Reasons for Vertical Ridges on Nails and Health Conditions

I will explain the reasons why vertical lines appear on your nails and what it might indicate about your health. It is said that we can learn about our health through our nails. Although we might casually overlook them, it's important to check if your nails are sending out any warning signals from your body. Today, I'd like to talk about nails.

Nails and Health

Nails are meaningful because they reflect your health status over the past 4 to 6 months. Notably, nails grow very slowly at about 3mm per month, making them a remarkable messenger that gradually records changes in our bodies.
 
Various factors, including nutritional status, trauma, medical history, medication, and toxin exposure, can affect the appearance of your nails. This is because nails are primarily composed of a protein called keratin, and any element impacting the keratin matrix can alter the nail's external appearance.
 
When your health is not good, your skin becomes dry, your hair becomes thinner, you experience skin troubles, your complexion changes, and you can tell how healthy a person is just by their blood color. Some people experience severe menstrual cramps, particularly around their menstrual cycle, and may develop a mark under their chin. This is common among those with uterine issues.
 
Similarly, if you have stomach problems, your skin tone can become dull and you may experience more acne. Nails are no different. As they are part of your skin, they reflect the health condition of your body. By examining the condition, color, and patterns of your nails, you can infer potential changes or disease possibilities occurring within your body.

Suspected Diseases Based on Nail Condition

When you look at healthy nails, the crescent-shaped area at the base of the nail, known as the lunula, is visible. Due to the absence of visible capillaries, it appears very white. The entire nail should also be a healthy pink color.
 
When checking your nails, you should examine the lunula area and the color of the nail plate for any abnormalities. Several essential minerals constitute nails. If the lunula is distinct and has a smooth curve, it generally indicates healthy nails.
 
If you don't have a lunula, it could suggest a weakened immune system or hypothyroidism. Conversely, if your lunula is excessively large, it could be a symptom of hyperthyroidism. In some cases, the nail plate may be predominantly white with the lunula disappearing. This is a common nail pattern observed in 80% of patients with cirrhosis.
 
Furthermore, bluish nails could suggest heart disease, especially if the lunula is blue or sky blue. This is a common nail characteristic in Wilson's disease.
 
If the lunula is excessively red, it could indicate heart failure. Yellow nails might be caused by excessive antibiotic use. Grayish-blue nails can be a sign of silver poisoning. These color changes in the lunula often stem from an overload of certain minerals.
 
Many women are getting gel manicures these days. However, if you wear them too long, your nails might not be able to breathe properly, and nutrient supply can be hindered. Similarly, during pregnancy or if there are issues with hydration reaching the extremities, blood circulation can be affected.
 
Even if you diligently care for your nails and never remove your cuticles, if your nails are bumpy, you should consider the possibility of blood deficiency (anemia). In addition, you might also want to consider thyroid disorders or psoriasis.

Cases with Vertical Nail Ridges

1. Dehydration or nutritional deficiencies due to excessive dieting.
2. Nail psoriasis is often a cause. In cases of nail psoriasis, besides vertical ridges, nails can become thickened, wrinkled, and bumpy.
3. Many people with circulatory problems experience vertical nail ridges. These ridges are often associated with Raynaud's phenomenon, particularly poor blood circulation to the extremities, leading to cold hands and feet and insufficient protein supply to the lunula and nail plate.
4. If you experience Raynaud's phenomenon along with menstrual cramps, menstrual irregularities, and numbness in your hands and feet, you may notice vertical nail ridges and bumpy nails. Keep this in mind.

5 Cases Requiring Medical Attention

• When a dark line is 6mm or longer, rapidly darkens, and widens.
  
  
• The dark line is uneven and irregular.
  
  
• Pigmentation is not limited to the nail but also affects the surrounding areas, especially the cuticle and skin around the nail.
  
  
• Nails are brittle and easily crumble.
  
  
• There are multiple vertical ridges in various colors.

In Conclusion

Your nails are a direct indicator of your health, containing a record of your health data over the past 6 months. Remember that nail changes can occur when you have a disease, and strive to maintain healthy nails.