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Fingernail ridges are thin, raised, non-pigmented lines that run lengthwise on the nail from cuticle to tip. They can also appear as raised areas that extend across the nail. Fortunately, the vertical ridges on your nails are a natural part of aging (its those horizontal ones you need to keep an eye out for).
According to Dr. Dana Stern, fingernail ridges are akin to wrinkles in the nail (they can occur on both fingernails and toenails), and things like aging, genetics, compromised circulation, and excessive exposure to chemicals and water can cause these ridges to appear. In fact, these odd little lines are quite common and, normally, are nothing to be alarmed about. Just be aware if you experience a sudden onset of ridges or observe discoloration thats not related to bruising. These issues could be indicators of illness or medical conditions, so its best to consult your doctor.1However, for most nail ridges, there are effective at-home remedies and preventative measures you can try.
Keep scrolling to learn more about what causes fingernail ridges and what you can do to fix them.
Meet the Expert
Dr. Tsippora Shainhouse, a board-certified dermatologist and pediatrician at SkinSafe Dermatology and Skin Care, specializes in treating skin conditions in adults, teens, and children.
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Hydrate
As you get older, your bodys natural oil production slows down and the lack of moisture can cause your nails to become brittle, thin, and prone to peeling—and cause ridges to form.2Nail ridges that arise from a lack of the bodys natural oils are easy to treat. Your first potential line of defense: hydration. Try applying nail oil, vitamin E oil, coconut oil, or olive oil to your nails to help prevent ridges from forming in the first place. If you do notice horizontal ridges on your nails, especially after an illness, Shainhouse recommends giving your nails a little extra TLC for a few months or until they grow out to make sure they dont crack.
For added moisture, try a product like Sally Hansens Vitamin E oil, which will keep both your nails and cuticles healthy and happy.
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Change Your Diet and Exercise Routine
A diet low in nutrients can lead to brittle nails.Your best defense is simple: eat a healthy diet, drink enough water, and exercise to keep your circulatory system healthy.
"Regular cardiovascular activity will help with peripheral perfusion to the digits (blood flow) and help with ridging as well," says Stern.
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Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize
Use a moisturizing hand soap, a protective hand moisturizer, and consider applying a layer of nail hardener once a week, Shainhouse says.When it comes to moisturizing, you cant really overdo it. Plus, these measures might help prevent future ridges from forming.
Similar to how oils may help soothe nail issues by hydrating, moisturizing products may help to not strip nail beds and the surrounding skin. Using moisturizing products, applying daily sunscreen, and avoiding overly drying products, such as alcohol-based gel sanitizer, may all help in preventing ridges from forming.
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Buff—But Not Too Much
You can buff your nails; just keep it to once a month.Both experts caution against harsh buffing and say it can cause your nail plate to thin. Try using a four-way nail file to smooth away ridges, file in one direction only, and dont use too much force so you dont cause trauma to the nail and nail bed. Buffing may produce a healthy-looking glow and beautiful shine, so if youre a fan of clear or natural-colored nail polish but are staying away from such items, you might find that buffing gets your nails just as shiny.
Be careful, though, because buffers are highly variable when it comes to their level of abrasiveness. "Many of the buffers used in the salon setting and sold at beauty supplies shops are designed for acrylic nails, and so they can be very damaging to a natural nail," Stern says. She recommends Step 2 of her Nail Renewal System since its "designed with three perfect grits for safely and effectively removing ridges, discoloration, and peeling and bringing out a lustrous, healthy shine."
Bellasonics Battery-Operated Nail Buffer ($69) is also great for pedicures and comes with four interchangeable discs to help smooth, shape, buff, and shine.
Emily Roberts / buuk.top
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Use Ridge-Filling Polish
Many nail-care companies make special polishes specifically for hiding ridges.These "ridge fillers" look like regular polishes and function much like base coats. The difference is that they settle into and fill in the ridges to help make your nails look smooth and even. Shainhouse notes that using ridge fillers followed by nail polish can help smooth out the look of the nail.
However, the effectiveness of these ridge fillers depends on the product and its ingredients. Many contain formaldehyde or formalin, says Stern. "These ingredients are very damaging to the nail," she adds. While formaldehyde will initially harden the nail, over time, the nail becomes paradoxically brittle and is at risk for lifting or separating off the nail bed (also called onycholysis). Formaldehyde can also cause severe allergic reactions at the surrounding nail folds—the skin becomes extremely irritated, swollen, and painful.3There is also significant concern that these ingredients are carcinogenic.
