Vertical nail ridges are fairly common and nothing to worry about.
Vertical nail ridges extend from the cuticle to the tip of the nail. Vertical nail ridges often become more numerous or prominent with age, possibly due to variations in cell turnover within the nail.
If your fingernails change color or you develop horizontal nail ridges, consult your doctor. These changes could indicate an underlying health condition.
May 17, 2014
- Habif TP. Clinical Dermatology: A Color Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 5th ed. Edinburgh, U.K.; New York, N.Y.: Mosby Elsevier; 2010. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed Dec. 13, 2013.
- Baran R. The nail in the elderly. Clinics in Dermatology. 2011;29:54.