This Is What Doctors Want You to Know About Those Weird Ridges on Your Fingernails (2024)

It’s tempting to cover up the ridges in your fingernails with an at-home manicure or a fresh set of acrylics, but hiding the issue won’t solve it. After all, your hands reveal a lot about your health—nails included. While there are many reasons for fingernail ridges, thankfully, there are also a number of ways to get rid of them.

Meet the Experts: Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D., Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist; Karan Lal, D.O., M.S., F.A.A.D., double board-certified and fellowship-trained dermatologist with Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ; Donna Hart, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Texas, et al.

Keep reading to learn more about the different types of fingernail ridges, what causes them, and how to improve your overall nail health, according to dermatologists.

Although everyone’s nail ridges may look a little different, most can be lumped into two categories:

Vertical fingernail ridges

Vertical nail ridges are raised lines that run from your cuticle to the tip of your fingernail and are a super common, normal sign of aging, says Los Angeles-based board-certified dermatologist Tsippora Shainhouse, M.D.

Horizontal fingernail ridges

Horizontal nail ridges (lines that run from side to side) are known as Beau’s lines. These are less common than vertical ridges, but equally pesky. “When horizontal ridges occur in a single nail, it’s usually due to trauma to the nail matrix (the area where your fingernails start to grow),” says Dr. Shainhouse. Things like picking your nails, jamming the cuticle back, or getting your finger caught in the door can cause a dent in the “conveyor belt,” so future nail plates are “produced” with a ridge, she explains. But don’t fret: The ridges aren’t permanent, and once they grow out, your nails will be back to business as usual.

Ridges on fingernails may be caused by a number of things. In most cases they are benign and nothing to worry about. Below, find a few potential reasons you might find ridges on your nails, per Karan Lal, D.O., M.S., F.A.A.D., double board-certified and fellowship-trained dermatologist with Affiliated Dermatology in Scottsdale, AZ.

Horizontal ridges on fingernails causes

Horizontal ridges, a.k.a. Beau’s lines, often happen when your body undergoes significant periods of stress and your nail stops growing, says Dr. Lal. These may include:

• Severe viral infections and illnesses
• Fever
• Kidney disease
• Nutritional deficiency (such as iron, zinc, or vitamin A deficiency)
• Damage associated with acrylic nails or other nail trauma
• Raynaud’s disease
• Stress
• Thyroid disease

Vertical ridges on fingernails causes

Vertical ridges, a.k.a. trachyonychia, can be caused by a few issues, Dr. Lal explains, which may include:

• Dehydration
• Skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis
• Autoimmune diseases such as alopecia areata
• Aging
• Nutritional deficiency (such as iron, zinc, or vitamin A deficiency)
• Thyroid disease
• Alopecia

Causes of white lines on fingernails

White lines or spots on the fingernail are known as leukonychia. Leukonychia has several possible underlying causes related to illness, disease (like psoriasis), or medication. However, it occurs most often after damage or “micro-trauma” to the nail—such as nail biting, manicures, or hitting of the nail against a hard object, says Dr. Lal.

While there’s no guaranteed way to prevent nail ridges, especially if they are due to an underlying condition, overall nail maintenance can go a long way in keeping your nails smooth, strong, and healthy.

Most importantly, do your best to avoid nail damage—especially the kind associated with manicures. “Some people go to salons and get their nails drilled and sanded, and I don’t recommend doing that because if you have brittle nails they can actually make your nails thinner which can make them easier to crack,” explains Dr. Lal.

Applying clear nail hardeners may help strengthen the nail, smooth out the nail surface, and prevent the nails from getting damaged, Dr. Lal adds.

So what can you do about fingernail ridges that have made themselves a permanent fixture on your digits? Here’s what dermatologists recommend.

1. Moisturize your nails regularly

“Keeping your nails hydrated with a hand cream or oil can minimize the appearance of ridging and protect the keratin of the nail,” says Donna Hart, M.D., board-certified dermatologist at Westlake Dermatology in Texas. Use a moisturizer that contains ceramides or alpha hydroxy acids, which trap moisture and nourish your nails, such as Aquaphor Healing Skin Ointment.

If your nails are also on the brittle side, the American Academy of Dermatology recommends moisturizing skin and nails thoroughly before bed. You may also consider wearing light cotton gloves to help nails absorb the moisturizer while you snooze.

