Experiencing oilier-than-usual roots?Stressmay be to blame.
So when we experience ridges in our fingernails, what’s our body trying to tell us?
Here, we crack the code, plus how to get rid of those grooves.
What are fingernail ridges?
Take a good, closeup look at your nailsnotice those fine lines?
Nails normally have super-fine, vertical ridges that aren’t too noticeable unless you inspect them at eye-level.
Are they cause for concern?
What causes vertical ridges in fingernails?
First up: aging.
And because beauty always has an internal moment, those ridges could also signify nutrition imbalances.
“Nails are made of mainly hardened proteins,” Lin explains.
(Namely, a protein calledkeratin).
How to get rid of those lines.
Facing some vertical divots?
Luckily, it’s not so difficult to treat.
All it takes is giving your tips a little TLC:
Take a supplement.
Let’s start with the inside out, shall we?
“you could take supplements like biotin to help nourish your hair and nails,” Lin states.
After all, biotin has been shown tosupport thickness and firmness of nails1in several human studies.
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For more supplement suggestions, check out ourvitamins for nails roundup.
Hydrate your nailsjust as you would your skin.
Allow us to reemphasize: Nail care and skin care are two sides of the same coin.
Protect your nails from UV rays.
Yes, your nails can get UV damage, too.
Just as your skin needs proper protection, your nails deserve that same level of care.
Apply a ridge filler if you want to use polish.
If you really want to amp up your nail care, look for a polish that contains glycolic acid.
“These can helpstrengthen nail canals3and minimize the appearance of ridges,” says Zeichner.
(Our nails need exfoliation, too!)
The bottom line.
That regular upkeep isn’t superficial or vainit’s necessary for optimizing our health.
After all, our nails can tell us so much about what’s going on beneath the surface.
