cuts/splits in fingers & steroids

salamander
salamander Member Posts: 1,906
edited 7. Jan 2010, 05:10 in Living with Arthritis archive
Hi does anyone experience this whilst being on steroids? I keep getting really painful splits in my fingers around the top and sides of my nails. No obvious cause. Just wondered if it was a common experience?
Sally

Comments

  • colinone
    colinone Member Posts: 1,039
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi Sally, Never heared that one, that sounds really painfull have you spoken to your GP. Its bad enough having sore fingers without them spliting. Take care
    Colin
  • joyful164
    joyful164 Member Posts: 2,401
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi

    I get these all the time. Fingers and toes but didn't think it was anything to do with steroids. never tied the two together at all.

    Psoriatic Arthritis gives you pitted nails in both hands and feet, I was therefore referred to a podiatrist.

    I must admit to biting my nails at times and that causes splits in my fingers. Do you have hard skin round your toes and heels at all. I use a foot bath from time to time when I can be bothered to get it out. Bit of a bother. What I have found good for splits in the feet is a thing called WHITE FIRE. From Chemists. Very similar to ZAM BUC we use to get years ago. If you use that at night and then put on socks ( or gloves for hands) You may find they heal over during the night. If bad it could take several nights. Old fashioned but works.
    Hope you get it sorted
    good luck
    JOY
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    colinone wrote:
    Hi Sally, Never heared that one, that sounds really painfull have you spoken to your GP. Its bad enough having sore fingers without them spliting. Take care
    Colin[/quote

    Thanks. Only relating it to steroids as that's all I'm taking (apart from all the other stuff lol)
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    joyful164 wrote:
    Hi

    I get these all the time. Fingers and toes but didn't think it was anything to do with steroids. never tied the two together at all.

    Psoriatic Arthritis gives you pitted nails in both hands and feet, I was therefore referred to a podiatrist.

    I must admit to biting my nails at times and that causes splits in my fingers. Do you have hard skin round your toes and heels at all. I use a foot bath from time to time when I can be bothered to get it out. Bit of a bother. What I have found good for splits in the feet is a thing called WHITE FIRE. From Chemists. Very similar to ZAM BUC we use to get years ago. If you use that at night and then put on socks ( or gloves for hands) You may find they heal over during the night. If bad it could take several nights. Old fashioned but works.
    Hope you get it sorted
    good luck
    JOY

    Thanks. My feet are ok but I might try the white fire on my fingers. I don't bite my nails (yet) but it's really odd how many I'm getting.
    x
  • annie_mial
    annie_mial Member Posts: 5,614
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Sally, I do get the split finger ends in the winter, but it's nothing new with me - I've had the problem certainly since my teens and that's a long time ago.
    I find it happens 'cos they dry up very quickly. I got some intensive care moisturing cream which seems to be doing the job for me, just have to remember to put it on all the time.

    Annie
  • joyful164
    joyful164 Member Posts: 2,401
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hello Sally

    I have made a mistake with the name of the product.

    It is called Snowfire. It is like a green ointment and comes in a stick format (Bit like a Prit stick)

    Sorry. I knew it was something like white.
    I've been to the chemist and asked for whitefire, but they knew what I mean't :lol:
    Joy
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Thanks Annie and Joy. I'll try and get that stick this morning, if I can get out in the snow. It's unrelenting!
    x
  • jordan7j
    jordan7j Bots Posts: 346
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    Hi, I get this too, at the moment my lef tthumb is the worst, a deepish cut at top near the top of nail. the other thum b is starting, and the first finger on left hand. Not on any steroids though, but had this since the summer when first diagnosed with the RA. The snowfire sounds good, will look for it thanks.
  • ifeelninety
    ifeelninety Member Posts: 57
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I dont really get splits in my fingers but scrathches on my head that take ages to heal. Anything really than gets a small scratch can bleed then take ages - I forget then it starts all over again. I even have wee spots on my nose and cheeks that look like the blood is leaking through after my shower etc - i put it down to the thinning of the skin.
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    jordan7j wrote:
    Hi, I get this too, at the moment my lef tthumb is the worst, a deepish cut at top near the top of nail. the other thum b is starting, and the first finger on left hand. Not on any steroids though, but had this since the summer when first diagnosed with the RA. The snowfire sounds good, will look for it thanks.

    Hi Jordan, that's interesting. It might not be the steroids, the chemist didn't think so either. I couldn't get the snow fire but he recommended using aqueous cream around my nails and sudocreme when they are split (this I already do, love that stuff, use if for everything.) Isn't painful though?
    x
  • salamander
    salamander Member Posts: 1,906
    edited 30. Nov -0001, 00:00
    I dont really get splits in my fingers but scrathches on my head that take ages to heal. Anything really than gets a small scratch can bleed then take ages - I forget then it starts all over again. I even have wee spots on my nose and cheeks that look like the blood is leaking through after my shower etc - i put it down to the thinning of the skin.

    Might well be. My cousin, who is a nurse in A&E, says she can tell patients who have been on long term steroids because of their skin. I aim to get off them in the next few weeks!!!
    x