Injury: Apple Cider Vinegar
Posted by Jane (Pasadena, Ca) on 06/13/2010
★★★★★
I crushed the nail bed of my index finger a few days ago when my finger got caught (twisted and smooshed) on my luggage strap as I was lifting it down from the overhead bin. It hurt soooooo badly, I was certain my nail would turn black and eventually fall off. As soon as I got home, I soaked my still throbbing finger tip in straight apple cider vinegar for about 15 minutes. The rest of the night I felt sudden shooting pains. However, the next morning, my pain had subsided by 75% and the only time it hurt is if I pressed on the nail bed. 24 hours later, no pain, no discoloration. Yes!!!
Flax Seeds
Posted by Erex (Fayettville, Ny) on 12/24/2009
★★★★★
After eating for a couple of months about 3 tablespoons a day of flax seeds, which I was taking for another condition, I found my nails started growing in clear and healthy. I learned this quite by accident.
Nail Biting
Posted by Tricia (Ireland) on 10/10/2009 84 posts
What worked for me was to poliah my nails with a clear nail polish. When I would become conscious of biting my nail tips i would switch to biting the nail polish. While, in some ways it is replacing one disorder with another, as my nails started to grow and harden againg I found myself not wanting to ruin how they looked and eventually stopped biting altogether. It would probobly be a good idea to use a nail hardener while you are doing this as constant biting does weaken them. Also keep a nail file handy as if there are breaks or uneven edges it is too tempting to bite to stop them catching. Good luck as it is a very hard habit to break. Worse than smoking when it comes to a habit as you have to consciously go get a cigarette, your hands are just there.
Nail Biting
Posted by Karenann (Houston, Tx, USA) on 10/09/2009
I have been biting my nails for years, and have tried various remedies. Even to the point of wearing gloves while watching t.v. or just relaxing. Please does anyone have a tried and true method? I will be grateful for the feedback.
Articles
Posted by Deirdre (Atlanta, GA) on 07/11/2009
Nail Issues
Posted by Nonni (Cleveland, OH) on 03/23/2009
Hello, Mary. I was just reading the posts under Castor Oil at this site right after seeing your post. I happened to notice someone mentioned having black lines on their toenail which they said indicated a nail fungus. They used vinegar and castor oil on the nail to heal it. Go to Remedies tab, Castor Oil Packs and you will see the "Toenail Fungus" post. Possibly this is the answer you need. Good luck to you.
Nail Issues
Posted by Anon (Somewhere, US) on 03/23/2009
Multiple Remedies
Posted by AMD (V Ville, Ca) on 02/07/2009
Well, I had toe nail fungus for 20+ years on my big toe. It was very ugly. I tried a number of cures and by the time I finally got it right I had hardly any healthy toe nail left. It was raised, ugly, tore my socks and was ingrown to boot and very sore. What worked for me was white vinegar! Everyday I put a soaked cotton ball of white vinegar on my nail and secured it with a plaster. It did smell through my socks/shoes a bit, but I did not mind so much. after about a week the part of my toe where my nail and skin meet got very tender and red. I saw this as a good thing. I kept going. It has been 3 months and I showed my partner my toe and she could not believe it. It is perfect! No joke. I am thrilled. I had tried all the oils. vicks etc, but the white vinegar is what worked for me
blessings..
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Ana (Melbourne, Victoria Australia) on 02/07/2009
★★★★☆
Thickened and raised nails: I have suffered with tinea pedis on my left foot following years of illness with endometriosis and low immunity. That was 8 years ago, and I have had only temporary success from conventional applications such as Lamisil, but the nails remain thickened and damaged. I am currently applying 50/50 ACV and 3% peroxide morning and night. I follow with an application of essential oils in a tincture of organic olive leaf extract. The essential oils include Oregano, Tee tree and Red Thyme oil. I have 4 nails affected and thickened. The big toe nail is now separating from the nail bed, being one 5th attached. I have cut it back to half and apply the above remedies using a band-aid to prevent lifting of the nail. Does anyone know if it is likely that when a new nail grows back, weather it will re-adhere completely to the nail bed as before, and also it is starting to scoop upwards due to the separation of the nail bed - is it likely to stay that way?
EC: Tinea Pedis is the medical name for Athlete's Foot.
Bruised, Purple Toenails
Posted by Beverly (Pikeville, KY) on 02/02/2009
I use Earth Clinic for so many of the wonderful remedies. Yesterday I hit my middle toe on my right foot and immediately the nail turned purple. It's very sore to the touch and I wondered if anyone knows of anything that might help me keep my toenail from falling off. I have an appointment for my very first manicure and pedicure 2 wks from now and i hate to go with a black nail ready to fall off. Any suggestions?
Nail Issues
Posted by D (NY, NY) on 01/22/2009
I have read that this is a sign of heart problems. Just a thought.
Nail Issues
Posted by Mary F (Jeanerette, Louisiana, USA) on 01/21/2009
This is the precursor of nail fungus. Treat it now before it worsens.
Nail Issues
Posted by Sky (NY, NY) on 01/21/2009
Very interesting question and sorry, I have no idea what the answer is to that one. Sounds like some kind of deficiency or heavy metal toxicity. We need to locate a page on the web that has all the things that happen to nails and what they mean.
While we're on this subject, I have 2 toenails growing in pure white on my right foot. Can nail fungus appear as white or is this indicative of another condition? Thanks.
Nail Issues
Posted by Mary (Ponca City, Oklahoma) on 01/20/2009
Why do I get black lines under thumb nails? Need to know what black lines under thumb nails could be caused by and treatment to get rid of this.
Nail Issues
Posted by Madhur (Suva, Fiji) on 01/25/2009
I have vertical ridges on all my nails, and they subsequently crack on the ridge. Can anyone tell me what deficiency causes this, and the supplement I should take. Thanks.
