Nail Ridges

| June 30, 2010 |

Nail ridges or corrugations (also known as beau’s lines) can be caused by a variety of things. Ridges or beau’s lines are when nail growth is uneven, resulting in lumps, bumps and lines on the nail bed. It is usually a result of being ill or injured. Unfortunately there is not much you can do except wait and see if they grow out.

One of the most common causes is damage to the nail bed. This can occur from an accident or other injury, but is usually a result of having your nails done. When artificial nails or overlays are applied it must be done the proper way. If there is extensive or harsh filing of the nail bed much damage can occur. Over time this can become a permanent situation. Unfortunately the more you rough up the nail bed, the better the product will stick, so many people accidentally cause damage. Lack of or improper education can cause a nail tech to apply a product incorrectly and the result can be horrible. I’ve seen this many times when nails techs use a drill that they have not been properly trained on. The less you touch the natural nail bed with any abrasive product (files, buffers, etc…) the better.

I’ve been doing tremendous amounts of research as I write my posts and it’s been very frustrating. Much of the information I have been finding is conflicting. If you feel you have one of these problems always check with your doctor just to make sure everything is ok.

If ridges on your nails are vertical, from the base of your cuticle to the top of your nail, don’t worry. These are pretty common, usually increase with age and cause no health risks. Other then the possibility of heredity, the cause of this type of ridging are not known.

While vertical ridging is of no concern horizontal ridging is. The development of horizontal ridges should warrant a trip to your doctor. This could be an indication of possible medical problems like malnutrition, respiratory disease or heart problems, as well as physical or mental stress.

If after a while the nail continues to grow with ridges and other imperfections, and there are no underlying medical problems, you may have no choice but to lightly buff some of them away. This is much easier to do on the big toe nail as it is usually thicker and can benefit from light filing. Never use anything harsh. I only use a fine block and a light touch if I have to file on a nail bed. You can also use a ridge filling base coat. This will help to level out the nail base, resulting in a smoother look. For best results use it underneath nail color.