Why does my thumbnail have a dent in it

In trachyonychia, or nail dystrophy, the ridges may be accompanied by a change in color to your nails, or your nails may become rough or brittle. Iron deficiency anemia can also trigger vertical ridges and changes to your nails that make them concave, or spoon-shaped. They may actually stop nail growth until the underlying condition is treated.

Trauma to your nails can cause red or brown spots to form underneath your nails. Sudden changes in your nails should be examined by your doctor. If you damaged your nail in an injury, you may wait to see how the nail and your finger heal for a few weeks before deciding whether to see a doctor. Your doctor may order urine and blood tests if they suspect kidney disease, diabetes, or nutritional deficiencies. If it appears the ridges are the result of a skin condition, a dermatologist can start you on a treatment plan.

If the cause of your fingernail ridges is unclear, your dermatologist may take some fingernail clippings to have them analyzed in a lab for signs of infection. Because fingernail ridges are usually signs of other health problems, treatment is focused on the underlying cause of the changes to your nails.

Treatment for skin conditions such as eczema may include moisturizers for your hands or topical ointments to reduce eczema symptoms. If low levels of minerals or vitamins are to blame, you may be advised to alter your diet or take supplements to boost your levels. Buffing your fingernails with an emery board may help smooth ridges. Ask your dermatologist for advice on treating your nails.

You can connect to a dermatologist in your area using the Healthline FindCare tool. Most of the time, ridges in fingernails are normal signs of aging. These might be the first signs of a serious medical problem. As always, the diagnosis of your particular concerns will require a physical examination by your personal physician.

A visit to your primary care doctor or your dermatologist would be a good step towards understanding your specific condition. It is never too cautious to double check something new, odd, or different with your doctor.

When you notice things like new dents in fingernails, seeing a doctor can give you peace of mind or prevent the cause from getting worse. Nov 6, See your GP if your nails have changed in colour, texture, shape or thickness and you don't know why. Brittle nails are often just a sign of ageing or long-term exposure to water or chemicals such as detergents and nail polish.

Wearing gloves will help protect your nails while doing work where your hands are exposed to water. Reactive arthritis is a less common cause of crumbly nails. It's an unusual reaction of the immune system affecting the joints, muscles and other parts of the body following an infection. Green-black nails can be caused by overgrowth of bacteria called pseudomonas, particularly under loose nails.

It can be treated by applying antibiotic eye drops underneath the nails or soaking the affected nails in an antiseptic solution or vinegar. If the discolouration looks like a drop of oil under the nail or is the colour of salmon, you may have psoriasis of the nails. Fingernails that are half white and half brown brown near the tips can be a sign of kidney failure, where the kidneys stop working properly.

They also sometimes occur in people with AIDS and those who've had chemotherapy. Terry's nails are typically white with reddened or dark tips and can be a sign of a wide range of medical conditions, including:. A common cause of thickened nails is a fungal nail infection. This can also cause them to discolour and become crumbly see above. Sometimes, the toenails become so overgrown and thickened that they resemble claws and are difficult to cut with conventional nail clippers.

Regular chiropody can help, but sometimes the nails need to be removed by a podiatrist or doctor. It's normal for a toenail to come loose and fall off after an injury to the toe. Another common cause of a loose nail is over-manicuring the nails and cleaning underneath them with a sharp object. A loose nail should be cut back to where it's detached to allow the nail to become reattached as it grows. You shouldn't clean your nails with anything other than a soft nailbrush.

If your fingernails curve inwards like spoons koilonychia , you may have one of the following disorders:. Pitting or small dents on the surface of your nails can be a sign of any of the following conditions:.

Deep lines or grooves that go from left to right across the nail are known as Beau's lines. They may occur as a result of:. Illness, injury or cold temperatures can interrupt nail growth and cause nail grooves to form at the base of the nails. The grooves tend to only be noticed a few months later. This is when the nails have grown and the grooves have moved up the nails to become visible.

It takes about four to six months for a fingernail to fully grow out. Often this swelling is the result of an infectious bacteria. Subungual melanoma is a type of melanoma affecting the nails that can disrupt nail growth at the nail matrix. A common sign of subungual melanoma is discoloration of the nail — the nail may have a brown stripe or section.

People with diabetes must be sure to monitor their blood sugar and dose themselves with insulin. If blood sugar rises too high, a person can experience various health complications, from nerve damage to heart disease. It can also interrupt nail growth.

The sacs may fill with fluid or pus. This leads to:. Scarlet fever is an illness that sometimes affects people who have strep throat. People who develop scarlet fever experience a bright red rash covering much of the body. It usually occurs along with a sore throat and high fever and often affects younger children and teens. If left untreated, it can cause major bodily problems affecting the heart, kidneys, and other body parts. Zinc is a mineral found in many foods in our diet, from oysters to beans.

A lack of zinc in the body may be caused by a poor diet or other factors. A black line on the nails is known as a splinter hemorrhage. It can be caused by local trauma, such as getting your finger stuck in a door, or a medical illness like endocarditis or psoriasis.