Noah Sinclair
Healthy nails are typically smooth and free of ridges, grooves, spots, or discolouration. However, various factors can cause nails to become bumpy, signalling potential health issues. Changes in nail colour, texture, or shape can indicate underlying medical problems, such as skin disorders, lung disease, or rheumatoid arthritis. Bumpy nails can result from stress, injury, fever, or infection, causing nails to stop growing temporarily. Additionally, certain habits like nail-biting or nutritional deficiencies can influence nail growth and texture. Seeking medical advice is recommended when experiencing unusual nail symptoms to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Average growth rate of fingernails | 3.47 millimeters (mm) per month or about a tenth of a millimeter per day |
| Average growth rate of toenails | 1.62 mm per month |
| Factors affecting growth rate | Age, sex, season, exercise level, diet, hereditary factors, hand dominance, finger length, trauma, and overall health |
| Nail changes requiring medical attention | Color changes (yellowing or red stripes/dots), thickening, spoon shape (iron deficiency), clubbing (curving), dimpling, indentations, splitting, pitting, lifting, infection, redness, swelling, deep grooves, slowing/stopping of growth |
| Nail changes indicating health problems | Liver failure, kidney problems, respiratory conditions, lung disease, heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, skin cancer, nail fungus, skin disorders, circulation issues, diabetes, nutritional deficiencies |
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Nail biting
Bumpy nails can be caused by a variety of factors, including injury, illness, and underlying medical conditions. While some nail changes are harmless, others may indicate more serious health issues.
The act of nail biting can cause trauma to the nail, stimulating circulation in the nail bed and potentially leading to faster nail growth. However, chronic nail biting can damage the nails and the surrounding skin. It may also increase the risk of bacterial infections and dental problems such as misaligned or chipped teeth.
To address nail biting, it is important to identify triggers and develop a plan to avoid or manage them. Keeping nails trimmed and well-maintained can reduce the temptation to bite. Painting nails or applying bitter nail polish can also deter nail biting. In more severe cases, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) can be effective, sometimes combined with habit-reversal training. These therapies aim to address the underlying psychological aspects of the behavior.
While nail biting can be a challenging habit to break, with persistence and the right approach, it is possible to stop for good. It is important to be patient and compassionate with yourself during the process of changing any habit.
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Illness and injury
- Injury to the nail, such as slamming your finger in a door or dropping something heavy on your foot.
- Severe illness with a high fever, such as COVID-19, measles, or pneumonia.
- Certain nutritional deficiencies, such as a zinc or iron deficiency.
- Chemotherapy.
- Damage from using artificial or acrylic nails or getting gel manicures for long periods.
- Peripheral vascular disease (PAD).
- Severe stress.
- Chronic conditions that interfere with blood flow to the nail matrix, such as hypothyroidism.
In addition to Beau's lines, other nail abnormalities can result from injuries to the fingers and hands, such as spots, discolouration, and nail separation. Viral warts (periungual warts), infections (onychomycosis), and some medications can also cause bumps and ridges in the nails.
If you notice any bumps, ridges, or other abnormalities in your nails, it is important to consult a healthcare professional to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment.
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Nutritional deficiencies
For instance, a deficiency in B vitamins can cause vertical ridges on your nails. Vitamin B12 deficiency is common among those on a vegan diet, and biotin deficiency is often observed in pregnant women. Iron deficiency can also cause vertical nail ridges and koilonychia, also known as "spoon nails". Spoon nails have a depression in the middle, making them look scooped out. A zinc deficiency can cause white spots on your nails, also known as leukonychia. Leukonychia can also be caused by severe vitamin C deficiency, also known as scurvy.
Weak and brittle nails can be a sign of a deficiency in calcium or vitamin D. Calcium is a mineral that keeps your bones and nails strong, while vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium. Brittle nails might also be a sign of hypothyroidism or iron deficiency.
