Caleb Foster
Horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your toenails can be a sign that an injury, illness or skin condition has interrupted your nail growth. These lines are called Beau's lines and can be a sign of stress, trauma, or a long-term illness. Brown or black lines on your toenails are called melanonychia and can occur naturally if you have a dark complexion. White lines on your nails, or Mees lines, can be associated with acute systemic stress, while red lines, or longitudinal erythronychia, can be a sign of blood from trauma, infection, or a drug reaction.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Beau's lines |
| Description | Horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your toenails |
| Cause | An injury, illness, or skin condition that interrupted nail growth |
| Treatment | There is no treatment for Beau's lines, but treating the underlying cause can prevent them from returning |
| Other types of nail lines | White lines (leukonychia striata), brown-black lines (longitudinal melanonychia), red lines (longitudinal erythronychia) |
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What You'll Learn
Beau's lines
A single Beau's line on one nail may indicate an injury that affected only one finger or toe. Beau's lines on all of your nails can mean that an illness or stress caused them. Multiple Beau's lines on each nail may mean that an illness or trauma happened more than once. Thicker Beau's lines may be a sign that an illness or trauma lasted a longer time.
There is no treatment for Beau's lines. However, treating the underlying cause can prevent them from returning once they have grown out. Your healthcare provider may recommend applying creams or moisturisers for eczema or psoriasis.
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Melanonychia
Horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your toenails are known as Beau's lines. They are a sign that an illness, injury or skin condition interrupted your nail growth. Beau's lines on all of your nails can mean that an illness or stress caused them.
Dark lines on your toenails are called melanonychia. The lines are brown or black and usually look like a stripe that begins at the bottom of your nail bed and continues to the top. Melanonychia may appear in one nail or several. These lines can occur naturally if you have a dark complexion. Brown-black nail lines may represent blood from trauma; bacterial, fungal, or viral infection; drug reaction; endocrine disorders; exogenous pigmentation; excess melanin production within the nail matrix; nevi; or melanoma.
A thorough inspection of the toenails is an integral part of the complete physical examination. An understanding of basic nail anatomy and familiarity with several basic types of nail line enable the clinician to diagnose and treat nail disorders and to recognize underlying systemic diseases, as each type of nail line has a particular differential diagnosis.
Treating the underlying cause of Beau's lines will allow new, smooth nails to grow again. Your healthcare provider may recommend you apply creams or moisturisers for eczema or psoriasis.
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White lines (leukonychia striata)
White lines on your toenails, also known as leukonychia striata, Mees' lines, or Muehrcke's lines, can be caused by a variety of factors, including nutritional deficiencies, fungal infections, psoriasis, nail dehydration, mineral deficiencies, or even more serious underlying health conditions.
Mees' lines are white lines or bands that appear on the toenails due to an underlying health condition. They can be a symptom of a serious illness, such as arsenic poisoning, kidney failure, acute renal failure, heart failure, ulcerative colitis, breast cancer, or systemic lupus erythematosus. Mees' lines may be confused with nail injuries or Muehrcke's lines.
Muehrcke's lines are horizontal white streaks that run over the nails and are caused by a nutritional deficiency, such as a lack of protein or zinc. These lines indicate that a section of the nail was interrupted during growth and did not receive all the necessary nutrients or blood flow. Muehrcke's lines may also indicate more significant disorders, such as kidney disease or liver disorders.
White spots on toenails can also be caused by fungal infections, which are commonly referred to as onychomycosis. Toenail fungal infections typically present as white or yellow-brown spots under the tip or side of the toenail and may resolve on their own if mild.
It is important to consult a healthcare professional if you notice any unusual changes in your toenails, as they can provide an evaluation and diagnosis to determine the underlying cause.
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Brown-black lines (longitudinal melanonychia)
Brown-black lines on your toenails are called longitudinal melanonychia. These lines can occur naturally if you have a dark complexion. They usually look like a stripe that begins at the bottom of your nail bed and continues to the top. They may appear on one or several nails.
Brown-black lines on your toenails may be caused by blood from trauma, a bacterial, fungal or viral infection, a drug reaction, endocrine disorders, exogenous pigmentation, excess melanin production within the nail matrix, nevi or melanoma.
If you notice brown-black lines on your toenails, you should consult a doctor. An inspection of your fingernails and toenails should be part of a complete physical examination. A basic understanding of nail anatomy and recognition of several basic types of nail lines and bands allow the clinician to properly diagnose and treat the nail disease, to recognise possible underlying systemic diseases, and to know when to refer the patient to a dermatologist for a specialised evaluation and biopsy.
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Red lines (longitudinal erythronychia)
Red lines on your toenails, or longitudinal erythronychia, can indicate a number of different conditions. It is important to note that red lines on your toenails are not a condition in themselves, but rather a symptom of an underlying issue.
Longitudinal erythronychia can be caused by trauma or injury to the nail, which can include an injury that affects only one toe or a more widespread trauma. It can also be caused by a bacterial, fungal or viral infection, or a drug reaction. In some cases, red lines on the toenails can indicate an endocrine disorder, exogenous pigmentation, excess melanin production within the nail matrix, nevi or melanoma.
As red lines on the toenails can be indicative of a number of different conditions, it is important to consult a healthcare professional if you notice this symptom. A thorough inspection of the toenails is an integral part of a complete physical examination and can help to diagnose and treat any underlying nail disorders or systemic diseases. Treating the underlying cause of longitudinal erythronychia will allow new, smooth nails to grow again.
In some cases, red lines on the toenails may be accompanied by other symptoms, such as pain, swelling or changes in nail shape or texture. If you experience any of these additional symptoms, it is important to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
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Frequently asked questions
Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your toenails. They can be caused by an injury, illness or skin condition that interrupted your nail growth.
Melanonychia is the name for brown or black lines that appear on your toenails. They can be an indicator of melanoma, but they can also occur naturally if you have a dark complexion.
Splinter haemorrhages appear as small black or deep-red lines on your toenails. They are caused by injuries to the small blood vessels under the nail beds.
