What's With These Ridges In My Fingernails?

Acute Kidney Disease

An individual's acute kidney disease can cause them to develop characteristic ridges in their nails called Beau's lines, which as discussed are horizontal grooves that run across the entire fingernail plate. These lines are the result of a temporary interruption in the individual's nail growth. Nail growth starts in the nail matrix located under the cuticle. When the growth stops, a horizontal depression is made in the nail. Individuals affected by acute or sudden kidney disease will experience Beau's lines on all of their fingernails and even their toenails. Individuals who have kidney disease experience an accumulation of nitrogen waste products in the bodies, which can trigger changes in the toe and fingernails. This buildup is also partly responsible for another condition of the nails that causes ridges called koilonychia. Koilonychia is characterized by nails that have ridges and are spoon-shaped that take on a concave appearance. This type of manifestation in the nails is often associated with iron-deficiency anemia, a prevalent complication that occurs individuals affected by kidney disease.

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