It depends on the direction of the nail ridges.
Vertical nail ridges, which are fairly common, extend from the cuticle to the tip of your nail. They often become more numerous or prominent with age, possibly due to variations in cell turnover within your nail.
If your fingernails change color or you develop horizontal nail ridges across your nails, talk to your doctor. These changes could indicate an underlying health condition.
April 17, 2020
- Habif TP. Nail diseases. In: Clinical Dermatology: A Color Atlas Guide to Diagnosis and Therapy. 6th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier Saunders; 2016. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 27, 2017.
- Ball JW, et al. Skin, hair, and nails. In: Seidel's Guide to Physical Examination. 8th ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Elsevier Mosby; 2015. http://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed March 27, 2017.