Skin conditions: If you have very dry skin or eczema, you may have vertical lines on your nails. Thyroid disease: If you have hypothyroidism, you may have thick, brittle nails with vertical ridges. Your nails may also crumble or break easily. They may look more rounded and your fingertip may be puffy.
Hypothyroidism slows down your metabolism. This can cause dry, brittle, and ridged nails. Liver disease and chronic kidney disease can also cause onychorrhexis.
Nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin B12 or keratin can result in fingernail ridges.
Split, cracked, or brittle nails may be due to thyroid disease, psoriasis, frequent hand washing, or medications. When this symptom is accompanied by yellowness it can also indicate a fungal infection. Healthy nails should be smooth and have a consistent color.
Very pale nails
Healthy nails are generally pink. Very pale nails may indicate illnesses, such as anemia, congestive heart failure or liver disease.
If the nails are mostly white with darker rims, this can indicate liver problems, such as hepatitis. In this image, you can see the fingers are also jaundiced, another sign of liver trouble.
Horizontal ridges run from side to side on your nails and are often referred to as Beau's lines. Horizontal ridges can be caused by trauma to the nail and may be deep or discolored. The can also indicate malnutrition, psoriasis or a thyroid problem.
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. Leukonychia is white streaks or spots on the nails often due to drugs or disease.
Iron improves nail health and prevents ridges along the nails. Include dark green leafy vegetables, beef, chicken, eggs, veggies, peanuts, beans, fruits in your diet to combat iron deficiency. Magnesium helps prevent ridges in the nails and with protein synthesis and new nail formation.
These ridges run from the tip of the finger down to the bottom of the nail and are not usually a cause for concern. A trip to a dermatologist may still help in cases where symptoms cause pain or unsightly nails. Other conditions may also cause vertical nail ridges along with other symptoms.
"Stress makes it harder for our bodies to absorb the nutrients, so nail ridging, pitting, and shredding are all side effects that weaken the nail." It's also more than likely that you've reverted to nervous tics like biting or rubbing your nails, which Badouri says "causes more damage to the nail bed".
If your nails are peeling, brittle, or have vertical ridges, you may be vitamin D deficient.
Because of its involvement in protein synthesis, a process essential to nail growth, it's no surprise that magnesium helps create beautiful and strong nail plates. Sufficient mineral, vitamin, and nutrient intake is necessary to support the nail beds in growing nail tissue.
The most common reason for the formation of vertical or longitudinal ridges in the absence of actual disease is a lack of moisture and improper nutrition. As the nails age, their capacity to absorb nutrients diminishes, subsequently affecting their growth.
Nail changes.
People who have advanced kidney disease can develop: A white color on the upper part of one or more nails and a normal to reddish brown color below, as shown here (half-and-half nails) Pale nails. White bands running across one or more nails (Muehrcke's nails)
"White/yellow/greenish discolouration and thickening at the end of the nail spreads gradually to involve the whole nail which may be thick and brittle," said Practical Diabetes. It added: "The distorted nail can become sharp or break off, and can dig into neighbouring toes."
Koilonychia is indented nails. Instead of growing straight, your nails look concave, like spoons. In many people, koilonychia is a sign of iron deficiency. Usually, you can get rid of spoon nails by treating the underlying cause.
According to the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AADA), underactive thyroid can also lead to ridges in the nails. They may appear curved, and peel, break or crumble more easily.
Brittle nails may be indicative of hypothyroidism, which can impact the overall shape of the nail and cause it to grow in a flat, spoon-like shape.
Symptoms of Rash Due to Thyroid Disease
This itchy rash can occur on the neck, chest, back, face, and buttocks.
A white nail could signal cirrhosis, chronic renal failure or congestive heart failure. Lunula that have a blueish tint could suggest Wilson's disease, a rare inherited genetic disorder in which copper accumulates in the liver, brain and other organs. Red lunula may indicate heart failure, research shows.
Terry's nails is a type of nail discoloration. The nailbeds look “washed out,” except for a thin reddish-brown strip near the tip. Often, Terry's nails is a symptom of a chronic condition, such as liver failure or diabetes. Sometimes, it is a sign of aging.
A slight blush at bottom of the nail is sometimes a symptom of diabetes. A red nail bed could mean you have heart disease.
To help even out the surface of the nail, Remark recommends using a buffing block to smooth away ridges. “Just make sure not to over-buff, especially if your ridges are deep,” she says. “This can really thin out the nail plate.” You can buff your nails before you polish them to ensure a smoother manicure.