What Ridged Nails Say About Health and Body Functioning

We don't often pay attention to our nails, but they are real indicators of our health. Their appearance and texture, such as striations, say a lot more than meets the eye.

Have you ever noticed streaks on your nails? ? Some people think they are unimportant, but in reality, they are linked to various factors, more or less revealing of our state of health. Nevertheless, and fortunately, in the majority of cases, these marks are often benign: for good reason, the longitudinal streaks (running from the base of the nail to its tip) are often linked to the effects of aging. In Santé Magazine, Dr. Georges Reuter, dermatologist-venerologist and vice-president of the National Union of Dermatologists Venerologists, talks about "nail wrinkles".

Over the years, the skin loses its elasticity and hydration. With our nails, the phenomenon is the same. This horny plate, made of keratin, depends on the proper functioning of our microcirculation. If it is weakened, as is often the case for older people, the production of keratin is reduced. An alteration in its production can make the nails more brittle, hence the appearance of these ridges. This is why a deficiency in proteins, such as cysteine, an amino acid essential for the production of keratin, tends to harm the health of the nails, weaken them and à promote the appearance of "nail ridges".

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Deficiencies in vitamin A, B or essential minerals, such as zinc or iron, can also weaken nails. In this specific case, it may be advisable to change your diet or use food supplements to compensate for the lack of these micronutrients. Otherwise, oily fish, nuts, avocado and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach and kale are a good alternative to correct an inconclusive blood test.

Certain skin diseases, such as psoriasis and eczema, promote dehydration and cause furrows to appear. These transverse striations (running across the width, from one side of the nail to the other) require the advice of an expert on the subject before any treatment is attempted. It is also necessary to take into account varnishes, capsules, resins and any other chemical products used on the nails, which are often vectors of residual “microtraumas”.

Hydration is therefore essential to the quality of our nails and cuticles. Regular application of moisturizing creams or oils may be recommended to combat dryness. From an internal point of view, maintaining a healthy lifestyle, accompanied by regular physical and sporting activity, promotes the oxygenation of the body's tissues, and by coincidence, the nails.