Fingernails: Horizontal or Vertical Ridges, Pitting, Shape

Ian C. Langtree - Writer/Editor for Disabled World (DW)
Published: 2009/03/02 - Updated: 2025/05/01
Publication Type: Informative
Category Topic: Finger and Toenails - Academic Publications

Page Content: Synopsis - Introduction - Main - Insights, Updates

Synopsis: This information provides a comprehensive overview of how fingernail characteristics-such as ridges, pitting, and shape-can reflect underlying health conditions. Vertical ridges may be associated with aging or iron deficiency anemia, while horizontal ridges, known as Beau's lines, can indicate serious illnesses like uncontrolled diabetes or circulatory diseases. Other nail abnormalities, such as pitting, spoon-shaped nails, and clubbing, are linked to conditions including psoriasis, iron deficiency, and chronic respiratory issues. The article also discusses the implications of changes in nail color and the presence of white lines or missing half-moons, which can signal systemic health problems. The piece serves as a valuable resource for individuals seeking to understand the potential health indicators presented by nail changes - Disabled World (DW).

Defining Nail (Anatomy)

Nail (Anatomy)

In anatomy, a nail is defined as a horn-like envelope covering the tips of the fingers and toes in humans, most non-human primates, and a few other mammals. Fingernails and toenails are made of a tough protective protein called alpha-keratin, a polymer. Alpha-keratin is found in the hooves, claws, and horns of vertebrates. The nail functions by protecting the digits and contributing to tactile sensation.

Introduction

Your Fingernail condition, shape, and color can often alert you to underlying health problems. Common conditions include nail color changes, pitting, spoon nails, as well as vertical and horizontal fingernail ridges.

Main Content

• Nail pitting: Small depressions in the nails are common in people with psoriasis - a skin condition that produces scaly patches. They may also result from nail injuries. Pitting may cause your nails to crumble. Pitting is also associated with conditions that can damage your nail's cuticle, such as chronic dermatitis of your fingers or alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss.
• Fingernail Ridges: Ridges can signify a possible infection such as the flu.
• Vertical ridges (Lengthwise grooves or ridges): May indicate a kidney disorder (kidney failure); associated with aging; iron deficiency (Anemia). It may indicate a tendency to develop arthritis.
• Nail clubbing: Clubbing occurs when the tips of your fingers enlarge and your nails curve around your fingertips. This condition results from low oxygen levels in your blood and could be a sign of lung disease. Clubbing is also associated with inflammatory bowel disease and liver disease.
• Paronychia (felon): Inflammation of the nail folds, which appear red, swollen, and tender. The cuticle may not be visible. Causes: fungal infection, secondary bacterial infection, people whose hands are often in water are more susceptible.
• Spoon nails: Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Spoon nails may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia.
• Mee's lines: Transverse white lines run across the nail, following the shape of the nail moon. Can occur after acute or severe illness, Arsenic poisoning.
• Absent half-moons: White half-moons missing or receding can indicate pituitary problems or poor circulation.
• Terry's nails: With the condition known as Terry's nails, your nails look opaque, but the tip has a dark band. Sometimes this can be attributed to aging. In other cases, it can be a sign of serious illness, such as; Congestive heart failure, Diabetes, Liver disease, and Malnutrition.
• Beau's lines: Beau's lines are indentations that run across your nails. They can appear when growth in the area under your cuticle is interrupted by injury or severe illness. Diseases or illnesses associated with Beau's lines include; Uncontrolled diabetes, Circulatory diseases, such as peripheral artery disease, Illness associated with a high fever caused by pneumonia, scarlet fever, mumps or measles, and Malnutrition.
• Nail separates from the nail bed: With a condition known as onycholysis, your fingernails become loose and can separate from the nail bed. If your nails show signs of detaching, this may be associated with: Injury or infection, Thyroid disease, Drug reactions, Reactions to nail hardeners or acrylic nails, and Psoriasis.

Insights, Analysis, and Developments

Author Credentials: Ian is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Disabled World, a leading resource for news and information on disability issues. With a global perspective shaped by years of travel and lived experience, Ian is a committed proponent of the Social Model of Disability-a transformative framework developed by disabled activists in the 1970s that emphasizes dismantling societal barriers rather than focusing solely on individual impairments. His work reflects a deep commitment to disability rights, accessibility, and social inclusion. To learn more about Ian's background, expertise, and accomplishments, visit his full biography.