{"id":14611,"date":"2020-04-03T07:58:59","date_gmt":"2020-04-03T07:58:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=14611"},"modified":"2021-05-07T17:02:23","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T17:02:23","slug":"14-common-causes-of-ridges-in-nails","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-common-causes-of-ridges-in-nails\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Common Causes of Ridges in Nails"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Our fingernails can tell a story about the state of our health. Various adverse health conditions ranging from thyroid disease to kidney distress can cause changes in the way your nails appear and how they grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some people might find that they start to develop vertical or horizontal lines in their nails, also known as ridges. In most cases, fingernail ridges are harmless, and these furrows will run vertically from the bottom of your nailbed to the tip of the nail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Vertical ridges are typically not anything worth stressing about, and they’re not a sign of a life-threatening condition. However, horizontal ridges, also known as Beau’s lines, are a sign of an underlying health issue that needs immediate attention. Beau’s lines can be a sign of severe kidney disease, liver dysfunction, and a variety of adverse health conditions that require treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 14 common causes of ridges in your fingernails.
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1.     Autoimmune Disorders<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Autoimmune disorders are conditions where the body’s immune system starts to attack healthy cells. Autoimmune diseases can affect all systems within the body, including the muscular, skeletal, digestive, and respiratory systems. Medical science is still unclear about the biological pathway that causes the development of autoimmune disorders in people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the more common autoimmune diseases affecting the skin is eczema and psoriasis. Some patients with eczema <\/a>may find that they start to develop the condition on their hands and fingers. Eczema takes the form of redness and irritation around the skin and may form bumps filled with a clear fluid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the bumps burst, they cause itching and even further irritation of the skin. One of the other complications of eczema is that it may cause the nails to become brittle and breakdown. The patient will also notice the development of vertical lines. These vertical lines may split, and the patient may lose parts of their nails.
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2.     Skin Dryness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

People that don’t moisturize their skin may also be at a higher risk of developing ridges in their nails. If you live in a dry climate, your skin may dry out, producing the effect of ridges in the nails. Affected individuals will find that if they do not attend to the situation, the ridging effect becomes pronounced, and they start to see splitting and inflammation <\/a>alongside the cuticle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Affected individuals can reduce the ridging effect by using a daily moisturizing protocol with a nutritious moisturizing cream. Choose moisturizing products that are high in Vitamin E and CoQ10. These nutrients help to nourish and protect the skin from the effects of dry weather while preventing the onset of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make sure you moisturize in the morning and evening, and throughout the day if you struggle with the effects of dry skin. To rapidly reduce ridging, moisturize your hands with cream, and then wear gloves at night while you sleep. This method hyper-hydrates your hands and nailbeds, reducing the ridging effect.
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3.     Vitamin Deficiencies<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you are dealing with the onset of vertical ridges appearing on your nails, then it could be a sign of a vitamin deficiency<\/a>. Our bodies require micro-nutrients to assist in regulating metabolism. When we don’t get the vitamins our body needs, we start to develop deficiencies that can lead to a variety of adverse health issues.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you aren’t getting enough protein in your diet, then you lack the necessary raw materials the body needs to generate new skin and hair cells, which are the building blocks of your nails. As a result, you might find that you start to develop vertical ridges on your nails. It’s more common for the ridging to occur on your fingernails first before it begins on your toes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are plenty of other micronutrient deficiencies that may also contribute to the development of ridging in the mails. Deficiencies in minerals and vitamins like calcium, Vitamin K, A, and zinc are also possible causes of vertical ridging in your nails.
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4.     Iron Deficiency Anemia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hemoglobin <\/a>is a form of protein that exists in red blood cells. This protein is responsible for shuffling oxygen around the body to muscle groups and vital organs. When hemoglobin levels are low, it may result in a condition known as iron deficiency anemia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients who do not get enough iron in their blood do not have the basic building blocks for hemoglobin production. As a result, they feature low hemoglobin levels and started to develop the symptoms of anemia. One of the more common signs of iron deficiency anemia is horizontal or vertical ridging in the fingernails. Patients who are dealing with the onset of iron deficiency anemia and notice the effect of their ridging on their nails may need to arrange a consultation with their doctor. At the doctor’s office, you can expect to get a blood test that will discover the extent of the low hemoglobin levels in your bloodstream.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Depending on the severity of your condition, the doctor may recommend increasing your iron intake in the food you eat, or they may prescribe you an iron supplement to increase your iron levels.
