

Hump nails vs bubble nails how to#
or anything else that causes physical damage to the nail matrix cells! How To Treat Horizontal Nail Ridges This can be something falling onto the end of your finger, getting your finger trapped in a door, a very aggressive manicure that pushes vigorously on your nail cuticle etc. The other very common cause of Beau’s lines is some type of mechanical or physical trauma to the cells of the nail matrix. Most commonly, we see them in our clinics as a response to periods of illness, pregnancy/childbirth, and ESPECIALLY in those who have taken a chemotherapy medication. BUT, the evidence of that ‘stress’ phase on the body can still be seen by us when we look at the nail plate! We see the horizontal depressions/ ridges for many months afterwards, until enough new, healthy, nail has grown out and the ridged area gets cut off! What Are Specific Causes of Horizontal Nail Ridges?Īs we mentioned in the previous paragraph, these ridges coincide with periods of ‘stress’ on the body. Over time, the stressor on the body fades away, and the cells go back to making thick nails as before. They can damage the ability of the nail matrix to produce the nail plate, and therefore, for a period of time, the matrix cells aren’t feeling themselves and they start to produce less thick/healthy nail. This means that, whenever there are periods of ‘stress’ on the body, such as an illness, pregnancy/delivery, or certain medications like chemotherapy in the body, these special nail matrix cells are sensitive to these changes. The nail matrix that builds our nails is made up of special cells that are supplied by a rich number of blood vessels. Now that we understand how a nail normally grows, we can move into explaining what exactly causes the horizontal ridges we sometimes see in nails. This pushes the rest of the nail further out beyond the edge of the finger, and then we clip the old, overhanging parts when they start to bother us. So every month, you are getting around 3-4mm of new nail becoming visible at the base close to the cuticle. The nail matrix is actually the place where the nail plate grows from! Even though it’s not visible, it’s really the unsung hero of the fingernail.įingernails usually grow at a rate of around 1mm per week.
Hump nails vs bubble nails skin#
This is located underneath the skin at the base of the nail (the part BEFORE the nail cuticle towards the rest of your finger). Now let’s talk about the really crucial part of the nail… the nail matrix. Underneath the nail plate is something called the ‘nail bed’, the part that gives the nail its ‘red’ appearance (try squeezing your nail and seeing it switch from pale white to red). is more appropriately referred to as the ‘nail plate’. So, we’re going to give you a little bit of a nail anatomy lesson! The part we talk about as the ‘fingernail’, the part we feel as hard, shiny, and where we apply nail polish etc. Where do you think the nail itself actually grows from? In order to understand the cause of horizontal nail ridges, it helps to get an idea of how our nails usually grow. Nail Anatomy Basics – How Does A Fingernail Grow? In this article, we’re going to talk about horizontal nail ridges (also known as ‘Beau’s lines’) why they happen, what can cause them, and how to treat them. Other changes, such as splitting of the ends of nails or some superficial white dots, can be related to mild physical damage from washing hands or getting manicures. Some of these reasons can be very serious, life-threatening and require immediate medical consultations, such as nail melanoma. Whether it’s color changes, lines (vertical or horizontal), splitting of the nails, small ‘pits’, or even changes in nail shape, there are thousands of different reasons why your nail might be looking strange compared to what you’re used to. People are often surprised to learn how frequently nail changes can be associated with different medical conditions. Nail changes are worth getting checked out by a board-certified dermatologist.

There are also a few, rarer nail conditions that can portend liver or kidney issues. The most common cause of horizontal ridges on the nails is called “Beau’s lines.” Horizontal ridging of the nails is trauma to the nail matrix, which is located just behind the cuticle. Horizontal ridges on the nails can represent very benign causes. What are these horizontal ridges in my nails?
