When Should You See A Doctor About Your Fingernail Ridges
Vertical nail ridges that come and go are unlikely to be a serious issue. However, if your condition is persistent, or if youre suffering from horizontal lines in the nail, its wise to visit a doctor to find out what causes your fingernail ridges.
A knowledgeable dermatologist will be able to evaluate your condition and determine whether lifestyle changes or treatments are necessary to resolve the problem. Additionally, a dermatologist can make sure the ridges arent stemming from a more serious skin condition, such as melanoma.
Treating Ridges In The Nails Caused By Hypothyroidism
Start by treating your thyroid condition
If there is a reason your nails have ridges, you need to treat the cause. If you have a thyroid problem like hypothyroidism, you need to optimize your thyroid hormone levels with thyroid hormone replacement medication.
Thyroid medication is usually the first step in treating hypothyroidism, but there are also other ways you will want to support your nails if they have ridges.
Eat a healthy diet
Malnutrition may be a likely cause of nail ridges in many people, and certain health conditions can make it hard to absorb the proper nutrients to support your whole body down to your nails.
It is essential to eat a nutrient-dense diet full of wholesome foods with minimal processing. Refined sugars, alcohol, caffeine can also interfere with healthy nail growth, so try to limit these items as much as possible. Your nails benefit from natural food sources rich in lipids, peptides, and natural oils that occur in avocados, eggs, and nuts.
Furthermore, antioxidants can give your integumentary system the boost it needs to promote health renewal and regeneration. Additionally, because many diseases like hypothyroidism may cause a level of chronic inflammation in the body, it is helpful to incorporate anti-inflammatory foods into your diet.
Try a support supplement
Taking a supplement that aims to help support your skin, hair, and nails can be a great way to get plenty of certain nutrients you may generally have difficulty obtaining.
Wear Gloves When Doing Housework
This might not be something youd think about on a daily basis, but excessive exposure to water and harsh chemicals might wreak havoc on your nails and worsen already-ridged nails. Plus, think about how often you wash your hands.
Wearing gloves with housework or any wet work will prevent excessive influx and effluent of water into the nail, Stern notes. Water absorption can weaken the bonds between nail cells, causing peeling, ridging, and breakage.
Take care of your nails and the environment with these reusable and biodegradable household gloves.
Be judicious with gel and powder dip nail trends. Sure, the polish lasts for weeks, and it seems to make nails harder and less prone to breakage while you are wearing it, Shainhouse allows. But these kinds of polish trends might ultimately damage your nail plate.
Its not that gel necessarily makes ridges worse its really the damage nails undergo during the removal process that strips nails of oils and keratin. Usually, a long soak in acetone is required for a soak-off gel to be removed, and that amount of acetone exposure will exacerbate brittle nails, Stern says. Other methods of removal, such as aggressive scraping or filing, can also damage the nail but in other ways.
Check ingredients: If the product requires removal, it is by definition a polish and not a treatment, and therefore it might exacerbate the issue.
You May Like: Where To Buy Incoco Nail Strips
Apply A Ridge Filler If You Want To Use Polish
If you already see some divots across your nails and hate the lumpy appearance when using polish, don’t fret: You can apply strengthening base coats to give your nails some love, as the ridges eventually grow out. Lin suggests lightly buffing your nails and using a ridge filler before polish for a smooth canvas. The base will quite literally fill in the lines, so your colored polish won’t look bumpy on the surface.
If you really want to amp up your nail care, look for a polish that contains glycolic acid. “These can help strengthen nail canals and minimize the appearance of ridges,” says Zeichner. Or just rub the gentle exfoliant on your nails with whatever you’ve gotbe it a serum, peel, or pad.
Give Your Nails A Breather
In manicuring, the nails are exposed to prolonged water exposure, says Dr. Zubek. When repeated over time, this can lead to overall dehydration of the nail and surrounding skin, thereby weakening or increasing brittleness of the nail.
