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Flaking nails and lips
I work part-time as cabin crew for an airline and have two problems that are always considerably worse when I have been flying. Firstly, my lips are always dry and sore, no matter what I use. Secondly, my fingernails are soft and flaking. I already take a sulphur supplement, but is there anything else that would help?
Cracked and sore lips are usually a sign of a deficiency in vitamin B2, which is also known as riboflavin. Like all the B vitamins, it cannot be stored in the body and so must be replaced each day either through food or supplementation.
The reason your problem is worse when you fly is that stress generates an even greater demand and so your job is definitely exacerbating the problem. Oestrogen can also destroy this nutrient so if you are taking the pill, this could be making the problem worse too. The B vitamins are known as nature’s own stress-busters and since they all work best when taken together, invest in a good vitamin B complex and take as directed on the bottle.
Happily, this same vitamin, which works well with the sulphur you are already taking, can also help rebuild healthy nails. Iodine does the same and the very best natural source is a seaweed called kelp which is now widely available in supplement form. Iron can help strengthen brittle nails but since yours are soft and flaking, you may find vitamin A (25,000IU, which you take with food) is the answer.