Caleb Foster
Cracks and lines in nails can be caused by a variety of factors, from genetics and ageing to trauma and certain medical conditions. While some causes are harmless, others may indicate a more serious underlying issue. In this article, we will explore the different types of nail abnormalities, their potential causes, and when to seek medical advice.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Genetics and ageing, exposure to chemicals, trauma, certain diseases, vitamin deficiencies, infections, hypothyroidism, Raynaud's Disease, protein deficiency, excessive water exposure |
| Type | Beau's Lines, Mee's Lines, Splinter Hemorrhages |
| Appearance | White bands, horizontal depressions, black or brown stripes |
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What You'll Learn
- Repetitive friction on the nail can cause thick and misshapen nails
- Trauma (skiing, tennis, hiking) or certain diseases (psoriasis) can cause nails to separate from the nail bed
- Beau's Lines: Horizontal depressions in the nail plate due to growth arrest of the nail from illness, fever or trauma
- Dark brown or black stripes down the length of the nail could be benign pigmentation, moles or freckles
- Hypothyroidism, Raynaud's Disease and protein deficiency can cause cracked lines in nails
Repetitive friction on the nail can cause thick and misshapen nails
Thick and misshapen nails can be caused by repetitive friction on the nail over time. This can be caused by ageing, genetics, or anything that puts a strain on the nails, such as excessive exposure to chemicals like dish soap and nail polish remover. Nails can also become brittle due to excessive water exposure, as nails are extremely absorptive of water.
There are other potential causes for cracked, split, or thin nails. Beau's lines, for example, are horizontal depressions in the nail plate caused by growth arrest of the nail from illness, fever, or trauma. Mee's lines are white bands that follow the contour of the lunula (half moon) and are typically caused by arsenic poisoning, but can also be caused by vitamin deficiencies and infections. Dark brown or black stripes down the length of the nail could be benign pigmentation, moles, or freckles, but could also be an indication of skin cancer.
It is important to note that nails separating from the nail bed could be a sign of trauma from activities like skiing, tennis, or hiking, or certain diseases like psoriasis.
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Trauma (skiing, tennis, hiking) or certain diseases (psoriasis) can cause nails to separate from the nail bed
Nails can thicken with age, and while many may think a thick nail means fungus, thick and misshapen nails can appear from repetitive friction on the nail over time. Trauma (skiing, tennis, hiking) or certain diseases (psoriasis) can cause nails to separate from the nail bed. Beau's Lines, which are horizontal depressions in the nail plate, are caused by growth arrest of the nail from illness, fever or trauma. Mee's Lines are white bands that follow the contour of the lunula (half moon). Arsenic poisoning is the classic cause, but there are also many other potential medical causes including certain vitamin deficiencies and infections. Dark brown or black stripes down the length of the nail could be benign pigmentation, moles or freckles. For example, splinter hemorrhages are black, length-wise lines that look like splinters but are most commonly due to trauma. Nails are extremely absorptive of water, even more so than skin, and too much water exposure can put tremendous strain on the delicate nails.
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Beau's Lines: Horizontal depressions in the nail plate due to growth arrest of the nail from illness, fever or trauma
Beau's Lines are horizontal depressions in the nail plate that are caused by growth arrest of the nail due to illness, fever or trauma. Beau's Lines are different from Mee's Lines, which are white bands that follow the contour of the lunula (half moon) and are caused by arsenic poisoning, vitamin deficiencies or infections.
Cracked, split, thin nails can be caused by genetics and ageing, as well as anything that puts a strain on the nails over time, such as excessive exposure to chemicals like dish soap and nail polish remover. Nails can also be affected by certain medical conditions, including hypothyroidism, Raynaud's Disease and protein deficiency.
Dark brown or black stripes down the length of the nail could be benign pigmentation, moles or freckles, but they can also be an indication of skin cancer, so it's important to see a dermatologist if you notice any changes. Nails separating from the nail bed can be a sign of trauma or certain diseases, such as psoriasis.
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Dark brown or black stripes down the length of the nail could be benign pigmentation, moles or freckles
While it's important to be aware of the possibility of melanoma, there are many other causes of cracked, split, or thin nails. These include genetics, ageing, and repetitive friction on the nail over time. Dr Stern notes that only 50% of 'abnormal'-looking toenails are fungal, so a proper diagnosis is important. Nails can also thicken over time, and this can be caused by excessive exposure to chemicals such as dish soap and nail polish remover.
Other possible causes of nail problems include certain medical conditions, such as hypothyroidism, Raynaud's Disease, and protein deficiency. Nails that are separating from the nail bed could be a sign that you need to take a break from vigorously cleaning under the nail. This could also be caused by trauma (such as skiing, tennis, or hiking) or certain diseases (such as psoriasis).
There are also certain types of lines on the nails that can indicate specific issues. For example, Mee's lines are white bands that follow the contour of the lunula (the half-moon shape at the base of the nail). These can be caused by arsenic poisoning, vitamin deficiencies, or infections. Beau's lines are horizontal depressions in the nail plate that are caused by growth arrest of the nail due to illness, fever, or trauma.
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Hypothyroidism, Raynaud's Disease and protein deficiency can cause cracked lines in nails
Cracked lines in nails can be caused by a number of factors. Genetics and ageing play a huge role, as well as anything that puts a strain on the nails over time. This could be due to excessive exposure to chemicals such as dish soap and nail polish remover, or even at-home manicures. Nails separating from the nail bed is a telltale sign that you need to take a step back from vigorously cleaning under the nail.
Other causes of cracked lines in nails include trauma (such as skiing, tennis, hiking, or splinter haemorrhages) or certain diseases such as psoriasis, vitamin deficiencies, infections, and hypothyroidism. Beau's Lines, for example, are horizontal depressions in the nail plate due to growth arrest of the nail from illness, fever, or trauma. Dark brown or black stripes down the length of the nail could be benign pigmentation, moles, or freckles, but they could also be a sign of skin cancer, so it is important to see a dermatologist if you notice any of these changes.
Additionally, Raynaud's Disease and protein deficiency can also cause cracked lines in nails. These conditions are characterised by poor blood flow to the extremities, which can result in nail abnormalities.
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Frequently asked questions
It could be Beau's Lines, which are horizontal depressions in the nail plate due to growth arrest of the nail from illness, fever or trauma.
These are Mee's Lines, which are caused by arsenic poisoning, vitamin deficiencies or infections.
Genetics and ageing play a huge role, as well as anything that puts a strain on the nails over time, such as excessive exposure to chemicals like dish soap and nail polish remover.
They could be benign pigmentation, moles or freckles. However, Dr Stern recommends seeing a dermatologist if there is a single pigmented band on a single nail or if you see a brown pigment surrounding the nail, as these could be an indication of skin cancer.
