
Horizontal ridges on the toenails are usually harmless, but they can sometimes indicate an underlying health issue. Horizontal ridges are deeper than vertical ridges and are often linked to more serious health issues, such as severe infections, diabetes, malnutrition, or nutritional deficiencies. They can also be caused by nail trauma, such as dropping something heavy on your toe, or by using artificial nails or getting gel manicures for long periods.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Beau's lines |
| Cause | An illness, injury or skin condition that interrupted nail growth |
| Treatment | Treating the underlying cause will allow new, smooth nails to grow again |
| Other causes | Malnutrition, nail trauma, artificial nails, gel manicures, peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism, Raynaud's disease |
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What You'll Learn
- Horizontal nail ridges are often harmless, but can sometimes point to malnutrition
- They can be caused by nail trauma, such as dropping something heavy on your toe
- Horizontal ridges are called Beau's lines, which are linked to more serious health issues, such as severe infections
- They can also be caused by diabetes, which can interfere with blood flow to the nail
- Horizontal ridges can be caused by hypothyroidism

Horizontal nail ridges are often harmless, but can sometimes point to malnutrition
Horizontal nail ridges are usually harmless and are often caused by nail trauma, such as dropping something heavy on your toe, or using artificial nails or gel manicures for long periods. However, they can sometimes be a sign of malnutrition or nutritional deficiencies. They can also be a symptom of more serious health issues, such as severe infections, diabetes, or Beau's lines, which are horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your fingernails or toenails. Beau's lines are caused by an illness, injury or skin condition that has interrupted your nail growth. Treating the underlying cause will allow new, smooth nails to grow again.
If you have developed horizontal nail ridges, it is important to determine if there is a medical cause that requires treatment. Make an appointment with your dermatologist to get checked out.
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They can be caused by nail trauma, such as dropping something heavy on your toe
Horizontal ridges on your toenails, also known as Beau's lines, are usually caused by an interruption in nail growth. This could be due to an injury, illness or skin condition. For example, dropping something heavy on your toe could cause horizontal ridges to develop.
Nail trauma can disrupt nail growth and lead to the formation of horizontal ridges. This type of nail injury can be caused by various accidents or incidents, such as closing a door on your finger or dropping a heavy object on your toe. The impact can affect the nail matrix, which is the area responsible for nail growth, resulting in the development of horizontal ridges.
Horizontal ridges on the toenails can also be a sign of other underlying medical conditions. These include peripheral vascular disease, diabetes, hypothyroidism, Raynaud's disease, severe infections, nutritional deficiencies, and certain autoimmune diseases. It is important to consult a dermatologist or healthcare professional if you notice any nail changes, especially if you have horizontal ridges, to determine if there is a medical cause that requires treatment.
While horizontal ridges on the toenails can be a result of nail trauma or other medical conditions, it is important to note that they are usually harmless and may not always indicate a serious health issue. Treating the underlying cause, if identified, can help promote the growth of new, smooth nails.
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Horizontal ridges are called Beau's lines, which are linked to more serious health issues, such as severe infections
Horizontal ridges on your toenails are called Beau's lines. They are a sign that an illness, injury or skin condition interrupted your nail growth. Beau's lines are often linked to more serious health issues, such as severe infections, diabetes, or nutritional deficiencies. They can also be caused by nail trauma, such as dropping something heavy on your toe, or using artificial nails or gel manicures for long periods.
If you have horizontal ridges on your toenails, it's important to determine if there's a medical cause that requires treatment. Treating the underlying cause will allow new, smooth nails to grow again.
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They can also be caused by diabetes, which can interfere with blood flow to the nail
Horizontal ridges on your toenails can be caused by a number of factors, including diabetes, which can interfere with blood flow to the nail. Known as Beau's lines, these horizontal ridges are deeper than vertical ridges and are often linked to more serious health issues.
Beau's lines are a sign that an illness, injury or skin condition interrupted your nail growth. If you have diabetes, you may develop Beau's lines because the condition can cause peripheral vascular disease, which in turn can affect blood flow to your nails.
If you've noticed horizontal ridges on your toenails, it's important to make an appointment with your dermatologist to determine if there's a medical cause that requires treatment. While horizontal ridges are usually harmless, they can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying health issue. Treating the underlying cause will allow new, smooth nails to grow again.
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Horizontal ridges can be caused by hypothyroidism
Horizontal ridges on your toenails can be caused by a number of factors, including hypothyroidism. Hypothyroidism is a condition where the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormones. This can lead to a variety of symptoms, including changes in the nails. Horizontal ridges, also known as Beau's lines, can be a sign of hypothyroidism, as well as other conditions such as diabetes, peripheral vascular disease, Raynaud's disease, and nutritional deficiencies.
Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your toenails or fingernails. They are caused by an interruption in nail growth due to an illness, injury, or skin condition. In the case of hypothyroidism, the condition may interfere with blood flow to the nail, leading to the development of horizontal ridges.
It is important to note that horizontal ridges on the nails are not always a cause for concern. They can also be caused by nail trauma, such as closing a door on your finger or dropping something heavy on your toe. Additionally, using artificial nails or getting gel manicures for long periods can also lead to the development of horizontal ridges.
If you notice horizontal ridges on your toenails and are concerned about hypothyroidism or any other potential medical causes, it is recommended to make an appointment with a dermatologist. They can help determine if there is an underlying medical cause that requires treatment.
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Frequently asked questions
Horizontal ridges on your toe nails are called Beau's lines. They are a sign that an illness, injury or skin condition interrupted your nail growth.
Beau's lines are often linked to more serious health issues, such as severe infections, diabetes, or nutritional deficiencies. They can also be caused by nail trauma, such as dropping something heavy on your toe.
Horizontal ridges on your toe nails are usually harmless but it's important to determine if there's a medical cause that requires treatment. Make an appointment with your dermatologist to find out.











































