A 56-year-old female asked:
one of my fingernails is turning black and they all have ridges. ....what could be causing this?
2 doctor answers
Dr. Mandakini Patel answered
41 years experience Pediatrics
Nail issues: The best thing would be to have it checked out as it could be anything from fungal infection to injury or other disease. If you have ridges it could also be fungal infection but it is difficult to say without looking at it. See your doctor. If it developed acutely it could be an injury but you would have known it since it would be painful to have it bleed and have the blood underneath turn dark.
Answered on Sep 28, 2016
Dr. Stephen Southard answered
15 years experience Internal Medicine
Hard to say: Ridges wise, if they are vertical then it's unlikely anything concerning. If they are horizontal - Beau's lines - many things can cause these like stress, nutritional issues, or many different systemic diseases. The color change can be from many things too, as simple as a bruise or concerning things like cancer. Before you get too concerned, please seek input from your doctor.
Answered on Aug 14, 2016
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Related questions:
A 16-year-old female asked:
Dr. Richard Zimon answered
59 years experience Internal Medicine
More info needed: Sounds like you damaged the nail bed at some point in time. Could also be fungal. Can you re-ask your question and attach a picture????
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A 21-year-old member asked:
Dr. Christopher Nicora answered
24 years experience Internal Medicine
No worries: Vertical nail ridges extend from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical nail ridges often become more numerous or prominent with age, possibly d ... Read More
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5 thanks
A 35-year-old member asked:
Dr. Michael Fisher answered
32 years experience Dermatology
Beau's lines: Beau's lines, which are grooves that run horizontally across the nail plate. They usually develop when nail plate growth, which begins in the nail mat ... Read More
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3 thanks
A 22-year-old member asked:
Dr. Aletha Tippett answered
24 years experience Family Medicine
Many reasons: Vertical ridges on nails are basically harmless & can be related to heredity, aging, & nail dryness or injury. The appearance of ridges may be reduced ... Read More
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