deep ridges? - Nail Problems Message Board

Alanaaaaa · 02-18-2006, 03:30 PM

Hi everybody.

I was just doing my nails today and I noticed that I have very pronounced longitudinal ridges on all of my nails except for the thumbs and forefingers on each hand. My nails have always been very strong and healthy, so I like to keep them fairly long. I've noticed no other changes, but I remember hearing at some point that nail ridges could indicate a more serious problem, so I've been googling it...I also noticed that the white crescent shapes at the bases of my nails (I forget what they're called...) are absent in all but my thumbnails. One of the sites I came across mentioned thyroid disorders? If anyone has any suggestions of additional information, I would greatly appreciate it! Thank you!

Marti · 02-19-2006, 03:05 PM

Thyroid disorder can cause changes in the nail plate as well as anemia, liver disorder, etc.

The ridges you are seeing are the rails upon which the nail plate rides forward on the nail bed. When ones nail plate becomes dried out or due to aging, these ridges become more prominent.

As for the lunula (white part a tthe cuticle), it is mostly visible on the thumbnails and less prominent on the nails progressing toward the pinky and rarely visible on the pinky. This is normal!