2. Keep your nails neat

Keeping your nails on the shorter side can help prevent trauma to them during your day-to-day grind, says Richard Torbeck, M.D., board-certified dermatologist with Advanced Dermatology PC in New York.

Clip your nails with a standard nail clipper (such as Harperton nail clippers) only when there’s visible white, and don’t clip so low that there’s no longer white present. “This allows time for the nail to grow and heal between clippings,” says Dr. Torbeck. Trim your nails straight across, then round the tips in a gentle curve using a very fine nail file (like this glass nail file). Filing snags or irregularities quickly also helps to prevent future trauma.

3. Don’t pick at or bite your nails

The skin, including nails, responds to outside stimuli by thickening. “By not picking at your nails or the skin around them, you’re decreasing the chances of causing nail irregularities,” says Noelani González, M.D., board-certified dermatologist and director of cosmetic dermatology at Mount Sinai West in New York. Identifying the triggers that cause you to pick at or bite your nails and learning how to manage them can help you hit the brakes on future nail damage.

4. Buff them gently

While it doesn’t treat the underlying problem that’s causing your fingernail ridges, gently buffing your nails can help camouflage them in a pinch. A word of caution though: “Be very judicious with your use of nail buffers, as these thin the nail plate out, which can make them softer, too flexible, and prone to trauma and breakage,” says Dr. Shainhouse, who recommends a gentle buff once a month be your maximum.

Using a four-way nail buffer (like this one from Deborah Lippman), use each of the four steps to gently sand, smooth, shine, and file your nails. To avoid nail splitting, make sure to buff in the same direction as the nail grows, as opposed to back and forth.

5. Don’t mess with your cuticle

You can prevent traumatic ridges by not picking or shoving your cuticle back. “The cuticle is the only barrier the fingers have to keep dirt and infections out of the tissues of the fingers,” says Dr. Shainhouse. Not only can an infection cause damage to the nail matrix and potentially deform your nail, but the act of pushing back the cuticle can bang it up, creating a permanent ridge template for all future nail growth. A great way to protect and condition both your nails and cuticles is to incorporate a cuticle oil into your mani routine.

6. Reduce water exposure

Wash your hands when it’s necessary, but try not to overdo it. “Washing your hands too often strips your skin of its natural oils and emollients, resulting in dryness and even hand eczema, which can cause nail changes,” says Dr. González. The same goes for prolonged water exposure, like when washing dishes.

The nail cells absorb water, expand, and then contract when they dry out, which can weaken the bonds between nail cells over time, says Dr. Hart.

When you have to wash your hands, switch to a moisturizing hand soap, suggests Dr. Shainhouse, and follow up with a dose of your go-to moisturizer. If your hands are constantly immersed in water, consider wearing cotton-lined rubber gloves to protect them—and when that’s not practical, moisturize regularly.

7. Maintain a healthy diet

It’s rare, but ridging can sometimes be a sign of an underlying systemic condition or vitamin deficiency, says Dr. Hart. Eating a well-balanced diet ( staying on top of signs of dehydration and drinking enough H20) can help ensure you’re meeting the daily vitamin quota necessary to fend off nail ridges. The Mayo Clinic recommends that 20 to 30% of your calories come from healthy fats (olive oil, nuts, seeds), 20% from high protein foods (lean meats, fish, beans), and 45 to 50% from healthy carbohydrates (fruits, veggies, whole grains).

And when you amp up your diet, keep foods that are known to promote healthy nail growth top of mind. Think: dairy products (milk, cottage cheese, plain greek yogurt), biotin (veggies, eggs, nuts), and zinc (lean meats, fish, spinach, mushrooms).

8. Use a prescription-strength nail hardener

There are many ways that you can strengthen brittle nails. If you’re experiencing nail breakage or splitting along with ridges, your dermatologist can prescribe a topical nail strengthener, such as Genadur or Nuvail, to help strengthen your nails, says Amanda Zubek, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of Yale Medicine Dermatology in Middlebury, CT.

Why not OTC hardeners? “In-store hardeners typically contain formaldehyde, which can temporarily harden nails in the short-term, but ongoing use can actually cause the nails to become more brittle and weak,” says Dr. Zubek. Prescription nail hardeners, on the other hand, contain chemicals that not only work to increase the strength of the nail, but trap moisture, preventing nail brittleness in the process.