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5.     Acute Kidney Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s lines occur for a very different reason than vertical ridging on your fingernails. Beau’s lines are a sign of underlying medical conditions that could have a severe impact on your health. Individuals who are dealing with the onset of acute kidney disease may notice that they start to develop horizontal lines on the fingernails and toenails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acute kidney disease is a severe condition that requires immediate treatment. If left undiagnosed and unmanaged, the patient might start to experience problems with their blood pressure that leads to the onset of hypertension. Hypertension <\/a>is also known as the silent killer, and it may begin to accelerate the deterioration of the kidneys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beau’s Lines will start to appear on all 20-nail beds on the fingers and toes. The ridging may also begin to split, and the nails will turn brittle. If left untreated and unmanaged, the patient will continue to experience a further degradation of the nails and nail beds.
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6.     Mumps<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mumps <\/a>is a condition caused by a viral infection affecting the saliva producing glands. Most of these glands appear on the jaw next to the ear, and down below the sides of the cheeks, and jawline. Mumps was a widespread disease to occur in the United States and throughout the world. This disease is highly infectious and requires vaccination to ensure that it does not create outbreaks in communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Children have the highest risk of contracting the mumps, as preschools provide the ideal environment for this infectious disease to spread. Children often take the disease home to households where they spread it to other family members. Mumps is usually easy for children to recover from, provided they have the right medical attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How is it if children were to pass the disease on to seniors who have not had the disease before it could present severe complications that may lead to the death of the patient. One of the lesser-known symptoms of mumps is the appearance of horizontal lines on the fingernails, also known as Beau’s lines.
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7.     Thyroid Dysfunction and Disease<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The thyroid <\/a>is a gland that sits at the front of the throat. It has a butterfly shape, and it’s responsible for producing thyroid hormone, which regulates the body’s metabolism. Hypothyroidism describes a medical condition affecting the thyroid where the gland cannot produce sufficient quantities of thyroid hormone to regulate metabolism efficiently within the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Due to the effects of hypothyroidism, the thyroid has to work harder to produce hormones, resulting in the development of a goiter. A goiter describes the swelling in the thyroid gland, which is noticeable when looking at the affected individual.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Various other thyroid diseases may cause the appearance of Beau’s lines on the fingernails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of these conditions include Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease. Both conditions require medical assistance to help the patient deal with the issue of low thyroid hormone production.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In most cases, it’s possible to resolve thyroid issues with the use of hormone replacement therapies.
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8.     Diabetes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diabetes <\/a>describes a health disorder where the patient has a problem with managing the insulin produced by the pancreas. As a result, the patient starts to please insulin sensitivity, resulting in the need for exogenous insulin after eating meals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A drop in insulin sensitivity occurs due to the patient continually experiencing elevated blood sugar levels. Elevated blood sugar levels occur typically because of the patient eating too many sugary foods such as candy and sugary soda as well as meals that are high in fast-digesting carbohydrates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the affected individual’s blood sugar is always in an elevated state, they no longer can produce insulin in the pancreas by themselves. As a result, they need to return to the use of insulin to maintain their blood sugar levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Without the use of insulin, the patient will experience symptoms of lightheadedness after eating a meal with carbohydrates. If they do not receive their incident, they may end up slipping into a coma that requires immediate hospitalization.
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9.     Syphilis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Syphilis <\/a>is a sexually transmitted infection that develops in various stages. The symptoms involved with the disease start subtly and then involved in stages. The first stage of the disease consists of the development of a painless sore on the genitals, mouth, or rectum.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the second stage, the patient develops a rash, and this rash can appear anywhere on the body, including the genitals. However, it’s coming for this rash to develop on the palms in the under soles of the feet as well. Some patients may also experience the appearance of flat bumps on the eyelids, known as petechiae.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the second stage of the disease, the patient may also experience the onset of Beau’s lines in the nails. In the third stage of the disease, the patient will not encounter many external symptoms; however, it results in extensive damage to the nervous system, the brain as well as the eyes and the heart.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals infected with syphilis require treatment with penicillin or antibiotics to recover from the disease.
