Ridges in fingernails

In the last few weeks I have redeveloped something I remember having years ago. I have ridges in my fingernails. It is especially prominent in my thumbnails. Is this thyroid related?

[Amandajl]

I have a ridge on my 3rd finger on my right hand and wonderd the same, hopefully some one can shed some light on this

[Flowers2]

Me too, my finger nails are becoming more ridged. HypoT symptom?

[Clutter]

Another hypoT symptom but it can also be other things webmd.boots.com/healthy-ski...

[tilly83]

It can be ill health of any sort, I had massive ridge across all nails after ovarian cyst at 21.... it can even be shock.

[CarolineC57]

Hi everyone! Yes, I'm another one with ridges on their nails. It started several years ago - first just on my thumbnails and now on all of them. I'd read somewhere it was something to do with ill health, but didn't find anything to say what we can do about it (other than try to regain some health - which is what we're all doing here, I guess!)

[Hidden]

Thanks for posting the Boots article clutter, my ridges do run from side to side so I will ask about them tomorrow at my appointment. Interesting how it could be down to shock as well, I moved home in Feb and it has been a big shock to my system.

[nezzykins]

Iv'e also developed nail ridges that started on thumbs but now on all nails. The ridges a run vertically but not horizontal though. Anyone have info regarding this fairly new development please? Lynne x

[wombatty in reply to nezzykins]

I have vertical ridges on all my nails, some being more affected than others. They actually appear faceted; instead of a smooth curve across the finger, the nail has a series of flat faces. A few also have prominent raised ridges. I've read that this can be a sign of skin cancer, but as my mother also had them, I assume it's just a hereditary thing that happens with aging.

[johnnyxs]

I will be interested to see the replies to this as I have had the same vertical ridges on my nails for nearly 10 years now . (ever since being diagnosed Hypothyroid.)

I also have occasional horizontal ridges on my nails that eventually grow out . These horizontal ridges have variations in the depth , sometimes very deep !and I have always assumed that they represent various periods when my metabolism changes or my general health varies .

You will probably find in time that your nails may start to crumble and flake at the tips too .

[nezzykins]

Think this has got to be something to do with malabsorption of vits and minerals when hypo or hyper? My thumb nail split about THIRD of the way down the nail bed not so long ago when I had a big hypo! Who was it that said all illness starts from the gut? I read it on here one time. One of the greats such as maybe Socrates? We are what we eat is one thing a also believe.

[CraigP100]

Me too, this happened to me when I adjusted my Thyroid meds. It can be a symptom of bot under active or over active thyroid - mine eases and comes back depending on my meds