Did you know your fingernails can tell a lot about your health? Subtle clues from colour, shape and pattern can assist in knowing if you have other underlying health issues. Your nails can signal possible problems with your heart, liver, kidneys and lungs. The most common question I have been faced with as a nail tech, is why do I have ridged on my nails? Find out what ridges on your nails means here.
What are fingernails made of?
Our fingernails are made up of the hardened dead cells of a protein called Keratin. Keratin can also be found in the outer layers of our skin, it helps to produce a protective barrier. Your hair is also made up of dead cells and Keratin.
The fact that they are dead cells is why we feel no pain when they are cut. However, it is important to know that they are part of a living thing so care must still be taken when caring for our nails and hair.
The nail plate itself is non-living, however when considering the structure of the nail as whole it is surrounded by living structures.
Nail Bed – the skin directly underneath your nail plate. This is made of up living tissue. Therefore, it is important for nail techs not to over file your nails else your pain receptors will kick in and your nail bed could be open to infection.
Nail Walls – this is the skin on either side of your nails, it’s function is to protect your nail plates edge and keep out infection.
Hyponychium – ever nicked your nails too close to the skin? That is the hyponychium you’ve got too close to. This joins the tip of your nail bed to the nail plate to avoid infection and moisture seeping under the nail onto the nail bed. Occasionally in clients I have seen an extended hyponychium where it has grown further up with the nail plate. Possible causes of this can be long term use of press on nails/acrylics particularly with incorrect application or too much glue. They can be re-trained back to normal over time with success.
Cuticle – a layer of translucent skin forming a protective barrier on the nail plate, usually located at the base of the nail plate. It is to protect the nails from bacteria as they are pushed out from the nail matrix. The cuticle is the floor section of the proximal fold. This can be safely removed and cut away.
Matrix – the matrix is where the nail plate is created. It makes new cells and pushes out the old ones. It is here where the structure of your nail is decided and if traumatized it can cause deformities to your nail plate growth. When your body is unwell and suffering from other types of illnesses these signals will also be transmitted to your matrix this is how your nails can tell a story about your health.
Proximal Fold – like the nail walls this part of your nail is to protect from infection. It is made up of the ventral floor (the cuticle) and the dorsal roof proximal fold. It may also be referred to as the eponychium. The eponychium is made of living cells and should never be cut away.
Causes of vertical ridges on the nail:
Instead of a smooth nail plate surface you may notice vertical ridges on the nail plate. They appear as raised lines and run from the base of your nail to the tip. These ridges can be caused by several factors.
Aging: Ageing is the most common cause for slight ridges in the nail plate. Ridges in nails can be like wrinkles on the skin, factors such as age, genetics, chemical and water exposure and even poor circulation may all assist the development of ridges (Hoof, V & Adkins, J. 2020).
Anemia: According to Elaine Luo (2018) some types of anemia may cause ridges and dents to appear in the nail. These changes may be accompanied by colour and texture changes too.
Trachyonychia: A condition that causes vertical ridges in the nails and creates a rough effect like sandpaper. It has been associated with psoriasis, alopecia areata, and lichen planus. Diagnosis can usually be made on visual inspection however sometimes a nail clipping may be investigated. Causes are likely dermatitis within the nail matrix. (Rubin, A. 2017)
Rheumatoid Arthritis: A study by C Michel et al. (1997) notes that vertical ridges were the only significant abnormalities associated with rheumatoid arthritis and clubbing on at least one nail.
Trauma: Damage to the nail matrix may cause deformities in the way the nail plate is formed. This would usually be local to the damaged finger(s) as opposed to all 10 nails.
Chemotherapy: Nails will respond to different chemotherapy cycles. They can become ridged vertically and/or horizontally, pitting may occur, and they may become brittle and weakened. These should not be a permanent feature and will outgrow.
Horizontal Beau lines:
Beau lines are horizontal depressions in the nail plate as a result of interrupted production of keratin in the nail matrix (Skinsight, 2021). As the nail grows the lines will eventually grow out. They can be caused by trauma or infection/disease in the nail fold or as a result of illness, and medications.
Chemotherapy patients may have them, due to a reaction to the chemotherapy drugs. Also, patients with diabetes may also notice them due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. Beau lines can also be an indication of acute kidney disease and thyroid disease.
Diagnosis and treatments
If you notice a change in your nails not associated with trauma it is always advisable to seek medical expertise. There may be nothing to be worried about, however your nails may hold the key to diagnosis and relevant treatment to other underlying health conditions.
Summary:
Your nails can give us some insight into your health. Occasionally your nail tech may refer you to your GP based on their observations. It is important to investigate any issues that arise at your nail consultation, remember these people see all sorts of nails day in and day out, and usually quite often in their dream too. So whilst it may be nothing serious your health is very important to us, and as we aren’t medically trained a GP referral may be recommended before any treatment can be given in salon.
Better to be safe than sorry.
Xoxo
References:
Hoof, V and Adkins, J. (2020) Fingernail ridges: why you have them and how to get rid of them. 29th Sept. Byrdie. Available at: www.byrdie.com/fingernail-ridges-4788190. (accessed on: 11/02/2021).
Luo, E. (2018) All you nwws to know about ridfes in fingernails. 19th March. Medical news today. Available at: www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/319867. (accessed on: 11/02/2021).
Rubin, A. (2017) Dermatology, Trachyonychia (Rough nails). Dermatology advisor. Available on: www.dermatologyadvisor.com/home/decision-support-in-medicine/dermatology/trachyonychia-rough-nails/ (accessed on: 11/02/2021).
C Michel et al (1997) Nail abnormalities in rheumatoid arthritis. Dec. National Library of Medicine Pubmed. Available on: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9470915/. (accessed on: 11/02/2021).
Skinsight (2021) Beau Lines. Skinsight. Available on: www.skinsight.com/skin-conditions/adult/beaus-lines. (Accessed on: 11/02/2021).