Skin expert Dr. Ross Perry explains that ridges on nails can signal health issues like vitamin deficiencies, dehydration, or skin conditions.
Lack of Vitamin A, protein, calcium, or severe iron deficiency may cause ridges, but most nail changes are harmless and often due to habits like nail picking.
However, severe deep ridges could indicate serious illnesses such as kidney disease or diabetes and warrant a doctor’s visit.
Significant changes like misshapen, discolored, or falling nails, or sore, red, swollen skin around nails (paronychia) should also prompt medical advice.
The NHS recommends seeing a podiatrist if nails become too tough or hard to trim. If concerned, consult your GP, and visit the NHS website for guidance—nail care is simple but important for overall health vigilance.