In cases of malnutrition, nails may become soft and thin, or fissured and impaired in growth. Kwashiorkor, a nutritional syndrome due to severe protein malnutrition, can result in soft and thin nails. Terry's nails, characterised by leukonychia, can also be a sign of malnutrition, especially in the elderly.
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Skin disorders
Changes in nail colour, texture, or shape can be harmless, but they can also indicate an underlying skin disorder or other disease. Healthy nails are typically smooth, without ridges, grooves, spots, or discolouration. Any deviations from this standard could point to a skin disorder.
One possible skin disorder that can cause bumpy nails is paronychia, a bacterial or fungal infection that causes redness and swelling around the nail. Onycholysis, or nail lifting, can also cause bumps to appear on the nail plate as it separates from the nail bed. This condition can be caused by injury, such as cleaning under your nails with a sharp object.
Another skin disorder that can affect nail texture is psoriasis, which can cause Ram's horn nails, a condition where the nails thicken and overgrow. This condition can also be caused by other diseases, such as ichthyosis or circulation problems.
Spoon nails, or koilonychia, is another nail condition that can indicate a skin disorder. This condition is characterised by nails that are thin, spoon-shaped, and dipped down in the middle. Spoon nails can be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia, which can be caused by various factors.
Additionally, changes in nail colour can signal potential skin disorders or other health issues. For example, yellow nails can indicate lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or a serious nail infection. White nails can be a sign of liver failure or kidney problems. Red nails or stripes and dots of colour on the nails could indicate skin cancer or a nail fungus.
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Genetics
While genetics was not a cause of bumpy nails in any of the sources, there are several other reasons why nails may become bumpy. Vertical ridges, which are often harmless, can develop in older adults due to a slowing of cell turnover. This can also be caused by vitamin deficiencies, such as a lack of iron. Iron deficiency can also cause koilonychia, where nails have raised ridges and scoop outward like spoons.
Horizontal ridges, on the other hand, can indicate malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines, which are deep grooves that run across the nail. Beau's lines can be caused by chemotherapy, damage from artificial nails or gel manicures, injury to the nail, peripheral vascular disease, severe illness with a high fever, or nutritional deficiencies such as zinc deficiency. Repeated Beau's lines could be a sign of an underlying condition interrupting nail growth.
Another condition that can cause bumpy nails is leukonychia, which is characterised by white streaks or spots on the nails and is often due to drugs or disease. Pitting, or small depressions on the nail surface, can also cause nails to become loose and fall off. This condition is associated with psoriasis and alopecia areata.
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Frequently asked questions
There could be several reasons why your nails are bumpy. Firstly, it could be due to Beau's lines, which are horizontal lines that appear when nail growth stops temporarily due to a high fever, serious injury, infection, or severe illness. Another possible cause is onychogryphosis, where nails thicken and overgrow, sometimes due to underlying conditions such as psoriasis or circulation issues. Additionally, pitting or dimpling of the nails can be indicative of various skin disorders. If you are concerned about bumpy nails, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or your primary care doctor.
Nail growth abnormalities can be caused by various factors, including stress, injury, chemotherapy, or nutritional deficiencies. Changes in nail colour, such as yellowing, may indicate lung disease, rheumatoid arthritis, or a serious nail infection. White or yellow discolouration near the tips or cuticles can be a sign of liver failure or kidney problems. Clubbing of the nails, where they curve more than usual, can indicate low oxygen levels in the blood and may be related to lung, heart, or liver disease, or inflammatory bowel disease.
Yes, it is natural for nails to develop vertical ridges that run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail, and these often become more prominent with age. Additionally, white lines or spots can appear on nails due to injury, but they usually grow out without causing any problems.
Maintaining good nail hygiene can help promote nail growth. Additionally, nails on the dominant hand tend to grow faster due to increased usage, so stimulating circulation in the nail bed through activities like nail biting or frequent nail clipping can accelerate growth. However, regular clipping is a safer option than nail biting to avoid potential risks.
