Beau's Lines

[MrMark]

For most of my life I have had these weird crescent shapes in my toe nails, not so much on my fingernails though. I never paid much attention to them, just learned to live with them. I recently read on this forum that these anomalies are called "Beau's Lines" and did some research to confirm. I guess they can tell a story about your health similar to the rings of a tree. On my toes these things sprout new about 1/4" apart, which I think is about 3 week time intervals. They always break on the crescent just before leaving the nail bed, OUCH!

How common are these in the celiac community? Do they stop happening if a gluten free diet is adhered to? I understand they may be related to vitamin deficiency. I would like them to stop happening, forever .

Thank you, Mark

[ravenwoodglass]

So that's what that was called, notice the past tense I learn so much here. I did have this and it did take a while for them to stop forming. I haven't see one now in over 3 years. I do still have some heavy ridges running vertically on most of my nails but they are also a bit better. Oh and I am starting to get moons back finally. Although the ones on my thumbs never left, they twisted from the arthritis so they look odd, but I lost moons on my fingers many, many years ago. They are finally appearing again on my index and middle fingers.

[mommida]

I have Beau's lines. They are not as severe since gloing gluten free. I have vertical ridges and the nail tips are flat and curl under. Finger/toe nails and hair show a lot of vitamin defiencies or symptoms of under lying disease.

[Gentleheart]

Do changes in the nails like deep vertical ridges and/or no moons 'medically' mean something? I know that Eastern medicine often uses visible body changes as indications of things. But does the regular medical community think these signs can troubleshoot health deficiencies? If so, are there any books to that effect? It sounds interesting.

[mommida]

Basic cosmetology/ nail tech training has a few chapters about these. A dermatologist should have knowledge.

There are numerous books about hair, skin, and nails.

Each description of nail abnormalities is a symptom of an underlying cause. Doctors should consider all symptoms for diagnoses.

Laura

[dazzling]

This is so interesting! I have vertical ridges in my fingernails and just looked and I have no moons on my fingernails either (still present on the thumbs). I do not have ridges on my toe nails (well, I haven't actually looked since I'm at work).

One thing I have that no one has given me an explanation for is "celery" fingertips. They look like I've had them in water too long. It comes and goes, but is present at least once a day. Anyone have/had this and know what it is?