What cause vertical ridges in my fingernails?

Calcium deficiency

@SeventhSense, Is the fix as simple as taking calcium supplements? I actually just started doing that about 3 days ago.

Just drink more milk. It may not be a calcium deficiency though if your hands are frequently exposed to something harsh or drying but regardless of whether it’s from a deficiency or not, a dermatologist can certainly offer a more thorough diagnosis.
Dermatologists recommend using a strong moisturizer that contains lactic acid (like Eucerin cream) to help the splitting.

@SeventhSense, Can’t do the milk. I use a lot of Bath and Body Works lotion (haven’t looked the ingredients to see about the lactic acid), but I also have nail polish on most of the time too. It’s more to help hold my fingernails together though.

So I guess you’re stuck with the supplements.

I’m so glad you’ve asked this question, I noticed my toe nails had this going on a while ago. Calcium would make total sense.

You can also get calcium these days from orange juice if you pick the correct bottle. That’s how I get it into my kids, who are both lactose intolerant.

And actually, the most likely cause of vertical ridges according to MayoClinic.com, is heredity – does anyone else in your family have these ridges?

Another cause of vertical ridges is the use of strong solvents in the workplace or the home, including household cleaning solutions. Nail polish and polish remover also fall into this category. In addition, I find that when I am not getting enough thyroid hormone my nails become very brittle.

This site has good photos and explanations of nail disorders. It suggests re-hydrating the nail plate layers with a good quality cuticle and nail oil that contains Jojoba and Vitamin E, and wearing gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning solutions.

Characteristics of your nails that are of concern include yellow nails (often a sign of respiratory disease), pitted nails (signs of psoriasis, chronic dermatitis of your fingers, or alopecia areata, an autoimmune disease that causes hair loss), “clubbed” nails (results from low oxygen levels in your blood), “spoon” nails (may be a sign of iron deficiency anemia), nails with a dark band across them (possibly due to aging, congestive heart failure, diabetes, liver disease, or malnutrition), indentations that run across your nails (growth at the area under your cuticle is interrupted by injury or severe illness, including uncontrolled diabetes, circulatory diseases, such as peripheral artery disease, a high fever, caused by pneumonia, scarlet fever, mumps or measles, or malnutrition), nails becoming loose or separated from the nail bed (due to injury or infection, thyroid disease, drug reactions, reactions to nail hardeners or acrylic nails. or psoriasis).

In any case, it is always a good idea to make sure you are getting enough calcium and vitamins, and moisturizing your hands, including your nails and cuticles, is a good habit to develop.

My mom worked in a bakery she owed for at least a decade and her nails would get really beaten up doing various things. She still gets the ridges decades later even with enough calcium. I’m guess it has to do with the nailbed being actually damaged in some way. An emory board may help appearances wise.

@Darwin: Thanks for way too much information. I’m fairly certain that I won’t survive the night.

@ratboy – You are welcome. I am always happy to help out a budding hypochondriac.

@Darwin: Great answer!