Horizontal Fingernail Ridges

Posted in: Uncategorized by weddingcometrue | August 28th 2009 | no comments

Fingernails are said to be an excellent barometer of your overall health. Changes in the appearance of fingernails can be the first sign of an undiagnosed medical problem such as a respiratory disorder, iron deficiency, anemia or a thyroid disease. Such signs as ridges in the fingernails, discoloration, and changes in the contours of the nail base can be important signs of illness.

Horizontal Fingernail Ridges can indicate various diseases, although this is not always the case. Horizontal Ridges start from one side of the nail lengthwise across to the other side. One particular type of horizontal nail ridge that may indicate underlying illness is called Beau’s lines. They may be associated with traumas, acute severe illness, malnutrition, major metabolic condition, chemotherapy or another damaging event and can be the result of any interruption in the protein formation of the nail plate. Beau’s lines give horizontal grooved ridges in the fingernails which may be slightly darkened in appearance.

Sometimes, the growth of the fingernail is interrupted because of more common factors such as brief changes in the nutritional status or a little trauma in the nail matrix. This can result in the formation of Horizontal Fingernail Ridges secondary to brief interruptions in the nail growth. These are usually not a case of concern, although it would be advisable to see a doctor if the ridges are very obvious since they can be a sign of nutritional deficiency or other underlying disease. In some rare cases, Horizontal Ridges can be a sign of arsenic poisoning.

There are also another type of Horizontal Ridges that are associated with albumin deficiency such as a kidney disease, liver or severe malnutrition. They look like a simple interruption of pigmentation but they are actually hiding diseases that can be treated only by a doctor. Another type of Horizontal Ridges are called Mees’ lines or Aldrich- Mees’ lines and are discolored horizontal lines which occur on the fingernails and toe nails if the person is suffering from renal failure. They are typically white bands traversing the width of the nail. When the nail grows, they displace upward on the nail and eventually disappear when trimmed. But it is necessary you see a doctor because any abnormalities in the appearance of your fingernails can be a reason of concern.

To conclude, if you have recently developed Horizontal Ridges on your Fingernails a consultation with your doctor would be advisable to eliminate an underlying health problem.