Fingernail ridging

Men and women can have fingernail ridgings, they are quite common and can signify a health risk, or just be plain annoying.

These ridges may extend from the cuticle to the tip of your fingernails, or they may run across your nails horizontally, from one side to the other. If you have ridges running across your nails in this way, you would be wise to see a doctor, especially if the ridges are slightly darkened and deeply grooved.

Horizontal fingernail ridging could also be a sign of Beau's lines, these lines often happen if you are suffering from malnutrition, have an iron or zinc deficiency, or an injury which has damaged nail growth. Some medications can cause these types of ridges, especially if you have had a major illness and are undergoing chemotherapy.

If you have no other fingernail problems and are discovering ridges in fingernails for the first time, then they can probably be fixed.

Vertical fingernail ridgings are quite common with older people it is a common sign of aging. Your fingernails and cuticles can dry out very quickly as you age, so it is important for your fingernail care to massage an oil into your nails daily.

Always use a hand and nail cream at night before you go to bed, and use one that is not full of chemicals. You are not helping your nails by rubbing in chemicals, massage cream into your hands and fingernails, put on a pair of cotton gloves and go to sleep.

If you do this for a few months, you will definitely see an improvement to your ridged fingernails. You should starts to see new nail growth without ridges, don't stop when you see an improvement, and continue to regularly moisturize your fingernails daily.

Ridged nails may be caused by dehydration, your nails are lacking moisture and you can be deficient in certain vitamins and minerals. Your body may not be absorbing nutrients, and sometimes taking a digestive enzyme can help. This can help with ridges and other minor fingernail problems such as, weak fingernails. Suffering from skin conditions like psoriasis can cause ridges in fingernails.

To help minimize fingernail ridging, use a nail buffer and buff lightly in the direction of the vertical ridge. Be careful not to over buff as you can cause thin fingernails.

If you like to wear nail polish, always put on a ridge filler first. One coat of ridge filler is fine, allow to dry then apply nail polish.

Take a good multivitamin and zinc supplement daily.

Always wear gloves when washing dishes, cleaning around the house and working in the garden.

Avoid nail hardeners, and soak your fingernails in warm olive oil daily for about 20 min, this will also help with your nail strength.

Drink water every day.

Sometimes doing all the above you may still have ridges in fingernails, only they should be very slight and with continual fingernail care you will have beautiful healthy fingernails.