What's With These Ridges In My Fingernails?

Trachyonychia

Trachyonychia is a condition of the nails that affects how an individual's nail matrix grows and functions. Patients affected by trachyonychia have finger and toenails that have a distinct texture to their surface. The texture of the nails in these individuals has been described as rough or similar to the feel of sand-paper. Nails of affected individuals also appear with long and straight vertical lines that are variable in their height, and they extend down the length of the patient's nail. The nails become weak and brittle as this condition progresses. This malfunction causes them to eventually split in the places where the ridges are located when the nail meets the free margin. This cause of nail ridges is a more common occurrence in males and school-aged children. Trachyonychia may occur in one or all twenty of the affected individual's nails. This condition has also been associated with diseases including psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, lichen planus, eczema, alopecia areata, ichthyosis vulgaris, and immunoglobulin A deficiency.

Read more about what conditions can result in fingernail ridges now.

Peripheral Vascular Disease

A blood circulation disorder called peripheral vascular disease can cause an individual's nails to develop abnormal ridges. Peripheral vascular disease is an umbrella term used to describe any disorder or disease of an individual's circulatory system that is not in the heart and brain. This disease causes a gradual build-up of fatty material inside of the blood vessels. This fatty material blends with substances such as scar tissue and calcium to harden and form plaques. The plaques can continue to grow and result in an obstruction in the flow of blood through the vessel. They may also break free and become lodged in the vessel, which causes it to become obstructed. When the blood cannot flow through blood vessels in an affected limb in the body due to a blockage, the cells in that region do not receive enough oxygen to function. Part of the function of the cells in the body is to grow and multiply. However, the cells that form an individual's hair and nails are unable to grow properly in the conditions of deficient oxygen concentrations in the blood. This malfunction leads to the appearance of Beau's ridges on the affected individual's nails when the poor oxygen state temporarily stops nail growth.

Continue reading to reveal more details on what causes ridges in fingernails now.