Definition
The nails may have irregular grooves or depressions for various reasons. If these signs affect only one finger, the depressions may be the result of a trauma (eg too aggressive manicure, onicotillomania etc.) or of a local infection. On the other hand, when all the nails are undulating, systemic conditions (eg dysmenorrhea, high fever and peripheral ischemia) or dermatological conditions (including contact dermatitis, erythroderma and perionyxis) are more likely to occur.
If more or less deep furrows appear, transversal with respect to the surface of the nail plate, one speaks of Beau lines . These depressions reflect a slowing or interruption of the mitotic activity of the proximal matrix. Multiple Beau lines on the same nail indicate repeated damage. The lines of Beau, in most cases, can be attributed to microtraumatisms or to the side effects of some drugs (eg antiblastic chemotherapy). They are also observed in people suffering from chronic diseases (eg Raynaud's syndrome or pemphigus) or who have suffered a heart attack. The Beau lines progress distally with the growth of the nail.
Possible Causes * of Wavy Nails
- Contact allergy
- Anemia
- Dermatitis
- Heart attack
- Onicofagia
- Onychomycosis
- Pemphigus vulgaris
