It is important to take care of our nails because they endure a lot daily, including physical wear and tear and exposure to harsh surroundings.
Even while small chips or dents in your nails may seem insignificant, they could indicate serious health problems that need to be addressed. In fact, they might point to underlying medical issues.
According to the Verywell Health website, “Beau’s lines are horizontal indentations or ridges across fingernails or toenails, sometimes with yellowish discolouration. They are a sign that something interrupted your nail’s growth, such as illness or injury.”
The health-focused publication Healthline claims that the dents may appear as a result of diseases, trauma, or environmental elements like:
- Tearing at the cuticles or nails
- Getting an infection around the edge of the nail
- A manicure
“The appearance of Beau’s lines may offer insight into their cause. More than one line on one of your nails is usually a sign of repeated external injury to the nail matrix or an infection,” the above health information source states.
The above health hub further suggests making an appointment with a doctor if you have one or more of Beau’s lines so they may check for any underlying health issues that might have contributed to the formation of the lines.
According to the Cleveland Clinic, the dents can be caused by the following skin conditions:
- Eczema
- Psoriasis
The above clinic also claims that beau’s lines can result from long-term illnesses that impede blood supply to your nail matrix, such as:
- Diabetes
- Insufficient thyroid function
- Vascular disease of the peripheral (PAD)
Also see: These are diseases and infections that affect your eyes