If you prefer to get manicures at a salon, ask your manicurist to incorporate a ridge filler into your service. Some salons include them as a matter of course.
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Try Going Sans Polish and Polish Remover for a While
Wearing too much polish can cause trauma to the nail bed — and so can acetone-based nail-polish removers, the moisture-sapping enemy of already-parched nails.Going without nail polish keeps drying chemicals off your nails and prevents the staining that some polishes cause.
"Go natural and healthy with our self-care routines, and take a break from the salon, chemicals, and all of that time and expense," Stern says.
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Wear Gloves While Doing Housework
Excessive exposure to water and harsh chemicals (like those found in cleaning supplies or sometimes—ugh—hand soaps or hand sanitizers!) might wreak havoc on your nails and worsen already-ridged nails.Plus, think about how often you wash your hands—which can also dry out the nails.
Your best advice for preventing ridges after copious amounts of cleaning? Wear gloves. "Wearing gloves with housework or any wet work will prevent excessive influx and effluent of water into the nail," Stern notes. "Water absorption can weaken the bonds between nail cells, causing peeling, ridging, and breakage."
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Lay Off the Gel/Dip Polish
Sure, the polish lasts for weeks, and it seems to make nails harder and less prone to breakage while you are wearing it, Shainhouse allows, but these kinds of polish trends might ultimately damage your nail plate.Be judicious with gel and powder dip nail trends.
Its not that gel necessarily makes ridges worse; its really the damage nails undergo during the removal process that strips nails of oils and keratin. "Usually, a long soak in acetone is required for a soak-off gel to be removed, and that amount of acetone exposure will exacerbate brittle nails," Stern says. "Other methods of removal, such as aggressive scraping or filing, can also damage the nail but in other ways."
Check ingredients: If the product requires removal, it is by definition a polish and not a treatment, and therefore it might exacerbate the issue.
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Avoid Picking the Nails
Repeated picking or biting the nails and cuticles can also lead to trauma-induced brittle and ridged nails.You can prevent the formation of ridges by simply not picking or shoving your cuticles back: "The cuticle is the only barrier the fingers have to keep dirt and infection out of the tissues of the fingers," says Shainhouse. "Not only can infection cause damage to the nail matrix, but the actual pushing can bang it up, creating a permanent ridge template for all future nail growth."
Instead, turn to oils to soothe nail issues. Your cuticles may benefit, too; the moisture might help prevent hangnails, cracks, and other discomforts. Use a massaging motion to try to increase blood circulation to your nail beds and distribute the oil evenly.
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Use an Intensive Product to Overhaul Your Nail Health
Look for products like Dr. Danas Nail Renewal System ($30) a once-weekly, three-step nail system, to provide a new level of care for your nails.The formula is said to immediately reveal a healthy, hydrated, youthful shine in 10 minutes, sans polish.
"You can use this manicure-in-a-box to treat or prevent brittle nails or to simply create a chic, long-lasting, lustrous shine without the use of polish or harmful chemicals," says Stern.
Can deficiencies cause ridges in nails?
Nail ridges can be caused by iron, folic acid, or protein deficiencies.4To find out if your ridges are—or are not—a symptom of a medical condition or illness, make an appointment with a qualified physician.
At what age do nail ridges appear?
Some people may notice them in their 30s, while others dont see them until their 50s. It depends on overall nail health and how frequently nail-cell turnover is happening (which slows as you age).
Do thyroid problems cause nail ridges?
Nail ridges that are horizontal instead of vertical could potentially be Beaus Lines. Beaus Lines found on all 20 fingers and toes can be indicative of systemic diseases, including hypoparathyroidism.4Make a doctors appointment if youre experiencing a sudden onset of fingernail ridges.
Article Sources
Cleveland Clinic. 6 things your nails say about your health. Updated February 19, 2019.
Chessa M, Iorizzo M, et al. Pathogenesis, clinical signs and treatment recommendations in brittle nails: a review. 15-27. 2020.
Lazzarini R, Hafner MFS, Lopes ASA, Oliari CB. Allergy to hypoallergenic nail polish: does this exist? An Bras Dermatol. 2017;92(3):421-422. doi:10.1590/abd1806-4841.20175889
Singal A, Arora R. Nail as a window of systemic diseases. Indian Dermatol Online J. 2015;6(2):67-74.
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