# Fingernail ridges **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 16, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868 "2016-12-16T16:41:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dana\_Scully](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5daacb/32.png) [@Dana\_Scully](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dana_Scully)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868/1 "2016-12-16T16:41:46Z")
What causes them? I have a wavy set of horizontal ridges on my right thumbnail and I can’t figure out what’s caused it. I don’t remember hitting it against anything, closing a door on it, bad nutrition, or anything like that. And what really puzzles me is that it’s just on my right thumb; none of my other fingers have anything like that. Anyone? Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![jbolty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7c8e57/32.png) [@jbolty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jbolty)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868/2 "2016-12-16T17:25:46Z")
Lengthwise? Like root to tip? I have those sometimes. Forget the cause but did look it up one time and it is no sign of anything dangerous. ---
**Author:** ![watchwolf49](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e9c0ed/32.png) [@watchwolf49](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/watchwolf49)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868/3 "2016-12-16T17:39:02Z")
Vitamin B deficiencies … even if your intake is adequate you may not be metabolizing them properly … which could be due to Vitamin E deficiencies … are you mildly anemic? … try a Vitamin E supplement, see if these conditions go away after a year or two … not a lot, just a little … and cut back on processed foods … these are notorious for lacking Vitamin E and some of the B Vitamins … ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868/4 "2016-12-16T18:02:00Z")
> [@jbolty](#): > > Lengthwise? Like root to tip? I have those sometimes. Forget the cause but did look it up one time and it is no sign of anything dangerous. [Fingernail](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nail_(anatomy)) Your nails basically extrude from the matrix, so any persistent irregularity in the matrix is going to cause ridges. It’s analogous to spreading mortar with a trowel, in that any irregularity in the trowel edge will result in ridges being generated in the mortar. Crosswise ridges might be [Beau’s lines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beau%27s_lines). Or [Mees’ lines.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mees%27_lines) Or [Muehrche’s nails.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muehrcke%27s_nails) Or something else. If you are concerned and/or you’re having other symptoms, you might want to see your doctor (or call a nurse hotline for a quick phone consult, if you have that resource available to you). ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868/5 "2016-12-16T18:18:25Z")
And yes, you should cut back on processed foods. Just don’t expect your fingernails to improve. ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 6:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868/6 "2016-12-18T06:49:27Z")
Do you have eczema by any chance? I have spots of mild eczema on the skin at the sides of each thimbnail and one middle finger. Sometimes when I get stressed out, the eczema flares up, and I end up with ridges as the nail grows out. None of my other fingers get ridges. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868/7 "2016-12-18T16:14:55Z")
The great majority of nail abnormalities are due to random variations in the nail matrix, and do not represent any underlying disease, deficiency, or threat to health or life. The likelihood of diagnosing a previously undetected illness or nutritional lack based on investigating a nail change is quite small, though certainly not zero. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/fingernail-ridges/774868/8 "2016-12-18T16:21:22Z")
> [@watchwolf49](#): > > Vitamin B deficiencies … even if your intake is adequate you may not be metabolizing them properly … which could be due to Vitamin E deficiencies … are you mildly anemic? … try a Vitamin E supplement, see if these conditions go away after a year or two … not a lot, just a little … and cut back on processed foods … these are notorious for lacking Vitamin E and some of the B Vitamins … To clarify: this is only true of ridges that are horizontal (across the nail). Vertical ridges (along the nail) are not indicative of vitamin deficiencies, just age.