Isla Bennett
Rough nails, also known as trachyonychia, can be a sign of a number of health issues. Trachyonychia is characterised by brittle nails with longitudinal ridging, and can be accompanied by pitting, loss of lustre, or a roughened nail plate. While nail abnormalities are rarely the first sign of a health problem, they can indicate issues such as malnutrition, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, thyroid disease, or fungal infections.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Trachyonychia, also known as 'rough nails' or 'sandpaper nails' |
| Description | Brittle nails with diffuse longitudinal ridging, sometimes accompanied by pitting, loss of lustre, or a roughened nail plate |
| Prevalence | Can occur in individuals of all ages, but is most common in children and young adults, with peak incidence between 3-12 years of age |
| Gender | No significant gender predilection |
| Ridges | Vertical ridges are often a sign of aging, while horizontal ridges can indicate malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines |
| Colour | Bluish tint can indicate a lack of oxygen in the body, potentially due to a lung or heart problem; yellowish hue combined with cracking or splitting is likely due to a fungal infection |
| Nail surface | Rippled or pitted nails may be an early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis |
| Nail biting | Can be a sign of persistent anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder |
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What You'll Learn
- Trachyonychia, or 'rough nails', can affect any number of nails and is characterised by brittle nails with longitudinal ridging
- Ridges in nails are usually harmless but can be a sign of ageing, malnutrition, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies or a medical condition
- Bluish nails can indicate a lack of oxygen in the body, which could be a sign of a lung or heart problem
- Rippled or pitted nails may be an early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis
- Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease or a fungal infection
Trachyonychia, or 'rough nails', can affect any number of nails and is characterised by brittle nails with longitudinal ridging
Trachyonychia, or rough nails, can affect any number of nails, from one to all twenty. It is characterised by brittle nails with longitudinal ridging and can be accompanied by pitting, loss of lustre, or a roughened nail plate. Twenty-nail dystrophy refers to trachyonychia that affects all twenty nails.
Trachyonychia can occur in individuals of all ages, but is predominantly seen in children and young adults, with the peak incidence occurring between 3 and 12 years of age. It has been reported in both males and females, without a significant gender predilection.
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can mean different things. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can point to issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Ridges can also be a sign of improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or even a more pressing medical condition. For example, iron deficiency may cause vertical ridges in your nails. Other vitamins that can contribute to nail health include zinc and vitamins A, C, and D. According to 2018 research, biotin is also highly recommended to aid in nail health, but more research is still needed to understand the full extent of its benefits.
Nail biting or picking has been linked to anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. If you are concerned about the appearance of your nails, it is worth discussing with your doctor or a dermatologist.
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Ridges in nails are usually harmless but can be a sign of ageing, malnutrition, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies or a medical condition
Vertical ridges in nails are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can point to issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau’s lines. According to 2022 research, ridges are usually due to ageing. But they can also be a sign of improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or even a more pressing medical condition. Certain nutritional deficiencies can affect your nails. For example, iron deficiency may cause vertical ridges in your nails. Other vitamins that can contribute to the health of your nails include zinc and vitamins A, C, and D. According to 2018 research, biotin is also highly recommended to aid in nail health, but more research is still needed to understand the full extent of its benefits.
Nails with a bluish tint can mean the body isn't getting enough oxygen, which could indicate a lung problem such as emphysema or a heart problem. If the nail surface is rippled or pitted, this may be an early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis. Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease. Cracking or splitting combined with a yellowish hue is more likely due to a fungal infection. Chronic paronychia is a condition that causes inflammation, redness, tenderness, and swelling of the skin folds and tissues surrounding the nails.
Though nail changes accompany many conditions, these changes are rarely the first sign. And many nail abnormalities are harmless. If you're concerned about the appearance of your nails, see your doctor or a dermatologist.
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Bluish nails can indicate a lack of oxygen in the body, which could be a sign of a lung or heart problem
Trachyonychia, also known as 'rough nails' or 'sandpaper nails', is characterised by brittle nails that show diffuse longitudinal ridging and can be accompanied by pitting, loss of lustre, or a roughened nail plate. Twenty-nail dystrophy refers to trachyonychia that affects all 20 nails. It can occur in individuals of all ages but is predominantly seen in children and young adults, with the peak incidence occurring between 3–12 years of age. It has been reported in both males and females, without a significant gender predilection.
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can mean different things. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can point to issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. According to 2022 research, ridges are usually due to ageing. But they can also be a sign of improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or even a more pressing medical condition. Certain nutritional deficiencies can affect your nails. For example, iron deficiency may cause vertical ridges in your nails. Other vitamins that can contribute to nail health include zinc and vitamins A, C, and D.
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Rippled or pitted nails may be an early sign of psoriasis or inflammatory arthritis
Trachyonychia, also known as 'rough nails' or 'sandpaper nails', can involve any number of nails. Twenty-nail dystrophy refers to trachyonychia that affects all 20 nails. Opaque trachyonychia is characterised by opacity and longitudinal ridging, while shiny trachyonychia is characterised by a bright and shiny nail plate. Trachyonychia can occur in individuals of all ages, but is predominantly seen in children and young adults, with the peak incidence occurring between 3–12 years of age. It has been reported in both males and females, without a significant gender predilection.
It is important to note that nail changes accompany many conditions, and these changes are rarely the first sign. Many nail abnormalities are harmless. For example, ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can mean different things. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can point to issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau’s lines. According to 2022 research, ridges are usually due to ageing, but they can also be a sign of improper nail care, nail trauma, or vitamin deficiencies. Certain nutritional deficiencies, such as iron, zinc, and vitamins A, C, and D, can affect your nail health.
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Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split have been linked to thyroid disease or a fungal infection
Dry, brittle nails that frequently crack or split can be a sign of thyroid disease or a fungal infection. If you have yellow nails that crack or split, it is more likely to be a fungal infection. However, it is important to remember that nail changes rarely indicate a serious health condition. Many nail abnormalities are harmless. For example, ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can be a sign of ageing, improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or a more pressing medical condition. If you are concerned about the appearance of your nails, you should see your doctor or a dermatologist.
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Frequently asked questions
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can be a sign of ageing, improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or a more pressing medical condition. Trachyonychia, also known as 'rough nails' or 'sandpaper nails', is characterised by brittle nails that show diffuse longitudinal ridging and can be accompanied by pitting, loss of lustre, or a roughened nail plate.
Nails with a bluish tint can mean the body isn't getting enough oxygen. This could indicate a lung problem, such as emphysema, or a heart problem.
Cracking or splitting combined with a yellowish hue is more likely due to a fungal infection.
