Liam Carter
Ridges in your nails can be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury. They can also be harmless. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can point to issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Beau's lines can be caused by chemotherapy, damage from using artificial or acrylic nails, injury to the nail, peripheral vascular disease, severe illness with a high fever, or certain nutritional deficiencies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vertical ridges | Ageing |
| Horizontal ridges | Malnutrition, serious nail injury, Beau's lines |
| Beau's lines | Chemotherapy, damage from artificial nails, gel manicures, nail injury, peripheral vascular disease, severe illness, nutritional deficiencies |
| Iron deficiency | Vertical nail ridges, koilonychia (spoon nails)> |
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What You'll Learn
Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury. Vertical ridges, which run up and down the nail, are often a sign of ageing. As people get older, it is common for vertical ridges to develop on their nails.
Horizontal ridges, which run across the nail, can point to issues such as malnutrition, serious nail injury, or a condition called Beau's lines. Beau's lines can be caused by chemotherapy, damage from using artificial nails or gel manicures, injury to the nail, peripheral vascular disease, severe illness with a high fever, or nutritional deficiencies. Zinc deficiency can cause Beau's lines and white spots on the nails, while iron deficiency can cause vertical nail ridges and spoon nails.
If you notice new ridges or lines in your nails, it is important to tell your healthcare provider so they can determine the cause and if any treatment is necessary. Other nail changes to mention include changes to the shape of the nails, such as nail clubbing or spoon-shaped nails, colour changes, dents, and redness and swelling around the nails.
While ridges in the nails are usually harmless, they can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition, so it is important to monitor any changes and seek medical advice if you are concerned.
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Horizontal ridges can be caused by malnutrition
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury. The ridges can run vertically (up and down) or horizontally (across) your nail.
If you notice horizontal ridges on your nails, it's important to talk to a healthcare provider to find out the cause and how to treat it. Your nails can provide important information about your health, so don't ignore any changes.
In addition to malnutrition, horizontal ridges can also be caused by a serious nail injury or a condition called Beau's lines. Beau's lines may occur when something interrupts your nail growth, such as chemotherapy, damage from using artificial nails or getting gel manicures for long periods, or an injury to your nail.
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Horizontal ridges can be caused by a serious nail injury
Horizontal ridges in your nails are usually harmless, but they can sometimes be caused by a serious nail injury. This could be something like slamming your finger in a door or dropping something on your foot. They can also be caused by peripheral vascular disease (PAD), a severe illness with a high fever, such as COVID-19, measles or pneumonia, or certain nutritional deficiencies. For example, a zinc deficiency can cause Beau's lines and white spots on your nails, while an iron deficiency can cause vertical nail ridges and koilonychia (spoon nails).
If you notice new ridges or lines in your nails, it's important to tell your healthcare provider. You may not need treatment, but it's always best to find out what's causing them. Other nail changes to mention include changes to the shape of your nails, such as nail clubbing or spoon-shaped nails, colour changes, including white, green, yellow or dark marks, dents (nail pitting) and redness and swelling around one or more of your nails.
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Horizontal ridges can be caused by Beau's lines
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes indicate a health condition or previous injury. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can be caused by malnutrition, serious nail injury, or a condition called Beau's lines.
Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in your nails that can be caused by something interrupting your nail growth. Possible causes include chemotherapy, damage from using artificial or acrylic nails, injury to your nail, peripheral vascular disease, severe illness with a high fever (such as COVID-19, measles or pneumonia), and certain nutritional deficiencies. Zinc deficiency, for example, can cause Beau's lines and white spots on your nails, while iron deficiency can cause vertical nail ridges and spoon nails.
If you notice new ridges or lines in your nails, it's important to tell your healthcare provider so they can help you find out the cause and advise on treatment if necessary. Your nails can provide important information about your health, so nail ridges should not be ignored.
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Vertical ridges can be caused by an iron deficiency
Ridges in your nails can be harmless, but they can also indicate a health condition or a previous injury. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can be caused by malnutrition, a serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Beau's lines can be caused by chemotherapy, damage from using artificial or acrylic nails, a nail injury, peripheral vascular disease (PAD), a severe illness with a high fever (such as COVID-19, measles or pneumonia), or certain nutritional deficiencies.
Iron deficiency can cause vertical nail ridges and koilonychia (spoon nails). If you notice new ridges or lines in your nails, you should tell your healthcare provider so they can help you find out the cause and advise on treatment, if necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
Vertical lines and ridges in your nails are usually a sign of ageing.
Horizontal lines and ridges in your nails can be caused by malnutrition, serious nail injury, or a condition called Beau's lines.
Beau's lines are horizontal ridges that can be caused by chemotherapy, damage from using artificial or acrylic nails, injury to your nail, peripheral vascular disease, severe illness with a high fever, or certain nutritional deficiencies.
Ridges in your nails can sometimes be harmless, but they can also be a sign of a health condition or previous injury. It's important to tell your healthcare provider if you notice new ridges or lines in your nails so they can help you find out the cause and treat it if necessary.
Other nail changes that may indicate a health issue include changes to the shape of your nails, such as nail clubbing or spoon-shaped nails, colour changes, such as white, green, yellow or dark marks, dents (nail pitting), and redness and swelling around your nails.
