What Causes Vertical Ridges In The Nails?

Posted on Mon, 18 Jul 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Mon, 18 Jul 2016 Answered on

Tue, 16 Aug 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : What is causing my fingernails to be so thin and now they have ridges on them. I haven't worn polish for nearly a year.

Answered by Dr. Ronald Schubert (43 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Nail changes

Detailed Answer:
Thank you for contacting HCM with your health care concerns

You are concerned about your nails being thin and having ridges. This condition can be related to iron deficiency anemia. I would recommend that you see your medical provider and review any recent labs or if you have not had labs recently to have them ordered. Once the iron deficiency is resolved the nails return to normal condition.

If there is no anemia hen you may just have abnormal growth of nails. There is nothing you can do that will improve the nail growth. Gelatin capsules have been studied to se if they help nail growth but found they did nothing to help.

I hope I answered your question. Please contact us again if you have any additional questions

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar