# What causes grooves in (big) toenails? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 28, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-grooves-in-big-toenails/848660 "2020-02-28T16:57:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 3\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2020, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-grooves-in-big-toenails/848660/1 "2020-02-28T16:57:01Z")
Every so often I get kind of a groove/indentation in one of my toenails, of my big toes. They’re perpendicular to the toes, and as the nail grows out they make their way along until they get clipped. Question is what causes such a thing. I’ve never had such a thing on a fingernail (and don’t recall any on any toes other than big toes). ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-grooves-in-big-toenails/848660/2 "2020-02-28T17:10:52Z")
> **[Ridges in Fingernails: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments](https://www.healthline.com/health/ridges-in-fingernails)** > > Your fingernails can reveal a lot about the state of your health. Conditions ranging from stress to thyroid disease may be causing changes in your nails. Vertical lines are a symptom of age, dry skin, some vitamin deficiencies. Horizontal lines, like you are seeing, are called [Beau’s Lines](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beau%27s_lines) and could be an indication of something more serious. ---
**Author:** ![Fotheringay-Phipps](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/d9b06d/32.png) [@Fotheringay-Phipps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fotheringay-Phipps)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-grooves-in-big-toenails/848660/3 "2020-02-28T17:16:28Z")
That’s interesting and helpful. Thanks!