Transverse lines

One often finds horizontal transverse lines appearing on the nails. Also termed as Beau's lines, this could happen due to improper nail growth as a result of any serious disease such as Raynauds disease that's disrupting the nail growth. Raynauds disease happens when the tiny arteries serving the toes, fingers, ears, or nose go into spasm.

Can you tell me why my fingernails have developed horizontal ridges that are smooth but deep?

It feels as though it is under the nail and doesn't go down as low as the moon.

Pale nails, for example, may be a sign of anaemia , whereas blue nails could reflect heart or lung trouble, toxic chemical action on blood cells or congenital heart disease in infants.

Distorted nails which have a thickened yellowish tinge may suggest a fungus infection , psoriasis , vitamin deficiency or hardening of the arteries.

If the fingernails have clubbed, in other words very concave when you look at them from the side, this could suggest an abscess, chronic infection, cancer of the lung or chronic heart disease.

The nails grow from the nail bed and in most people the growth across the nail bed is a little up and down, which results in a corrugated appearance.