Isla Bennett
Horizontal or vertical ridges or dents in your nails can be a sign of a health condition, nutrient deficiency, or previous injury. Beau's lines, a condition named after French physician Joseph Honoré Simon Beau, are horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your fingernails or toenails. They can be triggered by an illness, injury, or skin condition that disrupts nail growth. Nail denting is also frequently a sign of psoriasis.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Beau's lines |
| Appearance | Moat-like depressions or dents |
| Direction | Horizontal |
| Location | Fingernails or toenails |
| Colour | Sometimes a slight yellow discolouration |
| Causes | Illnesses and infections, such as COVID-19, strep throat, pneumonia, thyroid disease, peripheral vascular disease, injury, skin conditions, chemotherapy, damage from artificial or acrylic nails, gel manicures |
| Treatment | Treating the underlying cause will allow new, smooth nails to grow |
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What You'll Learn
- Beau's lines: horizontal ridges or dents in one or more nails
- Psoriasis: a skin condition that can cause nail denting
- Thyroid disease: hypothyroidism can cause thick, brittle nails with vertical ridges
- Ageing: vertical ridges can develop as people get older
- Previous injury: ridges in nails can be caused by previous injuries to the nail
Beau's lines: horizontal ridges or dents in one or more nails
Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or indentations that form on the nail plate. They can appear as moat-like depressions or dents on one or more nails, running horizontally across the nail plate. Beau's lines can affect all fingernails or toenails, or just a few, such as the thumbs and big toes. They are sometimes accompanied by a slight yellow discolouration, similar to a fungal infection.
Beau's lines are caused by an interruption in nail growth. This can be triggered by an illness, injury or skin condition. For example, they can be caused by peripheral vascular disease (PAD), severe illness with a high fever (such as COVID-19, measles or pneumonia), chemotherapy, damage from using artificial or acrylic nails, or getting gel manicures for long periods.
Nail denting is also frequently a sign of psoriasis. People with pitted fingernails have dents or depressions (pits) that change the texture of the nail.
In some cases, horizontal ridges or dents in the nails are harmless. However, treating the underlying cause will allow new, smooth nails to grow again.
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Psoriasis: a skin condition that can cause nail denting
Nail denting is frequently a sign of psoriasis. People with pitted fingernails have dents or depressions (pits) that change the texture of the nail. This skin condition can cause indentations to form on the nail plate, known as Beau's lines. Beau's lines can appear as moat-like depressions or dents on one or more nails, running horizontally across the nail plate. They can affect all fingernails or just a few, as well as toenails, most often the big toe. Beau's lines can be triggered by any event that disrupts nail growth, including illnesses and injuries. For example, thyroid disease can cause thick, brittle nails with vertical ridges, while horizontal ridges or dents are usually due to Beau's lines. These dents may occur when something interrupts nail growth, such as chemotherapy, damage from artificial nails, or injury to the nail.
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Thyroid disease: hypothyroidism can cause thick, brittle nails with vertical ridges
Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your fingernails or toenails. They are a sign that an illness, injury or skin condition has interrupted your nail growth. Beau's lines can be triggered by any event that disrupts the nail growth, including severe illness with a high fever, such as COVID-19, measles or pneumonia.
Vertical nail ridges, also called longitudinal ridges, can be a sign of hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism can cause thick, brittle nails with vertical ridges. Nails may also crumble or break easily. They may look more rounded and your fingertip may be puffy.
Nail denting is frequently a sign of psoriasis. People with pitted fingernails have dents or depressions (pits) that change the texture of the nail.
In some cases, ridges in your nails are harmless and can be caused by the normal ageing process.
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Ageing: vertical ridges can develop as people get older
Vertical ridges in your nails, also known as longitudinal ridges, can be a sign of ageing. As people get older, it is common for vertical ridges to develop on their nails.
These ridges are visible lines or dents that run up and down your fingernails or toenails. They can affect all your nails or just a few. While they are harmless in some cases, they can also be a sign of a health condition or a previous injury to your nail.
For example, vertical nail ridges can be a symptom of hypothyroidism, a condition where the nails become thick, brittle, and prone to crumbling or breaking. Other signs of hypothyroidism include rounded nails, a puffy fingertip, and discolouration.
If you are concerned about the appearance of vertical ridges on your nails, it is recommended to consult a healthcare professional. They can help determine if the ridges are related to ageing or if there is an underlying health condition that requires treatment.
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Previous injury: ridges in nails can be caused by previous injuries to the nail
Ridges in nails can be caused by a previous injury to the nail. Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your fingernails or toenails. They are a sign that an illness, injury, or skin condition interrupted your nail growth. The ridges may run vertically (up and down) or horizontally (across) your nail.
Horizontal ridges or dents in your nails are usually due to Beau's lines. These dents may happen when something interrupts your nail growth. Possible causes include 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), and severe illness with a high fever, such as COVID-19, measles, or pneumonia.
Nail denting is frequently a sign of psoriasis. People with pitted fingernails have dents or depressions (pits) that change the texture of the nail. Beau's lines can also sometimes have a slight yellow discolouration similar to a fungal infection.
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Frequently asked questions
Indentations in your nails are often a sign of Beau's lines, which can be triggered by an injury or an illness that disrupts nail growth, such as COVID-19, strep throat, pneumonia, or hypothyroidism.
Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your fingernails or toenails. They can affect all your nails or just a few, such as your thumbs and big toes.
Indentations in your nails could be a sign of psoriasis, nutrient deficiencies, or normal ageing.
If you have indentations in your nails, you should consult a doctor to determine the underlying cause. Treating the underlying cause will allow new, smooth nails to grow again.
