Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesTreatmentDiagnosis
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Treatment
Diagnosis
Beau’s lines are horizontal indentations or ridges across fingernails or toenails, sometimes with a yellowish discoloration. They are a sign that something interrupted your nail’s growth, such as illness or injury. The width of the line can be a clue to the underlying diagnosis.
The reasons why Beau’s lines happen are not well understood, but causes can include chronic health conditions likediabetesorthyroid disease, as well as an acute (sudden) event like a heart attack. Medication use (including chemotherapy) and diet also can play a role.
If you have Beau’s lines, check with your healthcare provider to determine what’s causing them so you can get the right treatment.
Dmytro Skrypnykov / Getty Images
Since there are many causes of Beau’s lines, the symptoms will vary drastically. However common symptoms include the following:
Beau’s lines develop when thenail growthfrom underneath the cuticle is interrupted. There are a number of factors that are known to be associated with the condition, even though there is still a lack of clarity about why exactly Beau’s lines occur. Causes include:
Health conditions:Many diseases and infections can cause the nail to stop growing as it should, leading to Beau’s lines. Some possible conditions and infections that cause the ridges to develop in the nails include:
Injuries:Injuries can also play a role in the development of Beau’s lines, including:
Environmental and lifestyle factors:External stressors such as environmental changes along with lifestyle conditions or other factors can also lead to Beau’s lines. These include:
Medications:Several medications have been tied to Beau’s lines, especiallychemotherapy drugs.
When you undergo chemo, you will likely notice Beau’s lines on your fingernails and toenails. The lines will also develop relatively quickly after starting the medication, such as within two to three weeks of starting chemotherapy.
While chemotherapy is the most likely drug to cause the ridges, other treatments that have been shown to initiate Beau’s lines include:
Should You Worry About Beau’s Lines?Beau’s lines can be concerning, especially considering how many possible causes there are for their appearance. It’s important not to jump to the worst-case scenario. The most common cause is tied to medication use, specifically in people already undergoing chemotherapy.
Should You Worry About Beau’s Lines?
Beau’s lines can be concerning, especially considering how many possible causes there are for their appearance. It’s important not to jump to the worst-case scenario. The most common cause is tied to medication use, specifically in people already undergoing chemotherapy.
Side Effects of Chemotherapy
What You Can Do About Beau’s Lines
There are many options to get rid of Beau’s lines, but therapy revolves around the underlying cause.
At-Home Management of Beau’s Lines
The 10 Best Nail Strengtheners for Healthier Nails
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See your medical provider if you notice any horizontal ridges in your nails. Because there are so many causes, some serious and some minor, it’s essential to rule out severe health conditions that could be causing the ridges to develop.
Diagnosing Beau’s lines is simple because it can be done through physical examination. That said, diagnosing the cause is more complicated and needs to be done before determining how to manage Beau’s lines.
The tests used to diagnose what is causing the ridges on your nails will depend entirely on other symptoms you are experiencing and your health history and current state of health.
Summary
Because there are many causes, getting a diagnosis will help you find the best method for getting rid of Beau’s lines. If you notice the indentations in your nails and are not undergoing chemotherapy, speak to your healthcare provider to determine the cause and your options.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Coşar Soğukkuyu DY, Ata O.Classification of melanonychia, Beau’s lines, and nail clubbing based on nail images and transfer learning techniques.PeerJ Comput Sci. 2023 Aug 24;9:e1533. doi:10.7717/peerj-cs.1533
Lee DK, Lipner SR.Optimal diagnosis and management of common nail disorders.Ann Med.2022 Dec;54(1):694-712. doi:10.1080/07853890.2022.2044511
Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J.2015 Mar-Apr;6(2):67-74. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002
Braswell MA, Daniel CR 3rd, Brodell RT.Beau lines, onychomadesis, and retronychia: A unifying hypothesis.J Am Acad Dermatol.2015 Nov;73(5):849-55. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2015.08.003
Agouridis AP, Ntzani EE, Anastasiou G, Barkas F, Rizos EC.Unravelling Beau’s lines as a potential indicator of severe immune response in Covid-19 and reinfection.Eur J Case Rep Intern Med. 2024 Jan 17;11(2):004281. doi:10.12890/2024_004281
MedlinePlus.Nail abnormalities.
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