Nail polish remover further compounds the problem by dehydrating and changing the chemical properties of the nail surface, Dr. Zubek adds. The nail cells ability to stick tightly to one another is weakened, leading to brittleness and ridging.
If your nails are becoming dry or brittle and youre noticing increased ridging, its recommended to take a three to four week break from manicuring to allow the nail to grow out and regain its strength, says Dr. Zubek. Consider giving your tips a hand by applying a keratin treatment to your nails when youre between manicures, like CND RescueRXx.
Don’t Miss: Varisi Nail Fungus Treatment
Tips To Get Rid Of Ridges In Fingernails
- Moisture nails often
- Dont bite or pick at nails
- Dont irritate cuticle
- Dont expose them to much water
- Eat healthily
- Use cosmetics that arent hard
- Use nail strengtheners
Ridges and bumps in fingernails are common and they are nothing to worry about however, remember that this condition is trying to tell you something about your inner health. While a lack of proper care and a healthy diet can lead to this at times serious underlying conditions may also be responsible for the situation.
So, now you are aware of what vitamin deficiency causes ridges in fingernails in case you find them first try to focus on healthy eating, and even after this if they dont go away consult your doctor.
Sudheendra is a passionate blogger for 8 years and holds a Degree in Journalism & Mass Communications. His writings particularly focus on health, medicine, diet & lifestyle. For him, everything that interlinks and relates to health & medical world entices him. His write-ups aim at educating people not by just giving facts but by infusing human touch.
Common Causes Of Bump On Nails
Injury: Trauma to the nail or nail bed is the most common cause of bump on the nail.
Thyroid Disorders: Changes in thyroid medication dose and thyroid hormone blood levels can also affect the nail growth and lead to the development of these bumps on the thumb nail.
Skin Conditions: The living skin cells in the fingers create fingernails. So skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis can trigger the formation of bump or ridge on the nails too.
Skin Dryness: The bump on the nails can also form as a result of skin dryness. Even the deficiency of protein, vitamin A, zinc or calcium can cause fingernail ridges.
Don’t Miss: Acrylic Nail Tutorial At Home
Ridges In Fingernails: What Do They Mean + 4 Ways To Get Rid Of Those Lines
There’s no denying that our bodies are super smartthey routinely give us signs, telling us what we might need . For instance, if you have whiteheads dotting your jawline, your body might be begging you to limit dairy or foods with a high glycemic index. Experiencing oilier-than-usual roots? Stress may be to blame.
So when we experience ridges in our fingernails, what’s our body trying to tell us? Here, we crack the code, plus how to get rid of those grooves.
Unusually Curved Fingertips And Nails
Clubbing of the fingertips means the tissue beneath the nails thickens and the fingertips become rounded and bulbous. The fingernails curve over the rounded fingertips.
Clubbing is thought to be caused by increased blood flow to the fingertips. It can run in families and be completely harmless.
If it suddenly develops, it may be a sign of one of many possible medical conditions, including:
- long-term lung disease or heart disease, such as lung cancer, bronchiectasis, or endocarditis
- inflammatory bowel disease a long-term condition that causes inflammation of the lining of the gut
- polycythaemia a condition where the blood is too thick
Recommended Reading: How To Take Contacts Out With Long Nails
Painful Red And Swollen Nail Fold
Paronychia is inflammation of the nail fold .
It’s most commonly caused by infection, injury or irritation.
Sometimes, it’s associated with an underlying skin condition, such as eczema or psoriasis, or another medical condition, such as diabetes or HIV.
Paronychia can develop over a few hours . If it lasts for more than six weeks, it’s known as chronic paronychia.
Treatment Of Bumps On Nails
Since bumps on the thumbnail and other fingernails are generally signs of other health issues, the treatment for these bumps or nail ridges depends on the underlying cause of the changes in the nails. For instance, ones who develop Beaus lines due to diabetes can reduce the horizontal fingernail ridges simply by controlling their blood sugar.
