Horizontal Ridges On Toenails: Causes And Home Remedies

There are two types of toenail ridges: vertical toenail ridges and horizontal toenail ridges.

Vertical ridges are normal signs of aging and aren’t typically a cause for concern, whereas horizontal ridges may be caused by external trauma to the nail and can indicate a serious condition.

In this blog post, we’ll take a look at the causes of horizontal ridges on toenails and some home remedies that can help.

What Do Horizontal Toenail Ridges Look Like?

Horizontal ridges, also known as beau’s lines, are basically horizontal lines on your toenails.

Even though they commonly appear on fingernails, they can look worse on toenails and may be deep or discolored.

They’re usually a sign that your nail plate has stopped growing.

In some cases, there may be more than one horizontal ridge on the toenail and they can be quite pronounced.

Causes Of Horizontal Toenail Ridges

There are several causes of horizontal toenail ridges. They can be caused by trauma to the nails which may happen to nails that are too long.

If you have a job that involves being on your feet constantly, then that can also cause these ridges.

In some cases, they may be sign of a serious illness that you’ll need to seek immediate medical attention for.

Let’s take a look at some other factors that can cause horizontal ridges:

• Sometimes, nail polishes may contain harsh chemicals that can cause your toenails to start peeling and become brittle over time. This can further lead to horizontal ridges.
• Vitamin deficiency, iron and zinc, in particular, can also be a major cause of these ridges.
• Too much friction between your toes and the inside of your shoes can also cause these horizontal lines to appear, which is why you should avoid wearing shoes that are a little too tight on your feet.
• Inflamed skin around your toenails is usually associated with eczema that can prevent normal cell division in your nail matrix, so eczema can be another main cause of these deep horizontal lines.
• Surgeries that have an impact on the amount of oxygen in your blood may also cause Beau’s lines to develop.
• People who’ve experienced some form of arsenic poising are also likely to have ridges on their toenails.
• Undergoing trauma, such as high fever or malaria, can also develop Beau’s lines. People may also get blemishes in the form of horizontal lines on their nails when they go through chemotherapy. These indentations are known to mark the cycles of chemotherapy.
• Diseases associated with kidneys, skin, thyroid, and heart can also lead to these horizontal ridges. They can also be one of the first signs of skin cancer.

Home Remedies For Horizontal Ridges

There are many home remedies you can try to treat horizontal toenail ridges. These remedies don’t require much effort and are incredibly easy to apply.

1. Coconut Oil

The easiest way to prevent nail ridges from occurring is by keeping your nails moisturized because dryness can also cause these lines to appear.

You can use coconut oil to give your nails a massage regularly to get these ridges to disappear.

Coconut oil is known to have anti-fungal properties that make it highly effective for treating most types of toenail infections.

For direct application, all you need to do is take some coconut oil in your hands and apply it directly to the affected toenail about three times daily to get the best results.

Coconut oil will form a barrier against moisture to prevent other issues and cure fungal infections.

You can also apply it on your toes and leave it overnight. The first thing you need to do is get a little bit of coconut oil and put it over the stove until it’s slightly warm.

Gently massage this warm oil on and around your toenails and wear a sock to lock in the moisture before going to bed. Wash your toes the next morning with normal tap water.

You can also prepare a hand soak with coconut oil.

Pour some warm water in a bowl, add a little bit of coconut oil and hemp oil into, and then soak your feet in the warm solution.

You can also use this time to get rid of excess cuticles from your toenails. Wash off your toenails afterwards.

2. Lemon Juice

Another home remedy you have to try is lemon juice. It’s an anti-fungal and anti-bacterial agent that can help treat a variety of toenail fungus issues.

The citric acid in lemon juice is quite effective in preventing the toenail ridges from spreading further.

You need to mix fresh lemon juice and a little bit of iodine together in a bowl, and then apply it on your toenails three times a day to get the ridges to go away.

You can also mix equal parts lemon juice and olive oil in a bowl and gently massage this mixture on your affected toenail.

Leave it on for around 2 hours before washing it off. Olive oil will help soften your nail, whereas lemon juice will prevent any fungal infections from spreading.

3. Lavender Oil

Lavender oil also has anti-fungal properties and can be used to treat many toenail issues.

All you need to do is add about 5 drops of lavender oil and tea oil in a bowl, soak a cotton swab into the solution and dab it on the edges of your toenails and the surrounding skin.

Leave it on for around 20 to 25 minutes and then rinse it off. Repeat this procedure twice a week to see quick results.

Final Words

Horizontal lines on your toenails are a cause for concern. It’s advisable to consult a doctor so they can identify the cause and get it treated properly.

You also need to take proper care of your nails to prevent these issues from occurring in the first place.

Try any of the three home remedies mentioned above to get these horizontal ridges to disappear and eat a nutrient-rich diet to get your nails to look healthy and strong.

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