Is it normal for an impaired thyroid gland to affect nail health and appearance?
Your nails often reveal more than you might think about your overall health, including giving clues about your thyroid function.
When your thyroid gland is underactive, a condition called hypothyroidism, it can often cause your nails to grow slowly and become thin, fragile, and brittle (Rosenberg & Lipner, 2022). They may tend to break, split, and peel. Sometimes, they may separate from the skin underneath, a condition known as onycholysis (Rosenberg & Lipner, 2022). On the other hand, an overactive thyroid, or hyperthyroidism, can also lead to nail changes. Most commonly, it leads to spoon-shaped nails, known as koilonychia. It can also lead to clubbing, a condition where the fingertips become enlarged and the nails curve around the fingertips, resembling the shape of a club (Rosenberg & Lipner, 2022).
So, whether your thyroid is underactive or overactive it can considerably alter the appearance and health of your nails. This article will dive deeper into why this happens and provide simple tips to keep your nails healthy.
Examining the Structure and Functions of Nails
Your nails have several key components, including the nail plate, bed, cuticle, and root. The nail plate is the hard part of the nail that we see (and may often paint). Beneath this, lies the nail bed, a layer of skin that provides support and nourishment to the nail. The cuticle is a thin layer of clear skin covering the base of the nail plate, protecting the delicate area that the nail grows from, known as the nail root. Appreciating this complex structure of the nails helps us understand their important role in our everyday lives.
Your nails do more than just satisfy an itch. They act as protective shields against injuries to the nerves in your fingers and toes. They also defend against skin and soft-tissue infections, keeping germs at bay.
An Interesting Connection Between Thyroid Hormones and Nail Health
Researchers have discovered a strong connection between hormone health and nail problems, such as onycholysis, in various hormone-related disorders, including thyroid issues (Fox, 1940). Thyroid hormones play a monumental role in bodily growth and development as a whole, including nail growth. Nail changes could act as early warning bells, thereby aiding the detection and diagnosis of thyroid disorders.
A medical review conducted in 2022 revealed that people with thyroid dysfunction often grapple with brittle nails. Those suffering from autoimmune thyroid disorders (where the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks the thyroid) have higher frequencies of nail brittleness than those with non-autoimmune thyroid conditions (Rosenberg & Lipner, 2022). Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, one of the most common autoimmune thyroid disorders that leads to hypothyroidism, is associated with a slew of adverse effects on the skin, hair, and nails, including conditions conducive to nail splitting (Koczorowska-Talarczyk & Kordus, 2021)The problem of onycholysis or nail separation from the skin of the nail bed is also often seen in patients with hypothyroidism (Rosenberg & Lipner, 2022). This condition, typically referred to as Plummer's nails, also supports the link between nail issues and thyroid health (Takasu & Seki, 2018). People with hypothyroidism also report the following nail-related conditions to a lesser degree: Leukonychia (white nails), striped nails, and pitting (small indents creating an uneven nail surface). (Rosenberg & Lipner, 2022)
Keeping Your Nails Healthy: Preventive Measures
To nip potential problems in the bud, the American Association of Dermatology suggests keeping your nails clean and dry, trimming them regularly, and avoiding biting, picking, or tearing at them. Special care should be taken to avoid removing your cuticles and to wear protective footwear in public spaces like showers and swimming pools. Applying creams loaded with alpha hydroxy acids or lanolin can help keep your nails hydrated and healthy. Additionally, wearing gloves while engaged in tasks involving a lot of water can help prevent brittle nails caused by constant exposure to the wet-dry cycle. Taking good care of your hands, nails, and cuticles supports overall nail health and helps prevent breakage.
Could Biotin Supplements Help?
It's often claimed that supplements can promote hair and nail growth thanks to the high doses of biotin or water-soluble B vitamins they contain. Some evidence does corroborate these claims, suggesting that biotin supplements can indeed help guard against hair loss as well as nail splitting and breakage.
However, an important caveat to keep in mind is that biotin can interfere with your thyroid test outcomes. It's recommended that individuals stop taking it at least 48 hours before their thyroid tests.
An Observation From Eureka Health
Adverse changes in your nail's appearance could be indicative of a medical issue, such as thyroid dysfunction. As highlighted earlier, you should get in touch with your healthcare provider the moment you observe any negative changes in your nails. In the event it's revealed that hypothyroidism is the root cause of your brittle nails or onycholysis, consider meeting with one of Eureka’s thyroid specialists. You can discuss the next course of action, which may involve starting a regimen of thyroid replacement medication like levothyroxine or Armour Thyroid. These medicines cater to a deficit of thyroid hormones, restoring levels to a healthy balance. As this balance is regained over time, your nail health is also expected to get better.
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References
- Nail Changes in Thyroid Disease: Hypothyroidism is associated with specific nail changes, including onycholysis (nail separation from the nail bed) and the development of slow-growing, thin nails while hyperthyroidism is associated with koilonychia (spoon-shaped nails) and fingertip clubbing (Rosenberg & Lipner, 2022).
- Endocrine Dysfunctions and Nail Disorders: General endocrine dysfunctions, including those related to thyroid disorders, have been noted to cause nail disorders such as onycholysis, suggesting a broader relationship between endocrine health and nail conditions (Fox, 1940).
- Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis Impact on Nails: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, a common thyroid disorder, has been associated with adverse effects on skin, hair, and nails, including conditions that could predispose to nail splitting (Koczorowska-Talarczyk & Kordus, 2021).
- Plummer's Nails in Hypothyroid Patients: Onycholysis, often referred to as Plummer’s nails, has been documented in patients with hypothyroidism, providing evidence of the nail-thyroid connection (Takasu & Seki, 2018).
