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What Causes Horizontal Ridges On The Fingernails?
Posted on
Thu, 9 Mar 2017
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Thu, 9 Mar 2017
Answered on
Mon, 27 Mar 2017
Last reviewed on
Question : I have slightly visable white lines on my fingernails that run horizontally across fingernail. what does this mean?
I included a picture.
I included a picture.
Brief Answer:
Injury or chemical exposure...
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for question. Horizontal ridges or line across the nail are generally not significant alone. If they have other findings then we can correlate it. Nail biting, frequent scratching and sometimes exposure to chemicals cause horizontal ridges. Although a very rare case it is related to arsenic poisoning due to nail polishes and enamels.
Some physicians would not take it seriously if no other significant findings during their examination.
If the nails are paler then it can be due to anemia.
Injury or chemical exposure...
Detailed Answer:
Thanks for question. Horizontal ridges or line across the nail are generally not significant alone. If they have other findings then we can correlate it. Nail biting, frequent scratching and sometimes exposure to chemicals cause horizontal ridges. Although a very rare case it is related to arsenic poisoning due to nail polishes and enamels.
Some physicians would not take it seriously if no other significant findings during their examination.
If the nails are paler then it can be due to anemia.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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