Caleb Foster
Ridges in your nails can be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury. While they are usually harmless, they can sometimes indicate issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in your nails that may happen when something interrupts 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, or nutritional deficiencies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Colour | White, green, yellow or dark marks |
| Shape | Horizontal or vertical ridges, dents (nail pitting) |
| Other | Redness and swelling around one or more nails |
| Causes | Ageing, malnutrition, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, iron deficiency, zinc deficiency, peripheral vascular disease, severe illness, improper nail care |
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What You'll Learn
Ridges can be a sign of ageing
Ridges on nails can be harmless, but they can also be a sign of ageing. 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 your nail, peripheral vascular disease (PAD), severe illness with a high fever, or nutritional deficiencies.
According to 2022 research, ridges are usually due to ageing. However, 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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They can also be caused by nutritional deficiencies
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes indicate a health condition or a previous injury. 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 nutritional deficiencies, such as a zinc deficiency, which can also cause white spots on your nails. Iron deficiency can cause vertical nail ridges and koilonychia (spoon nails). Other vitamins that can contribute to the health of your nails include 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.
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Ridges can be a sign of a previous nail injury
Ridges in your nails can be a sign of a previous nail injury. While they are usually harmless, they can sometimes point to a more serious health condition. Horizontal ridges, in particular, can be caused by Beau's lines, which occur when something interrupts your nail growth. This could be due to an injury, such as slamming your finger in a door or dropping something on your foot. Other possible causes of Beau's lines include chemotherapy, damage from using artificial nails or gel manicures, peripheral vascular disease, or a severe illness with a high fever.
It's important to note that ridges in your nails can also be a sign of improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or ageing. Certain nutritional deficiencies, such as zinc and iron deficiency, can affect your nail health. If you notice ridges in your nails, it's recommended to talk to a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and receive appropriate treatment. With time and treatment, smoother nails may grow in.
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White ridges can be caused by a zinc deficiency
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 can be caused by a zinc deficiency, which can also cause white spots on your nails. Other nutritional deficiencies that can affect your nails include iron, vitamin A, C, and D.
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Ridges can be harmless and caused by improper nail care
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can be caused by a variety of factors. 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 horizontal ridges or dents in your nails that may happen when something interrupts your nail growth. Possible causes include:
- Chemotherapy
- Damage from using artificial or acrylic nails or getting gel manicures for long periods
- Injury to your nail, like slamming your finger in a door or dropping something on your foot
- Peripheral vascular disease (PAD)
- Severe illness with high fever, such as COVID-19, measles or pneumonia
- Zinc deficiency, which can also cause white spots on your nails
- Iron deficiency, which can cause vertical nail ridges and koilonychia (spoon nails)
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. 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.
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Frequently asked questions
White ridges on nails can be caused by a zinc deficiency, which can also cause white spots.
Ridges on nails can be caused by a number of factors, including ageing, malnutrition, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, and certain medical conditions.
If you have ridges on your nails, it is recommended that you talk to your healthcare provider to find out the cause and how to treat it.
