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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 18 of 18. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Temmie on July 17, 2003, at 14:43:30
I'm hoping it's alright to post a query here about general-health matters .... Does anyone else suffer from ridges in fingernails? My thumb nails are a mess. I read somewhere this was related to hypothyroidism -- but as I take medication for this, shouldn't the ridges go away? Others have suggested there may have been damage to the nailbed, but I don't remember injury or trauma to my thumbs. Anybody?
Posted by ian24 on July 17, 2003, at 21:34:14
In reply to Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Temmie on July 17, 2003, at 14:43:30
That's vitamin defiency I believe, I've had it and it's gone away.
Posted by Larry Hoover on July 19, 2003, at 9:59:14
In reply to Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Temmie on July 17, 2003, at 14:43:30
> I'm hoping it's alright to post a query here about general-health matters .... Does anyone else suffer from ridges in fingernails? My thumb nails are a mess. I read somewhere this was related to hypothyroidism -- but as I take medication for this, shouldn't the ridges go away? Others have suggested there may have been damage to the nailbed, but I don't remember injury or trauma to my thumbs. Anybody?
It depends which direction the ridges go....longitudinal ones, parallel to the finger in question, are likely to be genetic quirks, or the effects of aging. Do your parents have such ridges? Transverse ridges are an issue to bring up with your doctor. They indicate potentially serious health concerns.
Lar
Posted by paxvox on July 19, 2003, at 10:35:23
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails » Temmie, posted by Larry Hoover on July 19, 2003, at 9:59:14
Good differential info there, Larry. I started getting the "parallel" ridges after I began taking Wellbutrin for about a year. I had not seen any prior type of problem. I do recall reading posts a year or so back linking ridges with certain meds. However, I am trying to think if my father has the same ridges, and I recall seeing what I thought were similar on him just recently. However, I do not recall him having them when he was my age (middle 40's). Interested to hear what others have to say.
PAX
Posted by Temmie on July 19, 2003, at 10:51:22
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails, posted by paxvox on July 19, 2003, at 10:35:23
My ridges on thumbs are transverse. I thought for the longest time this was due to picking at and chewing cuticles, nails, etc., believing I HAD damaged the nail bed ... But then I read a connection between this and hypothyrodism (which I have). One would think the meds would clear things away. I've tried sanding them down with everything from sandpaper, to steel wool, and fine emery paper -- just things the nails too much, and then they hurt and/or fall apart. I'll do some more research, and see what I can find. Maybe I need a Chinese Medicine doc, or to talk with someone with more of a holistic approach. Temmie
Posted by noa on July 19, 2003, at 15:18:07
In reply to Thank you All, posted by Temmie on July 19, 2003, at 10:51:22
I used to have the transverse ones. I had heard it was related to different nutritional deficits, or psoriasis. I have hypothyroidism, but hadn't heard about the fingernail ridges connection, although that could explain it for me.
The ridges were much worse if I used nail polish--dried the nails out too much.
Posted by Kacy on July 20, 2003, at 9:30:40
In reply to Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Temmie on July 17, 2003, at 14:43:30
Here is from Prescription for Nutritional Healing by Balch:
Ridges can appear in the nails either vertically or horizontally. Vertical ridges indicate poor general health, poor nutrient absorption, and/or iron deficiency; they may also indicate a kidney disorder. Horizontal ridges may also appear as a sign of severe stress, either psychological or physical, such as infection or from disease. Ridges running up and down the nails also indicate a tendency to develop arthritis.
Well, I tried to make a link. I can't seem to make it work.
I don't know how good a reference the book is, but it's a popular book.
Posted by Kacy on July 20, 2003, at 9:34:13
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Kacy on July 20, 2003, at 9:30:40
Well, that's not at all what I meant to do, but the link does work.
Posted by River1924 on July 21, 2003, at 14:03:19
In reply to Thank you All, posted by Temmie on July 19, 2003, at 10:51:22
I'm less worried about ridges in your fingernails than your obsession with them. Using steel wool on your fingernails suggests some deeper issues, whether nutritional, medication-related, psychological, self-esteem, or psychiatric, I can't say. But I think scrubbing your nails until they fall off is, at least, possibly a source of infection. It seems to me ridges is a tiny problem and dweling on them misses some larger thing going on. Good Luck.
