What Causes Vertical Ridges in Your Nails?

Yesterday a patient asked me why he has ridges on his nails. This is a common question and a common condition. Nail ridging is almost always normal and is, as one 60-something patient kindly put it, “a sign of maturity.”

Vertical ridges come with aging and are in some ways analogous to wrinkles on your skin. They occur as straight lines from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. They usually start in one or two nails and eventually develop in all of your nails as you get older. They can appear as early as your 30’s but become more noticeable by the time you cash your first social security check.

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What can you do to prevent nail ridging? Not much. But you can ensure that you have the healthiest nails possible by doing the following:

March 20, 2008 | Filed Under Mini Med School: Derm 101, Nails 

Comments

4 Responses to “What Causes Vertical Ridges in Your Nails?”

  1. Jim on March 27th, 2008 5:53 am

    I occasionally get infected hair follicles. The only remedy I know of is to extract all of the hairs in the infected area. I shampoo daily and use nothing else on my hair. I have no known allergies.

    Is there anything I can do to prevent this?

  2. Meg on April 7th, 2008 6:52 pm

    What if you get them but you’re in your early 20’s and eating healthy?

  3. dena on June 6th, 2008 1:37 pm

    well what causes vertical ridges or bumps on the nain bumps that look like tiny speed bumps

  4. Nail Treatments on July 18th, 2008 1:01 am

    Try manicures or nail treatments regularly at your local manicurist or beauty salon to keep them in tip top condition. Even with ridges.

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