What do ridges on my fingernails mean?

Ridges are among the different kinds of nail abnormalities that can develop due to aging, nail injury, or trauma, or underlying medical conditions. Many people notice an increase in vertical ridges of the fingernails as they age, and this can be a normal development. read more

In trachyonychia, or 20-nail dystrophy, the ridges may be accompanied by a change in color to your nails, or your nails may become rough or brittle. Iron deficiency anemia can also trigger vertical ridges and changes to your nails that make them concave, or spoon-shaped. read more

Vertical ridges can also be caused by nail injury and certain diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, according to Rich. If, instead of a series of ridges, there's a single vertical streak, cautions Krant, this could be a sign of a tumor growing at the root of the nail. read more