# What causes unsightly thumbnail ridges?  They don't form on other nails...

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-unsightly-thumbnail-ridges-they-dont-form-on-other-nails/270216>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 20, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-unsightly-thumbnail-ridges-they-dont-form-on-other-nails/270216 "2004-10-20T14:11:46Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-unsightly-thumbnail-ridges-they-dont-form-on-other-nails/270216/1 "2004-10-20T14:11:46Z")

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For several years now I have had ridges on my thumbnails. Both hands. They are perpendicular to the side cuticles and in some cases are very deep? As a rule I have always had a ‘stress induced tic’ of picking my cuticles. This happens to millions of people across the globe, so it is nothing new. But I was told the ridges are not caused by a fungus…Does anyone know what causes the ridges? Could it be the picking? Is there a cure?

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**Author:** ![drhess](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/94ad74/32.png) [@drhess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drhess)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-unsightly-thumbnail-ridges-they-dont-form-on-other-nails/270216/2 "2004-10-20T16:14:00Z")

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As I grow older I get these on all my fingernails. Maybe you just aren’t there yet. 😛

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**Author:** ![kelly5078](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/6f9a4e/32.png) [@kelly5078](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kelly5078)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-unsightly-thumbnail-ridges-they-dont-form-on-other-nails/270216/3 "2004-10-20T16:34:55Z")

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Things get out of whack with the amount of nail being produced. I have them on all my fingernails and toenails. I also have a fairly severe angle on my left thumbnail, probably the result of some damage to the nail bed.

I actually think they look kind of cool.

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**Author:** ![Adoptamom\_II](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Adoptamom\_II](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Adoptamom_II)\
**Post date:** [October 20, 2004, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-unsightly-thumbnail-ridges-they-dont-form-on-other-nails/270216/4 "2004-10-20T20:55:07Z")

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[This link](http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/library/WO/00020.html) has some great answers to your question!