Pitting of fingernails is just like it sounds: Your fingernails have small dots or dents in them that looks like you made small holes with a sharp object. Nail pitting can occur on toenails too but they are more common on fingernails. There are a wide variety of reasons that nail pitting can occur some of which are avoidable.
While some reasons for nail pitting are health-related ones that may require medical treatment, others are personal choices that can be avoided. Nail biting is one reason for nail pitting as is dehydration and nutritional deficiencies particularly related to B vitamins, iron and biotin. Health-related conditions such as psoriasis, anemia, eczema as well as heredity can also be a cause of pitted nails as can other nail conditions. These may require medical attention.
Is Nail Pitting Serious?
It can be. It can be a marker for more serious illnesses or it could be something less serious that can be corrected quickly. Your best bet is to schedule a visit with your doctor to get a professional look.
If you find that your fingernails or toenails have small pits in them or tiny holes that are unexplained – you didn’t recently puncture your nails somehow – it’s likely that you have pitted nails.
Let’s take a closer look at common reasons for nail pitting.
Causes of Pitted Fingernails
Nail pitting tends to be more prevalent in people who are over the age of 40 and who suffer from nail psoriasis. There are other common causes of nail pitting and it’s important not to confuse pitted nails with another nail problems such as beau’s lines which are deeply grooved lines that appear on your fingernails that are a different condition.
In each of the instances mentioned below, you may require medical treatment to properly diagnose your exact condition so a visit to the doctor is in order.
Nail Biting
Nail biting isn’t as likely to cause pitted fingernails as the reasons below but certainly nail biting and picking does damage nails up to and including the nail bed and cuticle in the case of severe nail biting.
Nail biting and picking can often mask or hide other issues that your fingernails are trying to tell you about. A change in fingernail color, texture, shape and firmness or the appearance of holes or ridges can be your body’s way of telling you something is wrong. When you bite and pick your nails and make them very short and less visible, the nails are less likely to show you certain symptoms that can be markers for more serious illnesses.
Psoriasis
Psoriasis is a skin condition that can also affect nail health. Research has shown a possible correlation between severity of psoriasis and nail pitting. The research didn’t show that either sex was more likely to suffer from it but it did suggest that those suffering from arthritic psoriasis are more likely to experience pitted nails.
While nail pitting from psoriasis was most prevalent in those 40 years of age and over, it was around half as prevalent in subjects under the age of 20 so age does appear to be a major factor.
Anemia
Anemia is believed to be another major cause of nail pitting. Specifically, iron deficiency anemia is a potential cause and it can also cause brittle nails among other symptoms.
A number of diet deficiencies are believed to negatively impact nail health including dehydration, lack of B vitamins, zinc deficiency and a specific deficiency in biotin. Biotin is naturally found in many foods including organ meats (chicken, beef), eggs, seeds, nuts and certain vegetables so a well-balanced diet can help your overall health.
Eczema
Eczema is another skin condition that causes skin to become itchy, dry and scaly and usually needs to be treated medically in more serious cases. Eczema can be inherited as it does run in the family. It tends to be more common at a young age and people often outgrow it as they get older. Can cause pitting of nails but also discoloration and thickening of nails.
Heredity
There are other causes of pitted nails that you may inherit that could be responsible for your pitted nails such as psoriatic and reactive arthritis. While not as common as other causes, they do exist and can lead to other health-related symptoms and side effects.
Joint inflammation is another health concern that can be both hereditary and a cause of nail pitting. It may also be diagnosed as arthritis.
Other causes
Less common reasons for nail pitting include forms of dermatitis, Reiter’s syndrome, alopecia areata or other genetic conditions.
Treatment
Treatment for pitted nails can be slow especially considering a fingernail can take 6 months to grow back completely (ie. to replace itself) and a toenail can take up to 18 months for a big toe. So even as you successfully treat the cause(s) of pitted nails it can take months for your new nails to grow out healthy and for remaining pitting to disappear.
Topical nail treatments tend not to be effective as a result. Common treatment methods for nail pitting include:
- Corticosteroid injections into the nail bed of affected nails.
- Phototherapy or light therapy on the affected nails.
- Supplements for vitamins that you may be deficient in.
- Vitamin D3 is known to be a nail strengthener that may be prescribed.
- Diet changes may be suggested to increase your consumption of foods that can help to improve nail health and overall health ie. green leafy vegetables, certain lean meats, nuts, seeds, egg.
You can try yourself to naturally get rid of nail pitting by eating healthy, ceasing all nail picking and biting, avoiding injury to nails while working, avoiding use of fake nails, protecting nails against blunt force trauma damage and staying properly hydrated.
Summary
Can you avoid getting pitted nails? You can certainly help:
- Stop biting your nails.
- Eat healthy to avoid iron deficiency and to ensure your zinc, B vitamin, and biotin levels specifically are adequate.
- Avoid trauma or damage to your nails that could give the appearance of pitted or damaged nails that are actually accidental rather than a disease.
- Trim your nails short to help avoid picking and biting them or damaging them.
If you notice changes in your nails in terms of color, shape, firmness or the appearance of dots, ridges or pits, visit your doctor to get a diagnosis.
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