What vitamin deficiency causes dents in fingernails?

An external sign that a person is deficient in zinc is the condition of their nails.
  • Zinc deficiency can affect the nails in the following ways :
  • Beau's lines are grooves that run horizontally across the fingernails.


What causes dents in your 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 deficiency causes dips in nails?

Iron deficiency anemia can also trigger vertical ridges and changes to your nails that make them concave or spoon-shaped.


Should I be worried about dents in my nails?

Beau's lines are horizontal ridges or dents in one or more of your fingernails or toenails. They're a sign that an illness, injury or skin condition interrupted your nail growth. Treating the underlying cause will allow new, smooth nails to grow again.

How do fingernails looks like with vitamin deficiency?

If you have a vitamin or mineral deficiency, it can show up as dry, cracked, brittle, and irregularly shaped nails.


Your Nails Help Diagnose Nutrient Deficiencies



What do anemia fingernails look like?

Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. 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.

What does zinc deficiency look like on nails?

One of the most common nutrient deficiencies to show up in nails is a zinc deficiency. More prevalent in school-age children, this deficiency can present as scattered white spots. Usually, people can take a zinc supplement for a short amount of time to clear up these white marks.

Can low iron cause dents in nails?

Koilonychia is when your nails have an indented shape, like a spoon. Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency. You're also more likely to have spoon nails if you have an autoimmune disease, such as lupus, or poor blood flow to your hands or feet.


How do you get rid of dents in your nails?

Nail pitting is quite difficult to treat, although some modern methods have been shown to be effective. Treatments that can be applied to the nail include steroids, salicylic acid, calcipotriol, and tazarotene, although these are often not very effective.

What does it mean when your nail dips?

Once the nail tech adds fake nail tips, they will file the nail down to the requested shape and then use the “dip” technique to apply a thin layer of colored powder to the nail.

Can stress cause nail dents?

Stress can mess with your nails. Healthy nails need a lot to stay strong, including protein, silica, magnesium, zinc and iron. 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.


Does vitamin D deficiency affect 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.

Can B12 deficiency affect your nails?

Vitamin-B12 deficiency can present with glossitis, pigmentary changes of nails, hairs, and skin or more serious features like megaloblastic anemia and neuropsychiatric symptoms. [2] Neuropsychiatric features, though rare, can become irreversible in severe and prolonged deficiency.

What is COVID nails?

What Do COVID Nails Look Like? Beau's lines are grooves that run horizontally across your nail plate, per an August 2021 paper published in the journal Skin Appendage Disorders. COVID nails/Beau's lines can look like ridges, grooves, or indentations, according to Dr. Day.


How do you know if your nails are calcium deficient?

Brittle, weak, or slow-growing nails may indicate a calcium deficiency. However, more common causes include frequently wetting and drying the nails and other nutritional deficiencies.

What are two zinc deficiency symptoms?

What are the symptoms of zinc deficiency?
  • hair loss.
  • changes in their nails.
  • diarrhoea.
  • more infections.
  • feeling irritable.
  • loss of appetite.
  • impotence.
  • eye problems.


What does iron deficiency look like?

Symptoms of iron-deficiency anemia are related to decreased oxygen delivery to the entire body and may include: Being pale or having yellow "sallow" skin. Unexplained fatigue or lack of energy. Shortness of breath or chest pain, especially with activity.


Do ridges in my nails mean I have anemia?

Koilonychia is an abnormal shape of the fingernail. The nail has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia.

What do you crave when you have anemia?

Craving and chewing ice (pagophagia) is often associated with iron deficiency, with or without anemia, although the reason is unclear. At least one study indicates that ice chewing might increase alertness in people with iron deficiency anemia.

What are the symptoms of very low B12?

Symptoms of vitamin B12 deficiency
  • a pale yellow tinge to your skin.
  • a sore and red tongue (glossitis)
  • mouth ulcers.
  • pins and needles (paraesthesia)
  • changes in the way that you walk and move around.
  • disturbed vision.
  • irritability.
  • depression.


What are the signs of lacking vitamin B12?

Symptoms of vitamin B12 or folate deficiency
  • extreme tiredness.
  • a lack of energy.
  • pins and needles (paraesthesia)
  • a sore and red tongue.
  • mouth ulcers.
  • muscle weakness.
  • disturbed vision.
  • psychological problems, which may include depression and confusion.


Does magnesium deficiency affect nails?

Changes in texture are also linked to vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Vitamin B12, iron, zinc, or magnesium deficiencies can cause vertical ridges on the nail beds. While vitamins A and C deficiencies can cause nails to crumble or break easily.

What are the signs of lacking vitamin D?

Symptoms of vitamin D deficiency may include:
  • Fatigue.
  • Not sleeping well.
  • Bone pain or achiness.
  • Depression or feelings of sadness.
  • Hair loss.
  • Muscle weakness.
  • Loss of appetite.
  • Getting sick more easily.


Does zinc deficiency affect nails?

Without zinc, the body is not able to develop as effectively. This can slow down the growth of a person's nails and increase their fragility. This can take the form of various nail conditions, including Beau's nails and onychorrhexis.

How do you know your body is lacking vitamin D?

Symptoms when vitamin D is low

Fatigue. Not sleeping well. Bone pain or achiness. Depression or feelings of sadness.