Treatment for skin conditions like eczema includes application of moisturizers on the hands or topical ointments to decrease eczema symptoms and thus getting rid of the bump on the nails. For ridges caused due to deficiency of minerals or vitamins, making healthy dietary alterations and taking supplements to boost the nutrient levels can help to get rid of the bumps on the nails. The nail bumps can also be smoothened by buffing the fingernails with an emery board. However, the nails should never be pressed too hard to avoid any further damage. The advice of a dermatologist should also be taken on how to treat the nail with the bumps or ridges.
Read Also: Does Hongo Killer Work
Serious Causes & Symptoms Of Bump Or Ridges On Nails
Vertical Bumps on Nails and Its Causes: Vertical ridges are furrows that start from the tip of the fingernail and run down to the cuticle. They are also termed as longitudinal striations or bands. Slight vertical ridges in fingernails mostly develop in older adults due to a slowing of cell turnover. This occurs when new skin cells produced under the surface of the skin rise up to replace the dead cells which are discarded from the surface. If other symptoms like changes in the colour or texture of the nails are experienced, then the nail ridges can be caused by a medical condition. In 20-nail dystrophy, or trachyonychia, the nail ridges can be accompanied by a change in nail colour, or increased roughness or brittleness of the nail. Vertical ridges along with certain visible changes in the nails which make them appear as concave or in the shape of a spoon can also be a sign of iron deficiency anaemia.
Causes And Symptoms Of Ridges In Fingernails
Many reasons lead to ridges in fingernails. At times skin conditions such as eczema and skin dryness can also lead to this condition. If the body doesnt have sufficient calcium, zinc, protein, or vitamin A can even lead to fingernail ridges.
1. Vertical Ridges
These ridges are furrows that begin from the tip of the fingernail and run down to the cuticle and are at times termed as longitudinal bands or striations.
Minor vertical ridges are common in old people probably due to cell turnover slowing. This happens when new skin cells formed below the surface of the skin come up to replace the dead cells that are cast off from the top.
If you see other signs such as texture or color changes in nails, it could be due to health conditions. In 20-nail dystrophy or trachyonychia, the ridges could be seen with alteration in color to the nails, or the nails could become brittle or rough.
Iron deficiency anemia can even lead to vertical ridges and modifications to the nails that make them spoon-shaped or concave.
2. Horizontal Ridges
The Beaus lines or deep horizontal ridges are generally signs of a grave condition. They could halt the growth of the nail until the existing condition is cured. It may also indicate acute kidney disease. Besides, when horizontal lines are present on all nails i.e. 20 nails it can be a sign of:
- Mumps
- Thyroid disease
- Syphilis
Chemotherapy can even lead to this condition besides ridges in fingernails due to thyroid are also common.
Recommended Reading: How Much Are Nails To Get Done
How Is The Cause Of Nail Pitting Diagnosed
Your doctor will assess your symptoms as well as take your health history to determine the possible causes of your nail pitting. Even symptoms that you are unsure of may be connected, so its important to share all the symptoms you are experiencing along with the ones that are affecting your nails. In some cases, a skin biopsy may be taken to identify any infections or cell abnormalities.
When To See Your Doctor About Fingernail Ridges
In most cases, nail ridges are benign and nothing to worry about, but there are certain characteristics to keep an eye out for, especially when it comes to Beaus lines unrelated to trauma. If the condition is sudden in onset or causes splitting of the nail at the free edge, it would be beneficial to see your doctor, says Dr. Zubek. Your primary care doctor can screen for internal causes of ridging, or refer you to a dermatologist who can evaluate for skin conditions that might be causing it.
Although on the rarer side of the spectrum, nail ridging can be a sign of an internal problem, such as a thyroid disorder, nutritional deficiency , or an autoimmune disease, says Dr. Zubek.
