What Is Wavy Nails – Causes And Symptoms
Definition
Nails can have irregular grooves or depressions for a variety of reasons. If these signs affect only one finger, the depressions may be the result of a trauma (e.g. too aggressive manicure, onychotillomania, etc.) or of a local infection. When all nails are simultaneously wavy, systemic conditions (e.g. dysmenorrhea , high fever , and peripheral ischemia ) or dermatological conditions (including contact dermatitis , erythroderma, and perionyxis ) are more likely .
If furrows appear more or less deep, transverse to the surface of the nail plate, we speak of Beau’s lines . These depressions reflect a slowing or interruption of proximal matrix mitotic activity . Multiple Beau’s lines on the same nail indicate repeated damage. Beau’s lines, more often than not, can be attributed to microtraumas or to the side effects of some drugs (e.g. antiblastic chemotherapy). They are also observed in people with chronic diseases (eg Raynaud’s syndrome or pemphigus ) or who have suffered a heart attack . Beau’s lines progress distally with nail growth.
Possible Causes Of Wavy Nails
Wavy nails is a common or probable symptom of these diseases
Common Causes
- Contact allergy
- Nail biting
- Onychomycosis
Rare Causes
- Anemia
- Dermatitis
- Heart attack
- Pemphigus vulgaris
By clicking on the pathology of your interest, you will be able to read further information on its origins and the symptoms that characterize it. Wavy nails can also be a typical symptom of other diseases, not included in our database and therefore not listed.
Symptoms And Diseases
- Symptoms from A to Z
- Diseases from A to Z
- Signs or symptoms?
Random Symptoms
- Abdominal swelling
- Eschar
- Rectorhagia
- Phlegmon
- Avoidance
Random Diseases
- Cervical whiplash
- Esophageal varices
- Hemolytic uremic syndrome
- Myringitis
- Lichen simplex
