Differential Diagnosis for Ridges on Finger and Toe Nails
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Aging: As people age, the growth rate of nails slows down, and the nails can become thicker, leading to the formation of ridges. This is a common and benign condition.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiencies in vitamins like B7 (biotin), B12, or minerals such as iron and zinc can cause changes in nail texture, including ridging.
- Skin Conditions: Certain skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or lichen planus can affect the nails, leading to ridging.
- Hypothyroidism: An underactive thyroid gland can cause changes in nail texture, including brittleness, dryness, and ridging.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE): This autoimmune disease can cause a variety of nail changes, including ridging, and is important to diagnose due to its potential for serious complications.
- Sarcoidosis: A condition characterized by the growth of granulomas in various parts of the body, which can affect the nails and cause ridging.
- Cancer: Certain types of cancer, such as lung or gastrointestinal cancer, can cause nail changes, including ridging, as a paraneoplastic syndrome.
Rare Diagnoses
- Darier's Disease: A rare genetic disorder that affects the skin and nails, causing ridging, thickening, and other changes.
- Yellow Nail Syndrome: A rare condition characterized by thickening and ridging of the nails, often accompanied by other systemic symptoms such as lymphedema.
- Nail-Patella Syndrome: A rare genetic disorder that affects the development of nails, knees, and other parts of the body, causing ridging and other nail changes.