Ava Monroe
Horizontal white lines on your nails, also known as Muehrcke's lines, can be caused by nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of protein or zinc. They can also indicate more serious disorders, such as kidney disease or liver disorders. In some cases, white lines on the nails may be linked to heavy metal poisoning, carbon monoxide poisoning, altitude sickness, heart failure, chemotherapy, or malaria. While most white streaks on nails are harmless, it is important to consult a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any changes in your nail colour, texture, or shape, as this could be a sign of an underlying medical condition.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Muehrcke's lines, Mees' lines, leukonychia, Beau's lines |
| Cause | Nutritional deficiency (e.g. protein, zinc, calcium, B-complex vitamins), hypoalbuminemia, heavy metal poisoning, minor traumas to the nail |
| Indication | Interrupted nail growth due to lack of nutrients or blood flow |
| Treatment | Improving protein levels, blood infusion |
| Related conditions | Kidney disease, liver disorders, altitude sickness, heart failure, chemotherapy, malaria |
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What You'll Learn
- Muehrcke's lines: horizontal white lines that may be caused by nutritional deficiency
- Mees' lines: these run the entire width of the nail bed and have been linked to heavy metal poisoning
- Beau's lines: horizontal ridges or dents caused by stress and anxiety
- Leukonychia: white streaks or spots caused by minor traumas to the nail
- Zinc, calcium or B-complex vitamin deficiencies: these can cause white lines or ridges on your nails
Muehrcke's lines: horizontal white lines that may be caused by nutritional deficiency
Horizontal white lines on your nails, also known as Muehrcke's lines, may be caused by nutritional deficiency. Muehrcke's lines are a pair of parallel lines that run horizontally across the nail, from one side to the other. They stay in the same place and don't move when the nail grows. If you squeeze your nail, Muehrcke's lines will temporarily disappear. They are usually caused by hypoalbuminemia, or when you don't have enough of the protein albumin in your blood, which could be due to poor nutrition or liver or kidney disease. Improving protein levels will usually improve these lines as well, sometimes by blood infusion.
Muehrcke's lines indicate that a section of the nail was interrupted while growing and did not receive all the nutrients or blood flow it requires. They may also indicate more significant disorders, such as kidney disease or liver disorders. While most white streaks on nails are harmless, if you have similar lines on many nails or a pair of lines that run all the way across the nail, these could be signs of something more serious.
White lines or ridges on your nails may also be due to deficiencies in zinc, calcium or B-complex vitamins, according to a 2015 review in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal. However, more research is needed to fully understand this link.
Mees' lines also run horizontally across the nail and extend the entire width of the nail bed, and they don't disappear when the nail is squeezed. Mees' lines have historically been linked to heavy metal poisoning from arsenic or other toxins. However, these white lines on your nails could also be related to carbon monoxide poisoning, altitude sickness, heart failure, chemotherapy, malaria and other serious health concerns. If you notice these types of lines, it is recommended that you visit your doctor.
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Mees' lines: these run the entire width of the nail bed and have been linked to heavy metal poisoning
Horizontal white lines on your nails are known as Muehrcke lines. These lines are caused by a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of protein or zinc. They indicate that a section of the nail was interrupted while growing and did not receive all the nutrients or blood flow it requires. Muehrcke lines may also indicate more serious disorders, such as kidney disease or liver disorders.
However, if the lines run the entire width of the nail bed, they are known as Mees lines. These lines have been linked to heavy metal poisoning from arsenic or other toxins. They could also be related to carbon monoxide poisoning, altitude sickness, heart failure, chemotherapy, malaria and other serious health concerns. If you notice these types of lines, it is important to visit your doctor. They will likely perform a physical exam and test your hair, nail and blood for clues to the underlying condition.
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Beau's lines: horizontal ridges or dents caused by stress and anxiety
Horizontal white lines on your nails are known as Muehrcke's lines. They are caused by a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of protein or zinc. They indicate that a section of the nail was interrupted while growing and did not receive all the nutrients or blood flow it required. Muehrcke's lines may also indicate more significant disorders, such as kidney disease or liver disorders.
However, stress and anxiety can also lead to horizontal ridges or dents in your nails, known as Beau's lines. These are not usually caused by white lines or ridges, which are more likely to be caused by deficiencies in zinc, calcium or B-complex vitamins.
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Leukonychia: white streaks or spots caused by minor traumas to the nail
Horizontal white lines on your nails are called Muehrcke lines. They are caused by a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of protein or zinc. Muehrcke lines indicate that a section of the nail was interrupted while growing and did not receive all the nutrients or blood flow it requires. They can also be caused by liver or kidney disease.
Muehrcke lines are found in the nail bed, underneath the nail plate, and do not grow out as your nail grows. They stay in the same place and don't move when the nail grows. If you squeeze your nail, Muehrcke lines will temporarily disappear.
Mees' lines also run horizontally across the nail and extend the entire width of the nail bed. They don't disappear when the nail is squeezed. Mees' lines have historically been linked to heavy metal poisoning from arsenic or other toxins, but they can also be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, altitude sickness, heart failure, chemotherapy, malaria and other serious health concerns.
Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in your nails that can be caused by stress and anxiety. They may also be due to deficiencies in zinc, calcium or B-complex vitamins.
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Zinc, calcium or B-complex vitamin deficiencies: these can cause white lines or ridges on your nails
Horizontal white lines on your nails, also known as Muehrcke lines, can be caused by a nutritional deficiency such as a lack of protein or zinc. They can also be caused by more serious conditions such as kidney disease or liver disorders.
Muehrcke lines are found in the nail bed, underneath the nail plate, and do not grow out as your nail grows. They are caused by an interruption in the nail's growth, which means that section of the nail does not receive all the nutrients or blood flow it requires.
Mees' lines are another type of horizontal white line that can appear on your nails. These lines have been linked to heavy metal poisoning from arsenic or other toxins, as well as carbon monoxide poisoning, altitude sickness, heart failure, chemotherapy, and malaria.
According to a 2015 review in the Indian Dermatology Online Journal, white lines or ridges on your nails may also be due to deficiencies in zinc, calcium, or B-complex vitamins. However, more research is needed to fully understand this link.
If you notice any horizontal white lines on your nails, it is important to consult a board-certified dermatologist as they may be an indication of a serious medical condition.
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Frequently asked questions
Horizontal white lines on your nails are called Muehrcke's lines.
Muehrcke's lines are caused by a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of protein or zinc.
You should consult a board-certified dermatologist. Improving your protein levels will usually improve Muehrcke's lines.
Yes, Mees' lines are another type of horizontal white line.
Mees' lines have historically been linked to heavy metal poisoning from arsenic or other toxins. They can also be caused by carbon monoxide poisoning, altitude sickness, heart failure, chemotherapy, malaria and other serious health concerns.
