Sophia Delgado
Ridges in your nails can be harmless or a sign of a health condition or previous injury. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can point to malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Beau's lines are grooves or indentations that run across your nail. They usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something, such as nail trauma or the use of artificial nails.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Health condition, previous injury, ageing, improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or a medical condition |
| Direction | Vertical or horizontal |
| Colour | Dark brown, purple, or red spots may be signs of serious conditions, such as melanoma or endocarditis |
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What You'll Learn
Striations can be harmless
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury to your nail. 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 are grooves or indentations that run across your nail and usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something, such as nail trauma, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism or Raynaud’s disease.
However, striations can also be caused by improper nail care, such as using artificial nails or getting gel manicures for long periods. Certain nutritional deficiencies can also 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.
If you are concerned about ridges in your nails, your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause. Usually, your nails will become smoother if you treat the underlying cause.
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Striations can be a sign of ageing
Ridges in your nails can be harmless, but they can also be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury to your nail. 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 are grooves or indentations that run horizontally across your nail. They usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something, such as nail trauma.
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.
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Striations can be a sign of malnutrition
Ridges in your nails can be harmless, but they can also be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury to your nail. 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 are grooves or indentations that run horizontally across your nail. They usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something, such as nail trauma or conditions that interfere with blood flow to the nail.
Certain nutritional deficiencies can also 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.
If you have ridges in your nails, your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause. Treating the underlying cause will usually lead to smoother nails.
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Striations can be caused by nail trauma
Ridges in your nails can be harmless, but they can also be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury to your nail. 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 are grooves or indentations that run across your nail. Horizontal nail ridges usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something, such as nail trauma. This could be caused by an accident, such as closing a door on your finger or dropping something heavy on your toe. Using artificial nails or getting gel manicures for long periods can also harm the nails and lead to horizontal ridges.
Nail injuries usually do not require treatment, but if the damage is extensive, you should see a doctor immediately. Fingernail ridges that appear suddenly or with other symptoms should be examined by a doctor as soon as possible. If you are concerned about ridges in your nails, your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause.
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Striations can be a sign of a vitamin deficiency
Ridges or striations in your nails can be harmless, but they can also be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury to your nail. 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 are grooves or indentations that run horizontally across your nail. They usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something, such as nail trauma, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism or Raynaud's disease.
Certain nutritional deficiencies can also 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.
If you have ridges in your nails, your healthcare provider can help you determine the cause. Usually, your nails will become smoother if you treat the underlying cause. If ridges appear suddenly or with any other symptoms, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
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Frequently asked questions
Striations in your nails can be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury to your nail. They can also be harmless and due to aging, improper nail care, or nail trauma.
If your nails are discoloured, dark brown, purple, or red spots appear under your nails, or if the striations appear suddenly, you should see a doctor as soon as possible.
Vertical striations are often a sign of aging, while horizontal striations can be caused by malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau’s lines. They can also be caused by vitamin deficiencies, such as a lack of iron, zinc, or vitamins A, C, and D.
You should see a healthcare provider to determine the cause of the striations. Treating the underlying cause will usually lead to smoother nails.
