Why Nails Become Ridged and 6 Excellent Ways to Restore Their Healthy Appearance
Uneven nails not only affect the aesthetic appearance of your hands but can sometimes indicate underlying health issues. In this article, we will discuss the causes of nail ridges and share 7 effective ways to restore their healthy and well-groomed look.
Why do nails become ridged?
The first step when noticing unevenness in your nails is to identify the cause. The most common reason is natural signs of aging: as people get older, vertical ridges often appear on the nails.
However, in some cases, ridged nails can signal more serious problems, such as diabetes, acute infections, or rheumatoid arthritis.
It is important to understand when you should see a doctor and when simply buffing your nails is enough. Pay attention to how you feel: if, along with uneven nails, you notice fatigue, pain, inflammation, or other changes in your body, it is a sign to consult a specialist.
How to Get Rid of Ridged Nails?
1. Nail Smoothing Treatments
These products often have a multi-action formula. They not only smooth the nail surface but also prepare nails for polish application, moisturize, strengthen, and protect them from yellowing and staining caused by pigmented nail polishes.
2. Regular Hand and Nail Moisturizing
. Moisturizing doesn’t instantly smooth out nail imperfections, but it helps nails grow evenly over time. For this, it’s important to use cuticle oil and hand cream daily. At night, wearing cotton gloves is recommended — this significantly enhances the effect.
Use a nail buffer to smooth your nails — it makes them even, polished, and gives them a natural shine. However, don’t overdo it: buffing should be done no more than once a month, otherwise nails can become too thin and fragile, which negatively affects their health.
One of the most effective ways to keep your nails strong and beautiful is to take care of your cardiovascular health, which is responsible for proper blood circulation. Therefore, include cardio in your daily routine — and you don’t even need to go to the gym: small activities throughout the day are enough to train almost without noticing it.
5. Consuming Biotin
Biotin is a vitamin important for the production of keratin, the main component of our nails. It is found in foods such as liver, kidneys, rice bran, cow’s milk, soybeans, peanuts, and egg yolk. If it is difficult to include these foods in your diet or you don’t like them, it’s best to consult a doctor. A specialist can help you choose the right dietary supplements to support nail health.
Nails absorb moisture, which causes the structure of their cells to lose strength. The best way to protect them is to do household chores wearing rubber gloves—a simple action that helps maintain the health of your hands.