Take a look at your nails. You’ll probably see a few light lines or ridges running from the cuticle to the top of each nail. Assuming that the nails, otherwise, look normal – your nails are healthy. But what if those lines actually run across the nail, horizontally? Are any of them chipped? Do they chip easily?
In the second instalment of our series on nail health, we examine the texture of nails and its possible causes. While a change in texture does not always mean that you have a health issue, it can be an indicator, and it’s thus advisable to consult with a healthcare practitioner if you notice any of these changes.
Here are some common nail texture problems and their possible causes:
| Issue | Common Issue |
Britle nails (onychoschizia) |
One of the most common nail problems is britle/ rough nails that crack easily. They are usually caused by repeated wetting and drying of your fingernails. In some cases, it may also be a sign of iron deficiency or hypothyroidism. |
Soft or weak |
These nails break easily or bend before snapping. These are often caused by overexposure to detergents, cleaning fluids, nail treatments, nail polish remover, and other similar chemicals. Weak nails are also associated with a deficiency in B vitamins, calcium, iron, or fatty acids. |
Peeling |
This is usually caused by external trauma to the nail, for instance, using your nail as a tool to remove acrylic nail polish or if you soak your hands in soapy water for too long. If however, all your nails (toenails included) are peeling, then it could be an internal cause, such as iron deficiency. |
Piling |
If your fingernails have pits/ dents that look like they were made by an icepick1, this could be a sign of psoriasis, atopic dermatosis or alopecia areata. |
Beau lines Deep grooves (onychomadesis) |
Ridges that run the length of your nail are normal, but horizontal ridges or depressions, also called Beau’s lines, may be a sign of an underlying condition. Deep groves on the width of the nail means that something slowed (or stopped) your nails from growing, so that it forms a ‘gap’; fever, injury, chemotherapy, heart attack, exposure to extreme cold, major stress or poor nutrition can cause your nails to grow slowly or stop growing. Beau’s lines on all 20 nails are usually the result of systemic disease such as mumps, pneumonia, coronary thrombosis, Kawasaki disease, syphilis, and hypoparathyroidism. 2 |
Thick, overgrown nails/ Ram’s horn nails (onychogryphosis) |
Psoriasis, ichthyosis, or circulation problems can cause your nails to become thick and overgrown, although, for some people Ram’s horn nails are hereditary. |
Washboard nails (onychotillomania) |
If you have grooves in the centre of your thumb only, it’s most likely that you have a habit of picking at (or pushing back) the cuticles on your thumbnail (often done unconsciously). |
Footnote
1 American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.), 12 Nail changes a dermatologist should examine. American Academy of Dermatology Association [Online]. Available from https://www.aad.org/public/everyday- care/nail-care-secrets/basics/nail-changes-dermatologist-should-examine.
Accessed on 31 January 2023.
2 Singal, A., & Arora, R. (2015). Nail as a window of systemic diseases. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 6(2), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-5178.153002
References
- American Academy of Dermatology Association. (n.d.), 12 Nail changes a dermatologist should examine. American Academy of Dermatology Association [Online]. Accessed on 31 January 2023. Available from https://www.aad.org/public/everyday-care/nail-care-secrets/basics/nail-changes- dermatologist-should-examine
- Rasminsky, A. (2021). From Ridges to Peeling: What These 8 Fingernail Signs Say About Your Health. Healthline [Online]. Accessed on 31 January 2023. Available from https://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/healthy-nails
- Singal, A., & Arora, R. (2015). Nail as a window of systemic diseases. Indian Dermatology Online Journal, 6(2), 67–74. https://doi.org/10.4103/2229-5178.153002