I honestly don’t know what the heck is up with my stupid thumbnail, but it’s awful and it’s been that way for years. Maybe I slammed it in a door or something, who knows.
I forgot to take a proper before photo, but this is the most problematic major ridge after two coats of Essie Smooth-e.
I kind of just try to put 2 or 3 drops into the ridge, and let it dry. I then go over and coat the whole nail to hopefully even it out.
I still end up with bubbles, or unevenness though.
Is there a better product than the Essie?
EDIT: everyone who has commented that I should see a doctor, any specific recommendations of tests that should be done?
I’ve had CBCs, lipid profiles, ferritin and oxygen saturation/everything else associated with low iron/anemia, had my Vit D and Vit B12 checked, had my thyroid checked, had an ECG. All were normal.
My left thumb is the only nail with this issue. I’m out of ideas.
by restrainedseething
21 Comments
That’s rough OP, it’s a pretty deep ridge. That’s crazy that it’s been that way for years!
I wonder if you could do a UV curing putty and smooth it down with a nail sanding block to create a smooth surface? Would be a pain to do every mani though.
I hope someone has a better solution.
I’d honestly get this checked by a doctor. If it’s safe maybe you could fill it in with dip powder or acrylic but I’d be concerned about a bigger issue here. Lacquer ridge filler wouldn’t be able to smooth it anyway
KBShimmer makes a really good ridge filller called Fillin’ Groovy. I do think that it would take at least 3 coats to fill the ridge, but I have used it successfully with similar dip in my thumbnails.
i saw someone on here say they use a glitter grabber as a base rather than ridge filler bc it works better at filling for them. i would try that and maybe pool the product a little more at the dent. and i think you’d be able to smooth it out a bit at the top with a wet finger before it’s fully dry
I don’t mean to alarm you but this looks a lot more than just ridges. Nails can be one of the signs of deeper things that are medically wrong, I really think you should go see an MD about this.
You could try something like Orly’s nail rescue kit? I know it’s technically meant for cracks, but maybe it could help with this too. It’s glue, powder, and a little buffer, it worked great for me when I broke a nail. It stayed on until I soaked it off, so you can still use acetone to remove polish as normal.
You don’t remember that happening?
Beau’s Line?
My grandma has this from nail trauma, not sure if lacquer will fix this? Maybe floating some thick coats might help
Side to side ridges are most often a medical issue. If you haven’t already done so, I suggest seeing a doctor.
Do you pick at your cuticles? My thumb nails sometimes look like this when I’ve been picking a lot.
Is this on your dominant hand? I’m left handed and get these same kind of wavy ripples on my thumbnail, though not as pronounced. I only have it on my one nail.
Could also be a habit-tic deformity if you ever rub your finger! But I am NOT a doctor or doctor-leaning, just another idea. Alas, none of the smoother bases I use would be thick enough to do anything, I wish I had something non-gel to recommend!
Not a doctor, but I am a nurse. Generally, if it’s only affecting 1 digit, and it’s been that way for ages, and it’s not really affecting your quality of life (aside from how your manicures look), it’s probably not a medical issue. Just to settle some scares
Have you seen a dermatologist? Mine always checks my bare nails for abnormalities, as i developed beau’s lines after big illness events.
You might want to check zinc, omega 3, coQ10, D, and iron.
This can be caused by psoriasis.
My thumbnails (but no other nails) did this during and after Accutane. It took about a year after stopping for it to get better. Press-ons, semi-cured gels, or acrylics would all work. Have you taken any medications that might be causing this?
I’m just here to say this is fascinating. How does it flatten out after it passes the dip?
This looks like a healed nail injury of some type to me. Like, you slammed a door on it or something. But the recovery would have been memorable like, the nail growing out with blood underneath and may be seemingly “my nail fell off” would have been something that happened on that journey. Happened to my mom once. Also had nail fungus that made bumpy ridges happen on my toe nails. So those are my guess for the causes.
I’d try hydrating cuticle oils and creams and just trying things for the nail beds health. Like oil soaks. And if the look bothers you but don’t want to wear acrylics or Dip, use a nail tip with a glue tab. I’d get extra tabs and cut it to size for the dip if it is kinda deep otherwise one is good.
My time to shine. Do you pick your cuticles? I picked mine for years and my nail was so damaged and looked like this, with a yellow line. My derm ended up removing my entire nail (which was the worst most painful decision lol) to rule out cancer but it grew back and is still shaped like this. A lot of times this indicates nail trauma (picking, slamming, etc) but I’d just have your doc quickly check. I bet everything is fine tho 🙂