How to Get Rid of Severe Ridges on Thumbnails

Vertical ridges on your thumbnails and fingernails can be caused by numerous reasons such as malnutrition, lack of moisture or possible underlying diseases. As you age, the occurrence of ridges will increase. The complete removal of ridges will not happen overnight. There are a few things you can do to make your thumbnails and fingernails look better and prevent ridges in the future.

Instructions

• 1

  Eat a healthy diet rich in vitamins A, B-12 and C, calcium and biotin. Some examples of vitamin-rich foods are walnuts, peanuts, bell peppers, broccoli, tomatoes, potatoes

  and eggs.

• 2

  Drink at least eight glasses of water a day. A lack of moisture, including moisture on the inside, is one cause of ridges in the nails. Keep yourself well hydrated.

• 3

  Wear gloves when gardening or doing work that could damage your nails. When washing dishes, wear rubber gloves. Having your nails in water for a long time can contribute to ridges and poor nail health.

• 4

  Take care of your nails and be gentle when doing so. Trim your nails frequently, and when filing, always file in one direction -- never back and forth.

• 5

  Apply a lotion moisturizer to your nails throughout the day and at night before bed. To increase moisture retention, wear thin moisture gloves at night after applying lotion.