Rows of Dents in Fingernails

June 25, 2018 12:10 PM

A few months ago, I started noticing rows of small dents growing out of my fingernails. It hasn't gone away, and more rows have grown out since then. Do I need to see a doctor about this?

I first noticed it around mid-April. I was in the middle of a trip in China. I was only there for two weeks, and been back in the US since. I don't feel anything different and haven't had any major change in lifestyle, but the dents keep coming out. The only thing that I can think of that has been abnormal is that my digestion has been bad for the past month (bad poops), but I started taking probiotics a week ago and it's seeming like it's starting to get back to normal. Also not sure what was the cause of this. Could be completely coincidental. Should I schedule a doctor visit or just wait it out?

Here are some photos.

posted by monologish to Health & Fitness (15 answers total)

I have those on the thumb of my right hand. Mine corresponded with when I was in university and punched a window and needed stitches on the knuckle of that thumb. Since then the nail has grown with waves/dents in it.

That was in 1984 and I am still around, so you are likely okay, but if you have the ability to see a doctor, why not?
posted by terrapin at 12:13 PM on June 25, 2018

My sister has had that for 40+ years. She was advised to have more gelatin in her diet, but that never corrected it.

She's still alive. It's just one of those things that she has to tip her nails lady extra for.
posted by Capt. Renault at 12:17 PM on June 25, 2018

I developed this same condition, albeit rather more severely, and consulted my doctor about it. In the absence of other health problems, he suggested it a side effect of aging. I was able to halt the “denting” in my case by taking daily iron supplements.
posted by Transmissions From Vrillon at 12:33 PM on June 25, 2018

I get that because I pick at my cuticles. The extra pressure at the base of the nail causes a dent. Do you pick at or push at your cuticle? have you started a hobby or something that puts pressure on your cuticle?

Mine's only on the cuticle that I pick at and not other fingers. It goes away if I don't fuss with my nail bed. (It can also be from nail biting but I quit that years ago.)

I would let it grow out and see if they show up again or examine any trauma to your nails.
posted by Crystalinne at 12:33 PM on June 25, 2018 [3 favorites]

I had these on my nails for a few years. I just assumed it was a form of nail psoriasis and didn't think there was much to be done. Then, late last year I had annual bloodwork done (unrelated reasons) and found out that I was hypothyroid. I started taking thyroid medication and have noticed that ever since then, my nails have grown out taking the dents along with them and the new nail growth is dent-free. Maybe a complete coincidence, maybe not?

It wouldn't hurt to go get some bloodwork done just to make sure it's not a deficiency of some sort.
posted by joan_holloway at 12:42 PM on June 25, 2018

My understanding is this happens from trauma. If it's this regularly spaced, like yours, that points to manicures or equivalent pressure to the base of the nail.
posted by Dragonness at 12:47 PM on June 25, 2018

Deeper dents than yours were an early sign of B12 deficiency in me, and when I neglect the mega-dose supplements I now must take they return.

Together with your current digestive problems, the coincidence with your trip to China is interesting because Helicobacter is associated with B12 deficiency, and the periodic pattern of dents could well be due to a cycle of H pylori overgrowth and then recession due to immune system arousal and attack.

I would say you should get tested for H pylori, because continuing infection has been tipped as a possible factor in atrophy of the gastric glands that produce stomach acid and the crucial B12 receptor molecule without which B12 absorption is almost impossible.
posted by jamjam at 12:47 PM on June 25, 2018 [4 favorites]

I have dents a little more prominent than those on both of my big toes.
posted by emelenjr at 1:00 PM on June 25, 2018

Beau's lines? I've gotten them occasionally; I think they're one of those weird things bodies sometimes do when there's more stress than usual, or often for no apparent reason at all.
posted by Metroid Baby at 1:16 PM on June 25, 2018 [2 favorites]

My boyfriend has this. It was diagnosed as psoriasis to which he applies a topical prescription cream.
posted by girlmightlive at 3:27 PM on June 25, 2018

Recent trauma, illness, or infection can often cause the dents. I get them occasionally. If they are a regular, repeating thing, it could indicate a low-level infection in your system or a deficiency of certain nutrients.
posted by Thorzdad at 6:23 PM on June 25, 2018

n-thing all the responses that say it's often due to trauma. Picking cuticles is what usually causes it for me.

Growing up, my mother told me that they were caused by lying. Jokingly!
posted by Coffeemate at 6:48 PM on June 25, 2018

I've had similar denting in several fingers for many years. One is due to my nail being shut in a door. The others were my thumbnails, which never had any trauma I can remember. I just looked at them now and realized the ridges are all but gone, which leads me to believe that the cause was dietary. (I am also prone to small white bruises on my nails, and those seemed to have cleared up too.)
posted by catatethebird at 6:58 AM on June 26, 2018

I am not prone to these marks, but I had a manicure a few weeks ago and noticed I know have a dent slowly growing out on most of my nails. I didn’t think it was a particularly traumatic manicure (I haven’t had one in a decade), but I’m sure either the pressure of the cuticle trimming or perhaps my subsequent picking at the nail polish was the cause.

I vote don’t call a doctor (unless it gets much worse), let it grow out, and maybe take a multivitamin for a while if that makes you feel better.
posted by katieinshoes at 7:25 PM on June 26, 2018

> I didn’t think it was a particularly traumatic manicure

It doesn't have to be - if your nails can't handle that focused pressure you'll see it as they grow out.
posted by Dragonness at 2:08 PM on June 28, 2018