What Vertical Ridges on Your Nails Mean After 40
Run a finger across your nail and you may notice them: fine lines running from the base up toward the tip. These are vertical ridges, also called…
What Vertical Ridges Actually Are
Your nails are made by tiny keratin-producing cells in an area called the nail matrix, the growth zone hidden at the base of each nail. When those cells are working smoothly and evenly, the nail grows out flat and polished. Over time, though, their output can become slightly less uniform.
As growth becomes a little uneven, the surface of the nail records that unevenness as raised lines running lengthwise. In other words, vertical ridges are essentially a visible history of how steadily your nails have been growing. Just as skin loses some of its bounce and hair changes texture, the structure of your nails naturally shifts too.