Caleb Foster
Dents in your nails can be a sign of an underlying health condition. While it's usually not serious, it can be a source of cosmetic distress. These nail abnormalities, known as pitting, Beau's lines, and spoon nails, can be caused by skin disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and vitamin deficiencies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medical name | Pitting |
| Cause | An issue with how the layers in the superficial nail plate develop |
| Underlying cause | Skin disorders, nutritional deficiencies, vitamin deficiencies, or a disease that affects the whole body |
| Associated condition | Nail psoriasis |
| Severity | Usually not serious |
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What You'll Learn
Nail pitting
Dents in your nails, also known as nail pitting, can be caused by an issue with how the layers in the superficial nail plate develop. The superficial nail plate is the hard part of the nail that is made up of a type of protein known as keratin, which also comprises your hair and skin. The superficial nail plate protects the skin underneath.
There are no specific treatments for nail pitting once it occurs, but seeking treatment for the underlying cause can prevent these abnormalities from returning once the nail has grown out. It is recommended that you consult with your healthcare provider to determine the cause and best course of action for treatment.
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Beau's lines
In most cases, nail abnormalities are not serious and are just a source of cosmetic distress. However, they could be a sign of a deeper concern within the body, so it is important to consult with a healthcare provider to determine the cause and best course of action for treatment.
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Spoon nails
Dents in your nails can be a sign of an underlying health condition. While this isn't usually serious, it can be a source of cosmetic distress. The medical term for this is pitting or nail pitting. This can occur due to an issue with how the layers in the superficial nail plate develop. The superficial nail plate is the hard part of the nail that is made up of a type of protein known as keratin, which also comprises your hair and skin. The superficial nail plate protects the skin underneath.
One condition often associated with nail pitting is nail psoriasis. Roughly 50% of people with psoriasis also have symptoms that affect their nails. Nail psoriasis is more likely to affect your fingernails than your toenails. Other factors that can affect nail health include skin disorders, nutritional deficiencies and vitamin deficiencies.
If you are concerned about dents in your nails, you should consult your healthcare provider to determine the cause and the best course of action for treatment.
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Underlying health conditions
Dents in the nails, also known as nail pitting, can be a sign of an underlying health condition. While this isn't usually serious, it can be a source of cosmetic distress. In some cases, nail pitting can indicate a disease that affects the whole body.
Nail pitting is often associated with nail psoriasis, which affects around 50% of people with psoriasis. It is more likely to affect your fingernails than your toenails. Other causes of nail pitting include skin disorders, nutritional deficiencies, and vitamin deficiencies.
If you are concerned about nail pitting, it is recommended that you consult with a healthcare provider to determine the underlying cause and the best course of treatment.
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Nutritional deficiencies
Dents in the nails, also known as nail pitting, can be caused by nutritional deficiencies. While no specific treatments are available once this occurs, seeking treatment for the cause can prevent these abnormalities from returning once the nail has grown out.
Nail changes reported to be associated with hypocalcemia include brittle nails with onychorrhexis and longitudinal striations. Hapalonychia, or soft nails, has been associated with a variety of nutritional deficiencies including low serum calcium. Muehrcke′s nails can occur in association with acrodermatitis enteropathica. Transverse leukonychia can also occur in acrodermatitis enteropathica and its resolution has been reported following zinc supplementation. Zinc deficiency is also associated with brittle nails, onychorrhexis and Beau′s lines. Patients with reduced plasma magnesium levels can develop soft, flaky nails that are inclined to break or split.
Nail changes in protein and energy deficiency and malnutrition in general can also cause nail abnormalities. Kwashiorkor is a nutritional syndrome due to severe protein malnutrition with relative carbohydrate excess which results in retardation of skeletal and mental development, muscular wasting, fatty liver and oedema. Marasmus is the result of prolonged starvation, a wasting syndrome, resulting in 40-50% reduction in body weight but with no peripheral oedema. Kwashiorkor is associated with nails that are soft and thin and marasmic children have fissured nails and impaired nail growth. Another nail change reported in malnutrition is longitudinal melanonychia, which refers to blackish discolouration of the nail plate.
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Frequently asked questions
Dents in your nails could be a sign of an underlying health condition, such as a skin disorder, nutritional deficiency or vitamin deficiency.
Consult your healthcare provider to determine the cause and best course of action for treatment.
The medical term for dents in nails is 'pitting' or 'nail pitting'.
Nail pitting can look like dents or holes in the nails that resemble those made by an icepick.