9. Add a ridge filler to your manicure routine

Unfortunately, nail polish doesn’t hide ridges—it can actually draw more attention to them. “Ridge fillers, followed by nail polish, can help smooth out the look of nail ridges,” says Dr. Shainhouse. Ridge fillers operate much like a base coat that settles into the nooks and crannies of your nails, giving you a smooth canvas to work with. Try OPI Ridge Filler next time you want to get your mani on.

10. Choose a polish that is easier on your nails

Go with typical nail polish for your manicures, which is less damaging to your nails than acrylic or gel. “The procedure of applying the acrylic and gel nails involves physical abrasion of the surface of the nail to enhance adhesion of these cosmetics, which damages the nail,” says Dr. Zubek. Besides being a major trigger of horizontal nail ridges, these types of manicures can also change the pH of the nail, affecting its strength.

Meanwhile, acetone nail polish remover is excellent at removing nail polish and acrylic or gel nails, but it causes damage to the nail and surrounding skin, says Dr. Zubek. Non-acetone nail polish removers, such as Ella+Mila Soy Nail Polish Remover and Karma Nail Polish Remover Wipes, may not be as hardcore at dissolving polish, but they do the job and are gentler on the nail.

11. Give your nails a breather.

“In manicuring, the nails are exposed to prolonged water exposure,” says Dr. Zubek. “When repeated over time, this can lead to overall dehydration of the nail and surrounding skin, thereby weakening or increasing brittleness of the nail.”

Nail polish remover further compounds the problem by dehydrating and changing the chemical properties of the nail surface, Dr. Zubek adds. The nail cells’ ability to stick tightly to one another is weakened, leading to brittleness and ridging.

If your nails are becoming dry or brittle and you’re noticing increased ridging, it’s recommended to take a three to four-week break from manicuring to allow the nail to grow out and regain its strength, says Dr. Zubek. Consider giving your tips a hand (pun totally intended) by applying a keratin treatment to your nails when you’re between manicures, like CND RescueRXx.

12. Consider taking biotin supplements.

While biotin supplements haven’t been proven to aid in hair and nail growth, there are anecdotal reports that they may help to strengthen the nail plate in some people, says Dr. Shainhouse. (Just make sure to stop taking your supplements a few days before getting lab tests done, as biotin interference has been known to skew test results, according to the National Institutes of Health).

Dietary supplements are products intended to supplement the diet. They are not medicines and are not intended to treat, diagnose, mitigate, prevent, or cure diseases. Be cautious about taking dietary supplements if you are pregnant or nursing. Also, be careful about giving supplements to a child, unless recommended by their healthcare provider.

When you see a dermatologist for concerns regarding ridges in your fingernails, there are a number of diagnostic tests they may perform to find the cause.

First, “we look for signs of disease—we’re going to look over the skin to look for signs of psoriasis which can be associated with nail changes—so that’s a quick, easy clinical finding,” Dr. Lal explains. Other signs may signal to your doctor that you need to be referred to a specialist.

The next step is usually bloodwork, notes Dr. Lal. He says your doctor may want to order the following tests:

• Complete blood count (CBC): This test is often used to rule out anemia and mineral deficiencies that may cause fingernail ridges.
• Comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP): This test may be used to look at liver and kidney function, two organs that can contribute to nail changes.
• Iron panel: Iron deficiency can also cause changes to the nail, including ridges.
• Thyroid panel: Thyroid disease can also cause nail changes, so your doctor may order this test to evaluate hormone levels in the blood depending on your symptoms.

If you believe the ridges on your fingernails may be related to an underlying condition, or are causing you pain or discomfort, a visit to your doctor may be necessary. “If the condition is sudden in onset or causes splitting of the nail at the free edge, it would be beneficial to see your doctor,” says Dr. Zubek. “Your primary care doctor can screen for internal causes of ridging, or refer you to a dermatologist who can evaluate for skin conditions that might be causing it.”

Changes in color or texture, such as your nail turning a dark color (brown, black) or a surface change that’s new also warrant a visit to your doctor, says Dr. González. More serious conditions might be the cause of the abnormality, so it’s always best to book a consult and ease any worries you might have.

Additional reporting by Krissy Brady