Expert explains

What do longitudinal grooves on fingernails mean?

Longitudinal grooves on the fingernails are harmless in most cases.(Bild: pathdoc/stock.adobe.com)

Readers ask, experts answer on health issues. Martina S. (45) from Lower Austria would like to know the following: "I have longitudinal grooves on my fingernails. What causes them and what can I do about them?" 

Dr. Doris Grablowitz, dermatologist and specialist in aesthetic medicine from Vienna: "Healthy nails are firm but flexible, the surface is smooth and shimmers pink. However, with age, often from the age of 40, longitudinal grooves can appear - usually regular, thin and numerous. They are usually completely harmless, but a sign that the body is ageing or that you are not drinking enough.

If the nails are also brittle, this may indicate a vitamin B, iron or zinc deficiency or gout. The doctor can determine such nutrient deficiencies through blood tests and prescribe preparations to compensate for the deficiency.

Sometimes diseases are behind it
The grooves can also be caused by diseases such as nodular lichen, chronic, inflammatory joint diseases, vascular calcification due to circulatory disorders and skin diseases that cause impaired keratinization of the epidermis.

If they are very pronounced, possibly yellowish in color and thickened, special tumors can also be the trigger. Longitudinal grooves that appear broadly and individually sometimes indicate nail cancer.

Do you have any questions?

If you also have a health concern, simply write to us. We will forward your query confidentially to a suitable expert. Selected questions will be published anonymously in Gesund-Magazin and/or online.

If you suddenly notice longitudinal grooves on your nails, please consult a dermatologist! Only a specialist can determine whether the change is harmless or pathological.