As I get older, the vertical ridges on my nails seem to become more prominent. I recently really noticed that ugly line in the pictures of the Pumpkin Cheesecake Dip recipe where my thumb is holding a Nilla Wafer. That’s when I decided to look into whether these ridges meant anything to my health and if there was anything I could do to get rid of them.
What they mean about your health
After doing a lot of research, I found that these ridges are a small and rare occurrence that could mean an underlying medical condition or even nail damage, but it’s normal for most of us to see them become more noticeable as we age. Especially if you have dry skin or a skin condition like eczema.
I’m 36 and they just started bothering me, but I’m relieved to find out they’re harmless. I’m just getting old. 🙂
But why are they there?
They are basically like fingernail wrinkles! As we age, the nail matrix begins to lose its effectiveness in some areas, causing your nails to grow unevenly, resulting in the lines or ridges that we see running from the cuticle to the tip of the nail.
However, some deficiencies can cause or worsen these backs.
If your body is low in protein, zinc, calcium, or vitamin A, those annoying vertical ridges inside the nails can sometimes be deficient. If you have deep back pain or other health problems, it’s okay to get a blood test to check for possible deficiencies.
How to reduce the appearance of vertical ridges on nails
The best way to reduce the appearance of these lines is to moisturize your hands and fingers with a thick cream, oil or jelly throughout the day, paying special attention to your cuticles. Basically, treat your nails like you treat your wrinkles!
Also, I may sound like I’ve been living under a rock, but I didn’t realize that you could buff and polish them with a simple $8 tool that looks like you’re wearing smooth, shiny, almost clear nails. polish. I found this shape and gloss tool on Amazon and now it feels like I have a brand new arm! I feel like this is the quickest solution, especially if you have thin nails and don’t get caught up in all that painting and sanding.
