HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients
Book a video visit
HealthTap
Telehealth
A member asked:

What causes vertical ridges on my fingernails? i have it nearly all fingers.

A doctor has provided 1 answer
Dr. Gerald Mandell answered

Specializes in Nuclear Medicine

Mainly aging: Increase in vertical ridges of the fingernails as age, and this can be a normal development. Onychorrhexis is the medical term used to describe longitudinal ridges on the nails that often accompany brittle nails.Trauma may also be a cause of nail ridges. Nutritional causes such as vitamin deficiency less common.

Answered 2/10/2016

4.7k views

Thank

Related Questions

A member asked:

I have fingernail fungus on all my fingers. The nailbed is yellow with dark vertical streaks. It is painles nd I've had it for 9 months. Nail deformed?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

60 year old dad had sudden dark red/brownish colored area show up around his fingernails. Not in nails but on skin on the sides. Many fingers affected. Thought it was bleeding under the skin? Has almost entirely gone away after about two weeks.cause?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

Hi Doc, I have a sharp shooting pain in my left index finger and thumb, its more of under my fingernail what could be the cause?

A doctor has provided 1 answer

A member asked:

I have fingernail indentions in left hand nail beds. Specifically my thumb, middle, and ring finger. I'm 31 yo with no previous med hx. Any reason?

8 doctors weighed in across 2 answers

A member asked:

I have a light colored brown vertical line on my index finger and middle fingernail on my left hand. I used to have a habit of biting my nail and peeling off layers from my nails, could this be a result? I hope this isn't anything too serious! Thanks so m

A doctor has provided 1 answer

Sponsored Content
HealthTap Medical Group does not endorse products or services. Sponsored content revenues support our mission to make health information free and accessible to all.Learn more

People also searched for:

What causes vertical ridges on thumb/finger nails?
What can ridges on my finger nails be caused from?
I have raised vertical ridges in a couple of my finger nails for about the past 6 months. What could this be a sign of?
My fingernail (anularius finger) feels cold. And it is red colour. In my house it is quite cold, can it be for this reason or something more serious?
Causes of brown fingernails tips? No lines, similar to a gradient. More prominent on pinky finger and thumb. Non smoker?

Telemedicine

Primary Care
Manage Your Conditions
Women's Health
Children's Health
Men's Health
Senior Health
Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle
Sexual Health
Mental & Behavioral Health
Travel Medicine
Urgent Care
Ask your question
Didn't find what you're looking for?

90,000 U.S. doctors in 147 specialties are here to answer your questions or offer you advice, prescriptions, and more.

Ask your question

More of what we treat

Allergies
Antibiotics
Asthma
High Blood Pressure
Prescriptions
Type 2 Diabetes
Content on HealthTap (including answers) should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and interactions on HealthTap do not create a doctor-patient relationship. Never disregard or delay professional medical advice in person because of anything on HealthTap. Call your doctor or 911 if you think you may have a medical emergency.
HealthTap
HIPAA logo
HIPAASecure
Soc 2 Type 2 logo
SOC 2 Type 2Certified
JCAHO Accredited
JCAHOAccredited
Member App

Download HealthTap

Video visit and message your doctor

Member App QR Code
Play Store Member LinkApp Store Member Link

Questions?

+1 (888) 828-0841support@healthtap.com
LinkedInTwitter
HomeTermsPrivacyCookiesDMCAHealth TopicsDoctors DirectoryDoctor Q&A by Specialty
Copyright 2026 HealthTap, Inc.