Liam Carter
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes be a sign of an underlying health condition. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can point to issues like malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Ridges can also be caused by improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or even a more pressing medical condition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Vertical ridges | Sign of aging, iron deficiency, or improper nail care |
| Horizontal ridges | Sign of malnutrition, nail injury, or Beau’s lines |
| Horizontal ridges | Caused by nail trauma, artificial nails, or gel manicures |
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What You'll Learn
Beau's lines
Ridges in your nails can be harmless, but they can also be a sign of an underlying health condition or a previous injury to your nail. Grooves or indentations running across your nail are called Beaus lines. You may have a single groove on a single nail or one or more grooves on all your nails. Horizontal nail ridges usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something. Nail trauma is one possible cause—for example, you may have closed a door on your finger or dropped 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. Repeated trauma to the nails during manicures or pedicures and chemicals found in nail polish removers and cuticle softeners can also make vertical nail ridges more visible.
Beaus lines can also be caused by malnutrition or vitamin deficiencies. 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. 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. Eating a varied and healthy diet may be a positive step toward providing the body with the fuel it needs to create strong, healthy nails and prevent fingernail ridges.
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Ageing
Ridges in the fingernails are often a sign of ageing. Not everyone will develop them, but they are harmless. Vertical ridges are more common with age, while horizontal ridges can point to malnutrition, nail injury, or Beau's lines. Ridges can also be a sign of improper nail care, nail trauma, vitamin deficiencies, or a more pressing medical condition.
To prevent ridges from forming, it is recommended to eat a varied and healthy diet to provide the body with the fuel it needs to create strong, healthy nails. Certain nutritional deficiencies can affect your nails. For example, iron deficiency may cause vertical ridges in your nails. Other vitamins that can contribute to nail health 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 needed to understand the full extent of its benefits.
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Malnutrition
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes indicate an underlying health condition. Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, while horizontal ridges can be caused by malnutrition, serious nail injury, or Beau's lines. Beau's lines are indentations that run across your nail. You may have a single groove on a single nail or one or more grooves on all your nails.
Horizontal nail ridges usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something. This could be nail trauma, 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.
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. 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. Eating a varied and healthy diet may be a positive step toward providing the body with the fuel it needs to create strong, healthy nails and prevent fingernail ridges.
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Nail trauma
Ridges in your nails are usually harmless but can sometimes indicate an underlying 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 running across your nail. You may have a single groove on a single nail or one or more grooves on all your nails. Horizontal nail ridges usually develop when nail growth is disrupted by something. Nail trauma is one possible cause. For example, you may have closed a door on your finger or dropped 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.
Repeated trauma to the nails during manicures or pedicures and chemicals found in nail polish removers and cuticle softeners can also make vertical nail ridges more visible. 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. Eating a varied and healthy diet may be a positive step toward providing the body with the fuel it needs to create strong, healthy nails and prevent fingernail ridges.
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Vitamin deficiencies
Ridges in your nails can be harmless and are usually a sign of ageing. However, they can also be caused by vitamin deficiencies, such as a lack of iron, zinc, or vitamins A, C, and D. Horizontal ridges, also known as Beau's lines, can be caused by malnutrition, nail trauma, or a more pressing medical condition.
If you are concerned about the appearance of ridges in your nails, it is recommended that you consult a healthcare professional. They will be able to determine the underlying cause and advise on any necessary treatment.
Eating a varied and healthy diet can help ensure that your body has the nutrients it needs to create strong and healthy nails. In addition to vitamins and minerals, biotin is highly recommended to aid in nail health, although more research is needed to understand its full benefits.
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Frequently asked questions
Vertical ridges are often a sign of ageing, but can also be caused by iron deficiency or other vitamin deficiencies.
Horizontal ridges can be caused by malnutrition, nail trauma, or a serious nail injury. They can also be caused by using artificial nails or getting gel manicures for long periods.
Indentations or grooves running across your nail are called Beau's lines.