Changes in color or texture, such as your nail turning a dark color or a surface change thats new also warrants a visit to your doctor, says Dr. González. More serious conditions, such as melanoma, or a heart condition called endocarditis, might be the cause of the abnormality, so its always best to book a consult and ease any worries you might have.
Stay updated on the latest science-backed health, fitness, and nutrition news by signing up for the Prevention.com newsletter here.
You May Like: Funginix Cvs
Bump On The Nail: Causes & Treatment
The state of a persons health is reflected by their fingernails. Conditions ranging from kidney disorders to thyroid disease can cause changes in the nails. A common change in the nails is the appearance of vertical or horizontal bumps on the nails. Although these bumps on the fingernails are mostly harmless, one still needs to know the underlying cause and get it treated to make their nails healthy, strong and pretty again. Have a bump on your nail? Go through the following article and know all about bump on thumb nail, causes and treatment.
What Causes Ridges In Your Finger Nails
There are many causes for the development of ridges on your nails ranging from minor injuries to infections to lethal cancers. Below are different causes of ridges on nails as explained by different expert authorities in the field of dermatology that is, DR. Phoebe Rich, M.D, FAAD, clinical adjunct professor of dermatology at Oregon Health Science University, DR. Jessica Krant, M.D. a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and Assistant clinical professor of dermatology at SUNY Downstate Medical Center, Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and Journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Research.
The journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology Research 20I6, Says that many types of skin disorders are also associated with development of ridges on fingernails especially those that occur horizontally. They might range from auto-immune disorders like psoriasis to deadly cancers like Melanoma.
According to DR.JessicaKrant In medical investigations it has been found that nails are a reflection of your bodys general health condition. Many different systemic diseases can be reflected in your fingernails. Diseases of many different organs like kidneys, thyroid, liver, heart, can lead to horizontal ridges in nails.
Recommended Reading: What Vitamins Help With Nail Fungus
Are Vertical Lines On Your Nails Normal
What causes vertical ridges on nails?
The underlying cause may vary.
It can be mineral deficiencies or protein deficiencies. It can be a deficiency in vitamin A or a zinc deficiency. It can be a serious ailment or a hormonal imbalance even.
Vertical nail ridges can, however, be normal. They can be a normal sign of aging, for instance. If youre not in the category of nail wrinkling , you may want to investigate.
Diagnosis And Treatment Of Nail Problems
Any abnormal changes to your nails should be medically investigated. See your doctor for treatment or possible referral to a dermatologist. If the cause of your nail problem is not immediately apparent, your doctor may take nail clippings and scrapings from beneath the nail for laboratory analysis. Fingernail infections usually respond faster to treatment than toenail infections.Depending on the cause, treatment may include:
- Antibiotics for bacterial infections
- Antifungal preparations, mainly oral tablets, for fungal infections in the nails
- Treatment for any contributing skin disease
- Advice on appropriate nail care.
Recommended Reading: How To Treat Toenail Fungus With Vicks
How To Diagnose Ridges In Fingernails
The sudden appearance of fingernail ridges with any other sign should be immediately examined by a physician.
Nail injuries typically dont need treatment but if the damage is extensive one should see a doctor as soon as possible.
The doctor at the time of diagnosis will check the symptoms and find out the medical history. If a health provider suspects something unusual further tests may be done besides collecting urine & blood samples.
Maintain A Healthy Diet
Its rare, but ridging can sometimes be a sign of an underlying systemic condition or vitamin deficiency, says Dr. Hart. Eating a well-balanced diet can help ensure youre meeting the daily vitamin quota necessary to fend off nail ridges. The Mayo Clinic recommends that 20 to 30 percent of your calories come from healthy fats , 20 percent from protein , and 45 to 50 percent from healthy carbohydrates .
And when you amp up your diet, keep foods that are known to promote healthy nail growth top of mind. Think: dairy products , biotin , and zinc .
Also Check: Hongo Cura Reviews
