Definition:
Onychorrhexis is a condition that causes vertical ridges to form on the fingernails, resulting in grooves or ridges in the nails instead of a relatively smooth surface.
Causes:
- Amyloidosis, a condition that causes excess levels of the amyloid protein to build up in the body
- Anemia
- Eating disorders, such as bulimia
- Eczema
- Excessively picking or biting at the nails, which weakens them
- Nail polishes with formaldehyde can dry out your nails and cause more problems
Onychorrhexis can also be a sign of an underlying health problem such as arteriosclerosis, thyroid disease, brittle nail syndrome, Witkop syndrome, graft versus host disease, systemic amyloidosis, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic sclerosis, osteoarthritis, low iron, not enough protein, not enough folic acid, aging, and picking at your nails and other trauma.
Symptoms:
The main symptom of onychorrhexis is easily visible, up-and-down (longitudinal) lines on the fingernails. While nails aren’t perfectly smooth by nature, these lines will feel bumpy when you rub your finger over the nail. Sometimes, this ridging may be on only one finger. Or, you may have it on all fingers. If you’ve had an injury to a specific fingernail, such as crushing or bending back the nail, you’re more likely to have onychorrhexis on that fingernail. Other symptoms that indicate a fungal infection or more serious condition include yellow nails, crumbling nails, peeling nails, blue nails, in-grown nails, pits in your nails, horizontal ridges, and white lines.
Treatment:
Medical treatments for onychorrhexis usually involve treating the underlying causes. For example, if you have an inflammatory disorder, such as psoriasis or eczema, a doctor may recommend injecting, taking, or applying topical corticosteroids to reduce the underlying inflammation. Doctors can even inject steroids directly into the nails to treat the condition. Taking folic acid, biotin, and a multivitamin can also help. In addition, several products, such as topical moisturizers and lacquers, could be considered to restructure the affected nail plate and to improve the appearance of the nails.
