If you have these lines on your nails after 40, it is a clear sign that..

They may begin appearing on the fingernails at an advanced age especially at the age of 40 when thin vertical lines begin developing, starting at the bottom to the top of the fingernails. Although by themselves they might appear to be negligible cosmetic solutions,

in a large portion of the population they become an object of curiosity or even obsession. These lines, otherwise known as vertical ridges or longitudinal striations are usually a natural progression of the

aging of the body. When skin has gotten the fine lines and has lost elasticity and hair has gradually turned grey or become thin, then so will nails give away the wear and tear of time.

As the body grows older, the reproduction level of the body starts slowing down. Such a retardation will also apply to the nail-matrix that is the part underneath the skin at the end of each nail where they produce new nail cells.

In the event that this process is not as regular, the synthesis of keratin, the most important structural protein in nails, may be disrupted. Such the irregular growth of keratin leads to the appearance of visible

ridges. Such lines tend not to mean anything on most occasions, but their abrupt emergence, or a deeper appearance or even their increased occurrence may signal a deeper-rooting problem that should be looked into.

The second reason is the issue of hydration or the absence of this concept that determines whether our nails will have ridges or not after the age of 40. Nails as well as skin become drier with age.

This may make the nails brittle in the surface and add emphasis to any natural ridges that are there and may have been too faint to see beforehand. The nails are dipped into the water on a daily basis, or

scrubbed with rough soaps or cleansing chemicals and do not get enough moisturizing, which only accelerates the rate of dryness and breakage.

The nutritional status is also imperative in the nail situation. Since the metabolism and nutrient absorption slows down with age, deficiencies may become a more frequent occurrence even in those individuals who possess a more or less balanced diet.

Nail health is facilitated by such nutrients as biotin, iron, zinc, and magnesium. When the amounts of such nutrients are low, they can make the nails weak and enhance the risk of developing severe ridging. As an example, not only ridged nails, but also fatigue and pale skin may be caused with iron deficiency.

Brittle or splitting nails have also been related to insufficient amount of biotin (B vitamin) that plays a critical role in forming the infrastructure of keratin.

In some cases, nail ridges that are perpendicular to the nail indicate that there is a clue to something systemic. Although the most likely cause includes aging and mild nutritional imbalances these lines may also signal long-term problems like thyroid disorders,

circulatory disorders or even auto-immune disorders like rheumatoid arthritis. Skin, hair and nail problems are common when the thyroid is imbalanced especially. Inadequate blood flow may affect the transport of nutrients to the nail bed, and this may lead to a change of the nail growing patterns.

Distortion or abnormal shape may also occur in autoimmune diseases during which inflammations or damages occur in some base structures of the nail.

Although ridges on their own are not considered dangerous, their occurrence with other symptoms is not to be disregarded. In case you spot vertical lines along with discoloration, particularly dark streaks which you have never experienced before,

it may be a sign of subungual melanoma, a serious but quite rare type of cancer that may appear under the nail. Thickening, splitting or crumbling of the nail, especially in combination with redness, swelling or pain might be caused by fungal infection or a traumatized nail and therefore needs to be treated by a doctor.

Nails maintenance is even more important as one is getting older, and some easy lifestyle changes are possible. In order to avoid dehydration the hands and nails should be regularly moisturized especially after washing hands or coming into contact with detergent.

The consumption of water is also very instrumental in keeping the tissue as a whole hydrated including the nails. A balanced diet including green leafy vegetables, whole grain, nuts and seeds, eggs, lean

proteins can also ensure that you will get a sufficient amount of what your nails need. Additional aid can be ordered in the form of supplements, including biotin or collagen, but it is preferable to take them with the recommendation of a healthcare specialist.

There is also such thing as gentle nail care. Too much buffing or rather, rough nail files should also be avoided when it comes to nails that have already been made fragile. Nails should be clipped privately, and maintained clean, and dry,

and should be kept to a minimum of contact in water as well as with chemicals through wearing gloves when performing chores. In case you apply nail polish and its removers, choose those that do not contain acetone, which dries the skin more.

The formation of the vertical ridges on the nails after the age of 40 in most cases is an innocent consequence of natural development of the body. Nails are not only ornamental though, they can also be the reflections of what goes on inside.

Being conscious of their condition and observing changes in them with time helps you observe and treat nutrition or health problems before they become too severe. Instead of disregarding such lines or simply buffing them off, it only makes common sense that such lines might be attempting to tell you something about your overall well-being.