Posted by temmie on July 21, 2003, at 15:09:39
In reply to Re: Thank you All » Temmie, posted by River1924 on July 21, 2003, at 14:03:19
Oh River, I am not obsessed. I don't scrub at my nails until they fall off, and have found a light dusting (or however one might describe it with steel wool (as in a Brillo pad) is actually kinder than going at my nails with emery paper. Either way, one can't do much, as removing surface layers of fingernail serves only to thin and weaken the nail underneath. I'm fine with my ridges, but my nails would be prettier without. Temmie.
Posted by Dr. Bob on July 21, 2003, at 18:19:09
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Kacy on July 20, 2003, at 9:30:40
> Well, I tried to make a link. I can't seem to make it work.
Thanks for giving it a try! How to make it work:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/faq.html#amazon
Bob
Posted by Theodora on December 4, 2003, at 8:43:39
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Kacy on July 20, 2003, at 9:30:40
I went to my GP dr. 5 weeks ago re vertical ridges on my fingernails (particularly on the two smallest fingers). She told me it was a fungus, which I do not believe. Since I had a pain in my left side she sent also me for a sonargram for my kidney. I had a 1.7cm x 2.0cm cyst on my left kidney. She said it was probably there since birth and "wait and see." The Prescription for Nutritiional Health by Balch said, "may indicate a kidney disorder." Does anyone else have any information?
Posted by Emme on December 4, 2003, at 9:35:17
In reply to Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Temmie on July 17, 2003, at 14:43:30
Hmmmm.....My thumbnails are weird. I don't have "ridges" per se. At least not little ones. But my thumbnails are bumpy. If you look at them from the side, instead of being flat, they have bumps like hills. They've been like that for eons.
They're not discolored, don't break easily, don't pull away from the nail bed or anything like that. I have told it was damage to the nail bed from trimming cuticles (none of the other fingers have it) and I've been told it was a nail fungus, but it doesn't look like the pictures of nail fungus. Anyway, since they don't leap out at you right away when you look at my hands, I have more or less ignored them because I've had bigger fish to fry. But I wouldn't mind knowing what it was so I could get rid of it, or if it signals any bigger problem. Any ideas?
Emme
Posted by Temmie on December 4, 2003, at 19:46:51
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Emme on December 4, 2003, at 9:35:17
Wow, this post goes back aways .... I've also been told my ridges signal damange to the matrix in the nail bed (or whatever it's called), because I dug at and bit my nails for years. But you know what? They were never a problem when this bad habit was at its height. I believe I must have posted somewhere in here ... that I've read horizontal ridges are common in those with hypothyroidism (which I have). I wish I had prettier hands and nails, but I'm with the writer above. Bigger, more important things to tend to. Best all, T.
Posted by Temmie on December 4, 2003, at 19:46:57
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Emme on December 4, 2003, at 9:35:17
Wow, this post goes back aways .... I've also been told my ridges signal damange to the matrix in the nail bed (or whatever it's called), because I dug at and bit my nails for years. But you know what? They were never a problem when this bad habit was at its height. I believe I must have posted somewhere in here ... that I've read horizontal ridges are common in those with hypothyroidism (which I have). I wish I had prettier hands and nails, but I'm with the writer above. Bigger, more important things to tend to. Best all, T.
Posted by Caleb462 on December 5, 2003, at 9:36:37
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Temmie on December 4, 2003, at 19:46:51
I've had vertical ridges on my fingers as long as I can remember, never worried about it.
Posted by asdfghjkl on January 21, 2006, at 12:18:51
In reply to Re: Ridges in Fingernails, posted by Temmie on December 4, 2003, at 19:46:57
I was wondering what fingernails were made of?
From,
Shawna Holzwworth
Posted by Dr. Bob on January 23, 2006, at 3:14:21
In reply to Re: Fingernails, posted by asdfghjkl on January 21, 2006, at 12:18:51
> I was wondering what fingernails were made of?
Welcome! And sorry if it's confusing here, but I'd like to redirect answers to that to Psycho-Babble Health. Here's a link:
http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/health/20051214/msgs/601995.html
Thanks,
Bob
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