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Horizontal
Management
Seeking Medical Care
Ridges in nails can run horizontally or vertically.These marks are common and usually harmless, but some fingernail ridges—particularlyhorizontal ones—can indicate a health problem such as athyroid issue.
This article will discuss the types of ridges found on fingernails, what causes them, and what you can do about them.
Zay Nyi Nyi / Getty Images
Vertical Ridges in Nails
Vertical ridges that run from the cuticle towards the tip of the nail are common and typically harmless. They often become more noticeable with aging.
Onychorrhexis
Onychorrhexisdescribes vertical ridging and is considered a natural variation of the nail. It may appear as a single ridge or multiple ridges that may be shallow to deep. There may also be splitting.
Onychorrhexis doesn’t always have an identifiable cause, but certain medical conditions and lifestyle factors may contribute, such as:
Trachyonychia
Trachyonychiais a nail disorder that affects people of all ages but is more common in children. There are two types:
In opaque trachyonychia, the nails may look as if they have been rubbed with sandpaper. The condition can affect some or all of the nails. Nail plates may be thickened or thinned, and cuticles are often ragged and thickened. Nails may also bebrittle.
The cause of trachyonychia isn’t always known but inflammation is believed to play a role in its development. Certain skin conditions are also associated with it.Trachyonychia does not cause permanent damage to the nails.
Median Canaliform Nail Dystrophy
Mediancanaliformnail dystrophy is a central, vertical ridge that is feathered and has a fir-tree pattern.
The cause of median canaliform nail dystrophy is unknown, but some researchers believe it happens when trauma or infection creates a temporary defect in the nail.
Nail Abnormalities: What to Know
Vertical ridging may also be a result of:
Dmytro Skrypnykov / Getty Images
Horizontal Ridges in Nails
Horizontal ridges that run from one side of the nail to the other are more likely to be an indication of an underlying medical condition.
Beau’s Lines
Beau’s linesdescribe one or more horizontal, band-like depressions affecting one or multiple nails. It can lead to the separation of the nail plate and theshedding of the nail.
Beau’s lines happen when the nail temporarily slows or stops growing. They can be an indication of:
Injury
Infection
Medical Conditions
These factors cause a temporary disruption to nail growth. The horizontal line forms from this temporary lack of growth and then moves up the nail as the nail grows.
What Medications Can Cause Ridges in Fingernails?
Ridges in fingernails have been associated with some medications, particularly some types ofchemotherapy(anticancer therapeutic agents).
How to Get Rid of Nail Ridges
Some people want to reduce nail ridges for cosmetic reasons. To get healthy-looking nails, try the following strategies:
Temporary Fix for Beau NailsUse a nail ridge filler and nail polish to improve the appearance of Beau’s lines. Use nail products with caution, however, as some can weaken or damage nails.
Temporary Fix for Beau Nails
Use a nail ridge filler and nail polish to improve the appearance of Beau’s lines. Use nail products with caution, however, as some can weaken or damage nails.
When to See a Healthcare Provider
See a healthcare provider if you notice any changes to your nails, such as shape, texture, or color.This is particularly important if you have:
See a healthcare provider immediately if you have:
Summary
Nail ridges are small, raised lines on the nail that can run vertically or horizontally. Vertical nail ridges are typically harmless. Horizontal nail ridges (Beau’s lines) are more likely to be associated with a medical condition.
To get rid of nail ridges, you need to identify the underlying cause. Often, ridges will clear up on their own. In other cases, such as with trachyonychia, you may need to see a healthcare provider.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you notice changes to your nails.
