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InsightHorizon Digest

What causes holes in nails

Author

Isabella Browning

Updated on April 12, 2026

Nail pitting

How do you treat holes in nails?

Another option is to use phototherapy or light therapy on the affected nails. Some doctors may recommend taking vitamin D3 supplements. Immunosuppressant medications, such as cyclosporine (Neoral) and methotrexate (Trexall), are also options. However, they typically aren’t recommended if you only have nail pitting.

Why do I have circular dents in my nails?

The indentations can appear when growth at the area under the cuticle is interrupted by injury or severe illness. Conditions associated with Beau’s lines include uncontrolled diabetes and peripheral vascular disease, as well as illnesses associated with a high fever, such as scarlet fever, measles, mumps and pneumonia.

What does dents in your nails mean?

Small dents or pits in your nails can be a sign of nail psoriasis, eczema or alopecia. Credit: Deep lines or grooves across your fingernails (Beau’s lines) may happen when you’re ill but should grow out. Credit: Fingernails curving over rounded fingertips (clubbing) can be a sign of many serious, long-term conditions.

Can iron deficiency cause nail pitting?

The nail has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia. Leukonychia is white streaks or spots on the nails often due to drugs or disease. Pitting is the presence of small depressions on the nail surface.

What vitamin deficiency causes dents in nails?

Zinc is an essential nutrient that can contribute to the health of a person’s hair, skin, and nails. Zinc deficiency, which may be due to a lack of zinc in the diet or an underlying medical condition, can cause nail dystrophy. Nail dystrophy is the discoloration and distortion of a person’s nails.

Is nail pitting serious?

Nail pitting can be mild. If the pitting is not causing any discomfort, it will not require any treatment. More severe cases can cause discomfort and distress, however. Nail pitting is quite difficult to treat, although some modern methods have been shown to be effective.

What do nails look like with liver disease?

This condition, known as Terry’s nails, is especially common in people with severe liver disease. Additionally, nails that are half white and half reddish brown are called Lindsay’s nails, which is a condition that’s often associated with kidney disease.

Can stress cause nail pitting?

Stress makes it harder for your body to absorb those minerals, so your nails might suffer. If you’re under pressure, you might notice nail pitting, shredding or ridging. Cortisol, the stress hormone, reduces the level of biotin in your body, which is also necessary for strong nails.

Should I be worried about Beau's lines?

Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau’s lines, are often symptoms of a serious condition. They may actually stop nail growth until the underlying condition is treated. Acute kidney disease may also be present if Beau’s lines appear.

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Can iron deficiency affect nails?

Fingernails: Possible problems Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition known as hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat. Spoon nails can also be associated with heart disease and hypothyroidism.

Can B12 deficiency affect your nails?

Both iron and B12 are necessary for keeping nails strong and healthy. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in entirely blue nails, bluish-black pigments with wavy longitudinal dark streaks and brownish pigmentation ( 5 , 6 ).

Why don't I have moons on my nails?

Sometimes, you may only be able to see lunula on your thumbs, or possibly not on any fingers at all. In these cases, the lunula is most likely hidden under your skin. Though the connection is not completely understood, an absent lunula can indicate anemia, malnutrition, and depression.

Is psoriasis can be cured?

There’s no cure for psoriasis. But treatment can help you feel better. You may need topical, oral, or body-wide (systemic) treatments. Even if you have severe psoriasis, there are good ways to manage your flare-ups.

Why are my nails rigid?

Ridges in the fingernails are often normal signs of aging. Slight vertical ridges commonly develop in older adults. In some cases, they may be a sign of health problems like vitamin deficiencies or diabetes. Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau’s lines, may indicate a serious condition.

Can vitamin D deficiency cause nails?

Most vitamin deficiencies are due to either inadequate dietary intake or malabsorption. Vitamin D, which can be obtained through sun exposure, is one of the few exceptions. Lack of these nutrients may affect the nail, the nail bed, or both and may present on physical exam or with biopsy.

