You may have come to this article because you have noticed certain lines in your nails. In general, this characteristic does not mean anything serious or pathological. You may have been told that they are fungal, but it is unlikely that they are lines.
In this article you can read about the different types and find out which one your nails fit into. In some cases, you will have a solution, and in others, unfortunately, there is little you can do. I’ll tell you :)
HORIZONTAL LINES (Beau’s lines)
Horizontal lines on the nails are called Beau’s lines. They are caused by a halt in the growth of the nail, which creates these small grooves.
Occasionally, a single event produces a single, more prominent groove that results in a type of “cut” in the nail, onychomadesis.
The causes of these arrests can be many:
- Repeated trauma: use of very tight (short) shoes, long walks, especially downhill (common in runners and mountaineers), manipulation of the skin around the nail. The most extreme case is that of Heller’s canalicular dystrophy, about which there is an article in this blog.
- Inflammation of the surrounding skin: paronychia, dermatitis, etc.
- Some drugs: retinoids, chemotherapy,…
- Some infections: the most characteristic is the hand-foot-mouth disease, typical in children, which often causes onychomadesis.
HOW IS IT SOLVED?
When the stimulus that caused the lines to appear is removed, the nail will grow back normally in the vast majority of cases. It is important to understand that this recovery process can take months due to the biological growth rate of nails. Remember that fingernails grow 2 mm per month, while toenails grow only 1 mm.
VERTICAL LINES (Onychorhexis):
The appearance of multiple vertical lines in the nail over the entire nail surface, often affecting all the fingernails, is usually associated with aging. However, it can be exacerbated by irritating external factors, such as the use of cleansing products that exacerbate dryness. It most commonly affects women over the age of 50.
Onychorrhexis is usually associated with loss of shine and increased brittleness. Other times we see it associated with a peeling of the outer part of the nails called onychoschizia.
HOW IS IT SOLVED?
Avoiding certain detergents and irritating products can contribute to some improvement, as can daily moisturizing of the nails. However, in many cases the improvement is small and it is important to be realistic about expectations after taking these measures. The scientific evidence on the effectiveness of vitamin or biotin supplements for nails is not clear enough to recommend them in all cases. We know that they are safe, but we are not sure that they will help improve these nail changes.
Were you concerned about any of these issues?
I have been working as an online dermatologist since 2015 and I am a private dermatologist in Madrid. If you need help, you can contact me in any of these formats.