16 SourcesVerywell 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.National Library of Medicine.Nail abnormalities.Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67-74. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002McGill University.Why do nails have ridges?Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B, et al.Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: a review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10(1):15-27. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-00338-xHaber JS, Chairatchaneeboon M, Rubin AI. Trachyonychia:Review and update on clinical aspects, histology, and therapy.Skin Appendage Disord.2017;2(3-4):109-115. doi:10.1159/000449063Haber JS, Chairatchaneeboon M, Rubin AI.Trachyonychia: review and update on clinical aspects, histology, and therapy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(3-4):109-115. doi:10.1159/000449063Jacobsen AA, Tosti A.Trachyonychia and twenty-nail dystrophy: A comprehensive review and discussion of diagnostic accuracy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(1-2):7-13. doi:10.1159/000445544Kota R, Pilani A, Nair PA.Median nail dystrophy involving the thumb nail.Indian J Dermatol.2016;61(1):120. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.174092National Library of Medicine.Aging changes in nails.Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002Chung BY, Choi YW, Kim HO, Park CW.Nail dystrophy in patients with atopic dermatitis and its association with disease severity.Ann Dermatol. 2019;31(2):121-126. doi:10.5021/ad.2019.31.2.121Jandial A, Mishra K, Prakash G, Malhotra P.Beau’s lines.Case Reports. 2018;2018:bcr. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-224978Gade A, Hwang JR, Hoegler K, Khan S, Khachemoune A.Therapeutic use of trace elements in dermatology.Altern Ther Health Med. 2023;29(4):246-252Muddasani S, Lin G, Hooper J, Sloan SB.Nutrition and nail disease.Clin Dermatol. 2021;39(5):819-828. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2021.05.009Jacobsen AA, Tosti A.Trachyonychia and twenty-nail dystrophy: a comprehensive review and discussion of diagnostic accuracy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(1-2):7-13. doi:10.1159/000445544National Health Service.Nail problems.
16 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.National Library of Medicine.Nail abnormalities.Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67-74. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002McGill University.Why do nails have ridges?Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B, et al.Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: a review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10(1):15-27. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-00338-xHaber JS, Chairatchaneeboon M, Rubin AI. Trachyonychia:Review and update on clinical aspects, histology, and therapy.Skin Appendage Disord.2017;2(3-4):109-115. doi:10.1159/000449063Haber JS, Chairatchaneeboon M, Rubin AI.Trachyonychia: review and update on clinical aspects, histology, and therapy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(3-4):109-115. doi:10.1159/000449063Jacobsen AA, Tosti A.Trachyonychia and twenty-nail dystrophy: A comprehensive review and discussion of diagnostic accuracy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(1-2):7-13. doi:10.1159/000445544Kota R, Pilani A, Nair PA.Median nail dystrophy involving the thumb nail.Indian J Dermatol.2016;61(1):120. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.174092National Library of Medicine.Aging changes in nails.Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002Chung BY, Choi YW, Kim HO, Park CW.Nail dystrophy in patients with atopic dermatitis and its association with disease severity.Ann Dermatol. 2019;31(2):121-126. doi:10.5021/ad.2019.31.2.121Jandial A, Mishra K, Prakash G, Malhotra P.Beau’s lines.Case Reports. 2018;2018:bcr. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-224978Gade A, Hwang JR, Hoegler K, Khan S, Khachemoune A.Therapeutic use of trace elements in dermatology.Altern Ther Health Med. 2023;29(4):246-252Muddasani S, Lin G, Hooper J, Sloan SB.Nutrition and nail disease.Clin Dermatol. 2021;39(5):819-828. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2021.05.009Jacobsen AA, Tosti A.Trachyonychia and twenty-nail dystrophy: a comprehensive review and discussion of diagnostic accuracy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(1-2):7-13. doi:10.1159/000445544National Health Service.Nail problems.
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.
