Liam Carter
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless, but they can mean different things. Vertical ridges, which run from the tip of your fingernail down to the cuticle, are often a sign of ageing. Horizontal ridges, on the other hand, can point to issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Beau's lines are deep horizontal ridges and are often a symptom of serious conditions. Pigmented bands in the nails can be caused by hormones and certain medications, but brown or dark stripes that go from the cuticle to the free edge of the nail could be a sign of nail cancer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Direction | Vertical ridges are a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can point to malnutrition, serious nail injury or Beau's lines |
| Colour | Pigmented bands can be caused by hormones or medication, but brown or dark stripes that are getting wider could be a sign of nail cancer |
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What You'll Learn
Vertical ridges are usually a sign of ageing
While vertical ridges are not a cause for concern, horizontal ridges can be a sign of malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Beau's lines are deep horizontal ridges that are often a symptom of more serious conditions. It is important to note that pigmented bands in the nails can also be caused by hormones or certain medications. If you are concerned about any changes in your nails, it is always best to consult a doctor or dermatologist.
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Horizontal ridges can be a sign of malnutrition
Horizontal ridges in your nails can be a sign of malnutrition. They can also be caused by a serious nail injury or Beau's lines. Vertical ridges, on the other hand, are often a sign of ageing, possibly due to a slowing of cell turnover.
Hormones and certain medications can also cause pigmented bands in the nails. However, be especially watchful for nail cancer symptoms, such as a brown or dark stripe that goes from the cuticle out to the free edge of the nail, especially if it's getting wider. If you have brown fingernails and the discoloration is round, as opposed to linear, it could be another condition, such as nail psoriasis.
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Deep horizontal ridges can be a symptom of a serious condition
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes indicate a more serious condition. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, possibly due to a slowing of cell turnover. However, deep horizontal ridges, known as Beau's lines, can be a symptom of malnutrition, serious nail injury, or a more serious condition. These conditions include nail cancer, which presents as a brown or dark stripe that extends from the cuticle to the free edge of the nail and gets wider over time. Hormones and certain medications can also cause pigmented bands in the nails, so it is important to consult a dermatologist if you notice any changes in the colour or texture of your nails.
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Pigmented bands can be caused by hormones or medication
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can mean different things. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, possibly due to a slowing of cell turnover. Horizontal ridges can point to issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines, which are often a symptom of serious conditions.
Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau's lines, are a type of longitudinal erythronychia, which presents as one or more linear red bands extending from the lunula to the distal free edge of the nail plate. These can be accompanied by onycholysis of the nail plate, and reactive distal nail bed and hyponychial hyperkeratosis.
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Brown or dark stripes could be a sign of nail cancer
Brown or dark stripes that extend from the cuticle to the free edge of the nail could be a sign of nail cancer. These stripes are often linear and can get wider over time. While ridges in your nails are usually harmless, they can sometimes indicate more serious conditions. Vertical ridges, which run from the tip of the nail down to the cuticle, are often a sign of ageing and can be caused by a slowing of cell turnover. However, if you experience texture changes in your nails alongside vertical ridges, it may be caused by a medical condition such as trachyonychia (twenty-nail dystrophy). Horizontal ridges, also known as Beau's lines, can point to issues such as malnutrition, serious nail injury, or more serious underlying conditions. If you notice any brown or dark stripes on your nails, it is important to get them checked out by a dermatologist as they may be a symptom of nail cancer.
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Frequently asked questions
Vertical lines are usually a sign of ageing. They are sometimes called longitudinal striations or bands.
Horizontal lines can be a sign of malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines.
Pink-red streaks can be a sign of longitudinal erythronychia.
Brown or dark stripes can be a sign of nail cancer.
Pitted brown spots on nails can be a sign of nail psoriasis.
