If You Have These Lines on Your Nails After 40, It Could Mean…
The viral claim that nail lines after 40 are a “clear sign” of a disease is misleading.
🖐️ If the lines run vertically
Lines running from the cuticle toward the tip of the nail are extremely common and often become more noticeable with age. In most cases, they’re a normal age-related change and aren’t dangerous.
⚠️ Horizontal lines are different
Deep grooves running across the nail are called Beau’s lines. They can occur when nail growth has temporarily been interrupted by illness, high fever, injury, certain medications, or other stresses on the body.
Don’t ignore a new dark line
A new brown or black vertical streak, particularly one that is widening or changing, should be examined by a dermatologist. Although many dark nail streaks are harmless, melanoma can sometimes appear this way.
Also seek medical advice if nail changes are accompanied by pain, swelling, nail separation, significant color changes, or persistent changes in several nails.