National Library of Medicine.Nail abnormalities.Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67-74. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002McGill University.Why do nails have ridges?Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B, et al.Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: a review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10(1):15-27. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-00338-xHaber JS, Chairatchaneeboon M, Rubin AI. Trachyonychia:Review and update on clinical aspects, histology, and therapy.Skin Appendage Disord.2017;2(3-4):109-115. doi:10.1159/000449063Haber JS, Chairatchaneeboon M, Rubin AI.Trachyonychia: review and update on clinical aspects, histology, and therapy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(3-4):109-115. doi:10.1159/000449063Jacobsen AA, Tosti A.Trachyonychia and twenty-nail dystrophy: A comprehensive review and discussion of diagnostic accuracy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(1-2):7-13. doi:10.1159/000445544Kota R, Pilani A, Nair PA.Median nail dystrophy involving the thumb nail.Indian J Dermatol.2016;61(1):120. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.174092National Library of Medicine.Aging changes in nails.Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002Chung BY, Choi YW, Kim HO, Park CW.Nail dystrophy in patients with atopic dermatitis and its association with disease severity.Ann Dermatol. 2019;31(2):121-126. doi:10.5021/ad.2019.31.2.121Jandial A, Mishra K, Prakash G, Malhotra P.Beau’s lines.Case Reports. 2018;2018:bcr. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-224978Gade A, Hwang JR, Hoegler K, Khan S, Khachemoune A.Therapeutic use of trace elements in dermatology.Altern Ther Health Med. 2023;29(4):246-252Muddasani S, Lin G, Hooper J, Sloan SB.Nutrition and nail disease.Clin Dermatol. 2021;39(5):819-828. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2021.05.009Jacobsen AA, Tosti A.Trachyonychia and twenty-nail dystrophy: a comprehensive review and discussion of diagnostic accuracy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(1-2):7-13. doi:10.1159/000445544National Health Service.Nail problems.
National Library of Medicine.Nail abnormalities.
Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67-74. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002
McGill University.Why do nails have ridges?
Chessa MA, Iorizzo M, Richert B, et al.Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: a review.Dermatol Ther (Heidelb). 2020;10(1):15-27. doi:10.1007/s13555-019-00338-x
Haber JS, Chairatchaneeboon M, Rubin AI. Trachyonychia:Review and update on clinical aspects, histology, and therapy.Skin Appendage Disord.2017;2(3-4):109-115. doi:10.1159/000449063
Haber JS, Chairatchaneeboon M, Rubin AI.Trachyonychia: review and update on clinical aspects, histology, and therapy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(3-4):109-115. doi:10.1159/000449063
Jacobsen AA, Tosti A.Trachyonychia and twenty-nail dystrophy: A comprehensive review and discussion of diagnostic accuracy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(1-2):7-13. doi:10.1159/000445544
Kota R, Pilani A, Nair PA.Median nail dystrophy involving the thumb nail.Indian J Dermatol.2016;61(1):120. doi:10.4103/0019-5154.174092
National Library of Medicine.Aging changes in nails.
Singal A, Arora R.Nail as a window of systemic diseases.Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67. doi:10.4103/2229-5178.153002
Chung BY, Choi YW, Kim HO, Park CW.Nail dystrophy in patients with atopic dermatitis and its association with disease severity.Ann Dermatol. 2019;31(2):121-126. doi:10.5021/ad.2019.31.2.121
Jandial A, Mishra K, Prakash G, Malhotra P.Beau’s lines.Case Reports. 2018;2018:bcr. doi:10.1136/bcr-2018-224978
Gade A, Hwang JR, Hoegler K, Khan S, Khachemoune A.Therapeutic use of trace elements in dermatology.Altern Ther Health Med. 2023;29(4):246-252
Muddasani S, Lin G, Hooper J, Sloan SB.Nutrition and nail disease.Clin Dermatol. 2021;39(5):819-828. doi:10.1016/j.clindermatol.2021.05.009
Jacobsen AA, Tosti A.Trachyonychia and twenty-nail dystrophy: a comprehensive review and discussion of diagnostic accuracy.Skin Appendage Disord. 2016;2(1-2):7-13. doi:10.1159/000445544
National Health Service.Nail problems.
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