Does Vitamin D Help your nails?

Vitamin D ensures healthy nails and reduces the risk of nail peeling and chipping, which can often be caused by nutritional deficiencies. Vitamin D regulates calcium levels in the body which is an essential contributor to having healthy nails.

What are the signs of unhealthy nails?

  • discoloration (dark streaks, white streaks, or changes in nail color)
  • changes in nail shape (curling or clubbing)
  • changes in nail thickness (thickening or thinning)
  • nails that become brittle.
  • nails that are pitted.
  • bleeding around nails.
  • swelling or redness around nails.

What do renal failure nails look like?

These are rough looking nails with ridges that are frequently spoon-shaped and concave. In the early stages of this condition, the nails may be brittle, chipping easily.

Does nail pitting mean psoriatic arthritis?

1. Pitting of the nail. These depressions on the nail are the most common symptom of PsA, occurring in more than two-thirds of people with the disease, according to the Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis Alliance. They can be small and shallow or big and deep.

Does eczema cause nail pitting?

Pompholyx eczema can affect the nail folds and skin around the nails (cuticles), resulting in swelling. Nail eczema can cause pitting in the nails (dents that look like your nail was poked by an icepick), and requires treatment to avoid worsening of the condition. Do You Have Rosacea, Psoriasis, or Eczema?

What are signs that your liver is not functioning properly?

  • Skin and eyes that appear yellowish (jaundice)
  • Abdominal pain and swelling.
  • Swelling in the legs and ankles.
  • Itchy skin.
  • Dark urine color.
  • Pale stool color.
  • Chronic fatigue.
  • Nausea or vomiting.

What are Terrys nails?

Terry’s nails are a type of apparent leukonychia, characterized by ground glass opacification of nearly the entire nail, obliteration of the lunula, and a narrow band of normal, pink nail bed at the distal border.

What vitamin deficiency causes vertical lines in fingernails?

Anemia. A condition in which the red blood cells decrease usually due to deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid is called anemia. Iron deficiency alone may be responsible for triggering skin problems. Associated effects can include brittle and fragile nails which may develop vertical ridges or lines.

Do thyroid problems cause nail ridges?

Thyroid dysfunction can also affect your nails, causing abnormality in nail shape, nail color, or attachment to the nail bed. Pay attention if you experience ongoing hangnails, ridges in your nails, splitting, peeling, or even dry cuticles.

What are Muehrcke's lines?

Muehrcke lines are paired, white, transverse lines that signify an abnormality in the vascular bed of the nail. Muehrcke first described paired, narrow, white, transverse fingernail lines in a series of 65 patients with severe, chronic hypoalbuminemia.

What medications cause Beau's lines?

Many medications have been associated with the development of Beau’s lines, including systemic chemotherapeutic agents, retinoids, dapsone, metoprolol, itraconazole, octreotide, and azathioprine.

How do you know if your anemic by your nails?

Previous studies have shown that the degree of paleness in some body tissues, including the fingernail beds, is a reliable indicator of how anaemic someone is. The skin beneath fingernails does not contain pigment, so haemoglobin – the oxygen-carrying pigment of the blood – is the main source of colour.

What foods contain iron?

  • Beans and lentils.
  • Tofu.
  • Baked potatoes.
  • Cashews.
  • Dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach.
  • Fortified breakfast cereals.
  • Whole-grain and enriched breads.

How do you know if you have a biotin deficiency?

The signs and symptoms of biotin deficiency typically appear gradually and can include thinning hair with progression to loss of all hair on the body; scaly, red rash around body openings (eyes, nose, mouth, and perineum); conjunctivitis; ketolactic acidosis (which occurs when lactate production exceeds lactate …

Are bananas good for nails?

Bananas. Bananas are a good source of biotin (Vitamin H) and can help strengthen and repair weak, brittle fingernails.