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10.  Chemotherapy<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Individuals diagnosed with aggressive cancers may require therapy to help mitigate the effects of disease and slowed spreading the body. One of the more popular treatments for killing off aggressive cancers is chemotherapy. This treatment involves the patient using radiation treatment and other aggressive compounds to try and fight off cancer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemotherapy <\/a>drugs take a considerable toll on the body and may result in the patient developing feelings of weakness and fatigue. During the treatment, it’s also possible for the patient to establish the onset of Beau’s lines in the fingernails, due to the effects of the drugs on the skin and the body’s ability to synthesize protein.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cancer patients who are undergoing chemotherapy require consistent monitoring by a qualified oncologist and medical professionals during their treatment. If the cancer patient manages to beat the disease, the lines will begin to disappear as the patient recovers and end the chemotherapy protocol.
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11.  Endocarditis<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Endocarditis <\/a>describes a medical condition where the lining of the heart experiences an infection. Endocarditis typically occurs when bacterial or viral pathogens migrate from other areas of the body through the bloodstream and then attached to areas of the heart that are dealing with damage. These pathogens may also infect artificial heart valves what patients with other heart problems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms of endocarditis can vary depending on the state of the infection in the patient. In most cases, the patient experiences typical flu symptoms that may include chills and fever, as well as extreme fatigue. Physicians will treat endocarditis using antibiotics to kill bacteria and antiviral agents to kill off any viruses that are causing the disease. In some cases, the patient may require surgery to remove the bacteria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Patients who are dealing with the case of endocarditis may notice that they start to develop horizontal lines on their fingernails. As the patient recovers from the disease, Beau’s lines will begin to disappear, and the nails will return to normal health.
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12.  Melanoma<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Melanoma <\/a>describes a type of cancer affecting skin cells. Melanoma is an aggressive form of cancer, and it’s responsible for many deaths in the United States each year. However, Melanoma is one of the most preventable types of cancer and provided a person with the necessary sun protection; they should not have to worry about the development of Melanoma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, many millions of people around the world get a diagnosis of this form of cancer each year. Melanoma can be a fast-acting form of the disease where the patient starts to feel the effects of this<\/p>\n\n\n\n

cancer quickly. Patients diagnosed with Melanoma may require chemotherapy treatment to kill off the cancer cells and prevent the spread update throughout the body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chemotherapy is a very demanding form of treatment, and many cancer patients find that they start to develop horizontal lines on the fingernails and toenails, otherwise known as Beau’s lines. As the patient recovers from the disease and ends their chemotherapy treatment, they will notice that their nails start to return to normal.
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13.  Damage to Your Nail<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Some people may find that they start to develop vertical lines on their nails due to injuries that they sustained in the nail bed or with the fingers. These vertical lines may occur due to trauma, such as slamming your fingers in a car door or any form of impact that may cause damage to the nail beds or the nail itself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the patient recovers from the trauma<\/a>, the nail will return to health, and the lines will disappear.\u00a0 During the patient’s recovery, it’s advisable for them to use a moisturizing compound that has high levels of vitamin E infused in the cream to help the nails recover from the trauma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It may take some time for the nail to recover. Those individuals that may lose a nail due to a trauma to the finger or fingernail might find that the fingernail grows back with vertical lines. As the patient starts to grow a new nail, it returns to its normal shape, and the lines will begin to disappear.
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14.  Poor Dietary Practices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As mentioned, the nails require plenty of vitamin E<\/a>, K, and A, to ensure optimal growth. Individuals that experience the appearance of vertical lines on their fingernails may be dealing with nutrient deficiencies in their diet that caused the onset of the condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Individuals that overeat fast food and other snacks and do not eat enough fruit, vegetables, and healthy foods, may end up developing nutrient deficiencies. Vertical lines forming on the fingernails are a clear sign and indication of the individual needing to clean up their diet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The affected individuals should concentrate on introducing fresh fruit and vegetables to the diet. The use of a multivitamin supplement can also assist with resolving any nutrient deficiencies the affected individual may be experiencing. Taking a multivitamin once a day for 90 days should resolve the issue in the patient should see that the ridges disappear and their fingernails return to the usual smooth shape. 
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