A nail ridge is, at its simplest, a depression in the nail. This valley, often accompanied by white spots or lines, can feel uneven, bumpy, or raised to the touch and it can happen to both your finger and toenails. The good news is that nail ridges aren't painful and they're not usually a reason to worry. Turns out they're not actually calcium deposits or a lack thereof. Instead, Mona Gohara , a dermatologist and associate clinical professor at Yale, likens nail ridges to wrinkles in the skin : Most of the time they're just something that happens with age.
Longitudinal ridges, the lines that run from your cuticle to the tip of your nail are the most common and usually don't mean much. So why do they happen? Some people are genetically predisposed to weak, brittle nails that are susceptible to ridging and as you get older, circulation to your extremities can slow down, says Dana Stern , a New York City-based dermatologist who specializes in nail health.
Treating ridges is not as simple as filing them a certain way or adding some sort of magic potion. Many times, they will need proper investigation by a doctor to find the underlying cause and begin treating that specific health concern.
Your nails will hopefully return to normal as you treat the problem that caused them in the first place. It is important to remember that in most cases, ridges in the nails are harmless and nothing to worry about. However, you should keep a close eye on them, particularly if they appear suddenly or with other symptoms, and look at the possible causes to make sure there is nothing else at play. 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.
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.
You can prevent traumatic ridges by not picking or shoving your cuticle back. 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. 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.
When you do have to wash your hands, switch to a moisturizing hand soap, suggests Dr. The Mayo Clinic recommends that 20 to 30 percent of your calories come from healthy fats olive oil, nuts, seeds , 20 percent from protein lean meats, fish, beans , and 45 to 50 percent 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.
Why not OTC hardeners? To learn more about nail health and treatment options for various nail abnormalities, contact us today and schedule an appointment. Our offices are located in Astoria, and we can be reached at We hope to hear from you soon. Category: Conditions Treated. Nail Abnormalities and What They Mean Thursday, October 31st, , pm Nail abnormalities such as breakage, discoloration or ridges are relatively common.
Board Certified Physician in Astoria To learn more about nail health and treatment options for various nail abnormalities, contact us today and schedule an appointment.
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