Finger Nail Abnormalities

[k2626]

Does anyone else have this? When many of my symptoms started, I also got horizontal bumps and dents in ALL my nails, still have them 2 yrs later.

[jerseyangel]

Does anyone else have this? When many of my symptoms started, I also got horizontal bumps and dents in ALL my nails, still have them 2 yrs later.

I had very definite horizontal indentations on both of my thumbnails. They went away after being on the diet for a while, never to return.

All of my nails--both finger and toe--are so much stronger and healthier now.

[skigirlchar]

for years my nails peeled (my toe nails showed the horizontal bump you talk about too)....

the more i keep to the diet, the stronger they have gotten ( i was even able to maintain a natural French manicure for around 5 weeks in a row. )

[mushroom]

All my fingernails, bar one, have come back to their normal strong selves - no more horizontal lines and weakness. My right thumb nail still splits vertically, though

[k2626]

Gosh it does sure sound like I have this with all my symptoms. I sure hope the labs come back pos

My nails look like waves almost...sometimes throughout you can see very thin horizontal lines, I have little diagnol lines on my toe nails, about 15 on each. I have had this for 2 yrs so far.

[Kim27]

I have similar issues as well! I used to have tiny indentations scattered all throughout my nails. Currently I also have the horizontal raised bump all the way across my nail. Sometimes they grow out & don't come back for awhile, but then sometimes they do come back. I have never seen the horizontal line bumps on anyone else. It was strange when it first happened . Glad to hear I'm not the only one!

[kayo]

I have lines, more like raised ridges in my nails. Let's see... the lines go from the cuticle to the end of the nail, is that considered vertical or horizontal? They used to be so brittle, bendy and easily peel but they have gotten stronger since going gluten-free. They used to have little nicks in the ridges too but those have gone away. They also seem shinier. Further inspection shows I'm in desperate need of a manicure

[kareng]

I have nail issues too. I know that many are caused by lack of vitamins. Also, thyroid can affect them. When I was teen & had a thyroid infection my nails grew fast & so thick I could barely cut them. Then I got cured. mine are getting better now that I'm getting my vitamin levels back up after going gluten-free. I also have spelling issues - had to look up "vitamin"

[AvatarOfChaos]

The lines across the nails horizontally are called Beau's Lines and are a sign of one or more systemic problems including malnutrition.

- Maura

[k2626]

Is celiac considered systemic?

[AvatarOfChaos]

Is celiac considered systemic?

celiac causes various varieties of malnutrition so it could certainly be the root cause of Beau's Lines.

- Maura

[Black Sheep]

This is awesome! Well, not that we have wavy nails....but that I'm not the only one! Mine started getting that way in my 20's (I'm almost 48 now ) and no one had any idea why. Then I went to a Naturopath several years ago, who wanted me to take magnesium, in addition to a lot of other stuff, as hypchloridia (low stomach acid) had caused a lot of malnutrition. But mag. only made the constant diarrhea worse. Finally, a couple of years ago, I found a form I could take that didn't make it worse (citrate), and at last, all my nails but one are almost normal. The nail on my ring finger is still real wavy, and my right thumbnail has a funny line down the middle and tried to split where the line ends at the tip. I always have to file it. My nails have always been very weak and would peel, too.

The exception to these are the two nails I managed to yank clean out with a belt sander. They grew back in a little crooked, but damn, they're strong and not wavy like their predecessors. That was back in '99 I think.

I also have a spelling problem, apparently. I had to look up "predecessors".

[k2626]

Very interesting. Well, I get my labs back by Monday and PRAY its celiac so I can have answers to all my symptoms. I am not deficent in B12 (actually mine is HIGH as I pound b12)-dont think magnesium has been checked but that would explain my muscle twitching and cramps.

Oh please let me have this!!

[ravenwoodglass]

Is celiac considered systemic?

Yes, although many still consider it a GI disorder it is actually an autoimmune disorder that can pretty much effect any organ in the body.

[Korwyn]

Horizontal & vertical ridges; fragile nailes - Iron deficiency is indicated by vertical ridges; severe stress with B malabsorption or depletion is indicated by horizontal ridges.

Koilonychia - feature of iron deficiency characterized by spoon shaped nails with vertical ridges/Thin nails with depression in the center; Iron deficiency:

White spots and white bands in nails - Omega-3, Fatty Acids, Zinc deficiency,

[BethM55]

Interesting topic. For the past several months I've had serious splitting and peeling problems with my fingernails, especially thumbs and index fingers, and right middle finger. It's somewhat better since I've been remembering to take fish oil capsules every day. It's annoying and looks awful, but every time the nails grow out to where they might start looking normal, they peel again.

For the record, abnormal looking fingernails are common in people with fibromyalgia, too. For me, it's a double whammy.

[kayo]

This site has tons of info and pictures.

Open Original Shared Link

I have the ridges (figure 7) which is common with RA.

I have absent lunula (figure 16) which is common with anemia and/or malnutrition.

I have swelling around the nail (figure 30) which is common with lupus (oddly enough my RA doc is testing me for lupus which he said seems apparent in my hands)

This slide show is also nifty:

Open Original Shared Link

I used to have rippled nails (slide 6) which is common with RA and psoriasis

[tictax707]

Those were some super cool links, kayo! Thank you!! After comparison, I realize that my nails really aren't as bad as I thought they were.

[sa1937]

Wow! Very interesting article! I haven't seen my real nails for years, thanks to acrylic overlays and manicures.

[ravenwoodglass]

This site has tons of info and pictures.

Open Original Shared Link

I have the ridges (figure 7) which is common with RA.

I have absent lunula (figure 16) which is common with anemia and/or malnutrition.

I have swelling around the nail (figure 30) which is common with lupus (oddly enough my RA doc is testing me for lupus which he said seems apparent in my hands)

This slide show is also nifty:

Open Original Shared Link

I used to have rippled nails (slide 6) which is common with RA and psoriasis

Thanks for posting this. It was quite helpful. If my nails are any indication I may have another diagnosis in my near future. At least I know that it seems my doctor is testing for what she should be.

[Momat32]

Is celiac considered systemic?

Yes. Most definitely.

[cindasana]

Wow...thanks for the link, Kayo! Very informative.. I've historically had (since childhood) thin, weak (peeling) fingernails, have had absent lunula for the past number of years (brought it up to my doctor who didn't seem to think it odd at all), and also vertical ridges on my nails, though not as pronounced as the ones in those pictures.

[jeanzdyn]

okay, having read most of this topic, thanks to all who are saying that their nails are getting healthier and stronger. It is good to know that once I have been gluten-free for a while I can hope for some improvement in my nail health.