Fingernails (pictures Of Disorders)

[Emme999]

Hey guys

I have these horizontal ridges in my fingernails. They used to be really deep - for *years* I've had them. In fact, I can't even think of a time when I *haven't* had them! They were extremely deep - about the size of this -> V and kinda freakish I never knew what caused them though. I went to various doctors and asked about them and no one knew. One doctor said, "Hmm.. could be a fungal infection, but there's no discoloration so that doesn't sound right.. "

In some natural healing books I'd read that they were caused by "extreme emotional pain" and had just kinda settled on that one. (I've had my share!)

But I've noticed that they are starting to flatten out a bit And *then* found that they can be caused by malnutrition! Well, I'll be damned I'm hoping that they will continue to "normalize" and that this is all a nice side effect from being gluten-free I hope that this is a sign that my body is healing and that I'm starting to absorb nutrients again :)

Here are some pictures of various nail disorders (and explanations of what causes them): Open Original Shared Link Mine are similar to the "Beau's lines"

Hope you find this interesting

- Michelle

[mouse]

My nails had the deep ridges for years (toes and fingers). They finally diappeared about 6 to 8 months ago. I had been gluten-free for about 10 to 12 months when they finally left. They also use to split and don't anymore. The one thing I have a problem with is that my fingernails have a SUPER ARCH on the tips. One of Scott's newletters mentioned that being deficient in vitamin B-12 will cause that. Mine will arch so bad that they will crack right down the center. I have to keep them short until my body starts absorbing the suppliment I take. I wish SCOTT would have spell check for those of us who still have a box surrounding our brain. I will now probably find out that spell check is already there and I am to foggy to see it. LOL

Trust me - your nails will get much better.

Armetta

[mytummyhurts]

I've had problems with my fingernails too. Ridge, splitting, etc.

Armetta, you said that you are waiting til your body can absorb your b12 supplement. Have you tried shots or sublingual tablets? That way you don't have to wait for your intestines to heal to get the benefits of B12.

[watkinson]

Hi Michelle,

I too had ridges in my fingernails although not as severe as yours. I also had small white dashes on my fingernails all my life. I was told they were little bruises. Since I am extremely active and always using my hands, I figured that must be right. However, since going gluten-free they have completely dissapeared. For the first time in my life I haven't had even 1 for over a year. My doctor told me that they are a also a sign of malnutrition. (yes...the same doctor that I went to for years that could never diagnose me, I guess it never occured to him to look at my fingernails until after I was diagnose a celiac, even when he knew I had chronic diarreah! )

It's great to have these little signs to show us that healing is happening a little every day.

Wendy

[frenchiemama]

Hm. I have pitting, vertical ridges and horizontal "waviness" (not as bad as Beau's lines though). Some of those pictures are really gross.

[cdford]

I have looked all over for info with pictures. Glad you found them. The particular problem I have is not shown, but maybe it will help for others.

[nikki-uk]

Interesting pics!

Well it seems according to those photos my husband has'clubbed' fingernails(but he has no lung disease)and 'Terry's ' fingernails(but none of the associated diseases).Even weirder-my husband is called Terry-LOL

[Emme999]

  watkinson said:

It's great to have these little signs to show us that healing is happening a little every day. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree

Thanks to everyone for the encouragement that I will have normal fingernails again! I am *so* happy to have an outward sign that my body is getting stronger I hope the same thing is going on with my bones!

- Michelle

[burdee]

Thanks so much for that info, Michelle. That's the FIRST time I have ever read an explanation for vertical ridges in my nails! Those are now SLOWLY disappearing the longer I abstain from gluten, dairy and soy, which have impaired my digestion and absorption of nutrients, despite taking vitamins for YEARS. I agree that our nails are an obvious sign of poor health. Unfortunately most docs overlook the obvious and rely on expensive tests and measurements ... just like they overlook obvious diseases like celiac disease and give sets of symptoms (like arthritis, etc.) disease sounding names.

BURDEE

[Emme999]

You are so welcome I'm just trying to find links between my health problems & celiac. I post them whenever I find them because I imagine a lot of you guys wonder about the same things Thanks for being appreciative

- Michelle

[Mosaics]

I have also had those little white dashes in my fingernails all my life and thought they were "bruises". (Otherwise my nails are very strong and fast growing) I thought everyone had them and didn't find out otherwise until I discovered they were a symptom of celiac disease and I started asking other people if they had them...and they didn't.

[sundance]

Great information!

My nails have been like this since I was in my late 20's and I always thought they looked so old and nastey and of course have since gotten much worse to the point I hide my hands when I think of it..ahaha...nails crack split right down the middle and sides of the nailbed and I have the beau ridges but I knew that was from chronic illness but never thought of malnutrition but it makes sense, hey if this is going to improve, wow, it is just a nice little addition to the whole scheme of things.

I did think the severe ridges that split were due to osteoporosis and perhaps that is part of it as well but if the bones are being starved like everything else it makes perfect sense "malnutrition".

Such great information here.

Thanks!

[BabySnooks]

  bean said:

You are so welcome   I'm just trying to find links between my health problems & celiac.  I post them whenever I find them because I imagine a lot of you guys wonder about the same things   Thanks for being appreciative  

- Michelle

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have had bumps and ridges on my nails for many years, mostly my thumbnails. I always thought they were from my Psoraisis, because Psoraisis can damage the nail bed.

Thanks for all this great information.