Common causes of vertical nail ridges, also called longitudinal ridges, include: Normal aging: Many people develop vertical ridges on their nails as they get older. These lines aren't dangerous. Skin conditions: If you have very dry skin or eczema, you may have vertical lines on your nails.
A condition in which the red blood cells decrease usually due to deficiency of iron, vitamin B12, or folic acid is called anemia. Iron deficiency alone may be responsible for triggering skin problems. Associated effects can include brittle and fragile nails which may develop vertical ridges or lines.
Answer From Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D. Vertical nail ridges are fairly common and nothing to worry about. Vertical nail ridges extend from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. With age, vertical nail ridges may become more numerous or prominent because of changes in cell turnover within the nail.
The ridges may not go away completely, but you can improve the appearance of your nails if you: Apply moisturizer to your nails and cuticles daily to relieve dry skin or eczema.
Magnesium helps prevent ridges in the nails and with protein synthesis and new nail formation. Magnesium deficiency can be corrected by including whole grains such as whole wheat, quinoa, and almonds, cashews, peanuts, black beans in your diet. Zinc is needed for replication of nail cells and improved hair growth.
"If you suffer with dry skin, your nail ridges are most likely due to dehydration. In this case, it is best to use a penetrating moisturiser treatment at the base of the nail to instantly revive the nail plate and help protect from further development of ridges – Mavala's Mavaflex is perfect for this," she said.
2 Nail changes in vitamin B12 deficiency present as hyperpigmentation of nails like bluish discoloration of nails, blue-black pigmentation with dark longitudinal streaks, and longitudinal and reticulate darkened streaks. The nail pigmentation associated with B12 deficiency is more frequent in patients with dark skin.
Also known as splinter hemorrhages, these stripes occur due to damage to the blood vessels. Grooves across the nails: Grooves across the nails, known as Beau's lines, can occur due to lupus or Raynaud's phenomenon.
Mental and emotional stress can affect nail health and growth. Severe emotional stress, such as a divorce, death in the family or job loss, can cause Beau's lines. Anxiety disorders are another possible cause.
Nail Health & Diabetes
In some people with diabetes, the nails take on a yellowish hue and become brittle. This is often associated with the breakdown of sugar and its effect on the collagen in nails. In certain cases, this yellowing of nails can be a sign of a nail infection.
Koilonychia is an abnormal shape of the fingernail. The nail has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia.
Thyroid dysfunction can also affect your nails, causing abnormality in nail shape, nail color, or attachment to the nail bed. Pay attention if you experience ongoing hangnails, ridges in your nails, splitting, peeling, or even dry cuticles.
Nail pitting refers to dents, ridges, and holes in your nails. You may also notice discoloration, buildup or blood under the nails, crumbling nails, and nails separating from your toes or fingers. It's usually a symptom of an underlying autoimmune or skin condition, such as psoriasis, sarcoidosis, and lichen planus.
If your nails are peeling, brittle, or have vertical ridges, you may be vitamin D deficient. Dubbed “the sunshine vitamin,” one of the best sources is sunlight. It can also be found in fatty fish, beef, liver, egg yolk, and fortified dairy, orange juice, and cereals.
Sources of Vitamin B12. Vitamin B12 is naturally present in foods of animal origin, including fish, meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products [5]. In addition, fortified breakfast cereals and fortified nutritional yeasts are readily available sources of vitamin B12 that have high bioavailability [12,13].
Plenty of nutrients in food can help your nails, taking them from dry and brittle to healthy and strong. Foods that can improve your nails include fruits, lean meats, salmon, leafy greens, beans, eggs, nuts, and whole grains.
“Just as your skin starts to show age-related changes such as thinning and sagging, nails also show signs of aging,” says Dr. Kim. “Longitudinal ridging of nails is usually age-related and usually nothing to worry about.”
Vertical ridges in the fingernails are the most common and are typically harmless. There are times when ridges in the fingernails could be a sign of an underlying condition, especially if the ridges are horizontal.
Nail clubbing is when a nail curves under at the tip of the finger. It could indicate heart disease, inflammatory bowel disease, lung disease, liver disease, thyroid disease, or HIV/AIDS.