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Wavy nails often cause concern, leaving many uncertain about potential underlying health issues. Experts suggest that for those in good health, wavy nails may not pose significant risks. However, in certain cases, they could serve as warning signs of possible medical conditions.
1. Are Wavy Nails Dangerous?
Wavy nails are the phenomenon of vertical, straight lines, or raised ridges on the nail bed. At mild levels, it may be just a few lines, while at severe levels, it forms multiple grooves across the entire nail.
Conditions Leading to Nail Roughness
If your nails appear rough, it could signal underlying health issues. Consider the following conditions:
- Liver Disorders: Liver damage can cause nail roughness.
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Lack of vitamins and minerals like biotin, zinc, iron, and calcium can weaken nails, leading to roughness.
Nail roughness may indicate biotin deficiency
- Other Medical Conditions: Although less likely, nail roughness may be related to digestive, cardiovascular, kidney, joint inflammation, or diabetes. Individuals with these conditions may experience weakened and roughened nails.
The most common cause of rough and ridged nails is biotin deficiency. Biotin, also known as vitamin B7, is crucial for our skin, hair, and nails. However, other medical conditions should not be overlooked. It is advisable to visit a hospital for diagnostic tests.
In addition to medical conditions, nail roughness may also result from physical trauma. For example, hitting the nails against hard objects or the habit of using nails to open bottle caps.
1.2. What Does Rough and Ridged Nails Reflect About Health?
For individuals with good health or without any medical conditions, nail ridges occur due to lack of moisture and inadequate nutrition. As nails age, their ability to absorb nutrients decreases, or the body may not receive sufficient nutrition, affecting nail development.
Therefore, in healthy individuals, the appearance of some vertical ridges on the nails is normal. In fact, many middle-aged women often experience some degree of nail ridges. This is considered a part of the normal aging process of nails.
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If there are no other symptoms, there is no need to worry too much about nail ridges
You should also know that nails will lose their shine as they age. They may become dull or develop white spots. In such cases, the condition of your nails is not indicative of a serious medical condition. You should then increase water intake and vitamin B7 supplementation for your body.
Conversely, individuals with nail fungus often have deeper grooves on their nails and may feel rough and brittle to the touch. These ridges are often accompanied by brittle nails that are prone to breakage or chipping.
2. What to Do When Your Nails are Rough and Ridged?
For those who are healthy or show no signs of other medical conditions, it is advisable to focus on supplementing nutrition or using nail care products. This helps strengthen your nails and the vertical ridges will quickly disappear.
However, if you notice other unusual signs of health issues in your body, it is important to seek medical attention. It could be a nail fungus condition, but it could also be other serious medical conditions.
3. Should You Supplement with Biotin When Your Nails are Rough and Ridged?
The answer is yes. Because biotin is an essential nutrient for stronger nails. And some people are at higher risk of biotin deficiency than others. To supplement biotin, you need to know the following information:
- First, Supplement Biotin from Food Sources: Eat biotin-rich foods such as egg yolks, liver, salmon, leafy greens, peanuts, walnuts, milk, and dairy products. Supplementing biotin from natural food sources is considered safe and effective.
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Biotin is abundant in the foods we eat daily
- Adhering to recommended dosage: If your diet does not meet your needs, consider supplementing biotin through functional foods. The recommended dosage of biotin supplementation is 10-30 mcg per day. You can take these products anytime, but it's better to take them before breakfast or 2 hours after dinner.
- Individuals at risk of biotin deficiency: Those on restrictive diets, alcoholics, pregnant women, individuals with digestive disorders. Additionally, if you are taking certain medications such as antibiotics, antiepileptic drugs,... it may reduce the body's ability to absorb biotin.
In summary, when your fingernails are rough and ridged, reconsider your dietary intake and health status. If you are in good health, be more cautious in supplementing biotin into your meals.
