Beau’s lines are markings in the nail, uncommon to most people. They are horizontal lines, going from side-to-side on the nail plate, not to be confused with vertical lines, which can be a natural part of aging. Nails are not perfectly smooth, but Beau’s lines will have very deep grooves and ridges in the nail that are often the result of underlying problems. These might be due to simple injury, or the aftereffects of an infection, or sometimes due to a more serious problem, such as vascular disease. As they are asymptomatic, some people may not even notice them unless they look closely at their feet, but it is important to find out why they are there in the first place.
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Symptoms
The lines themselves do not cause any harm or pain, as they are the by-product of underlying issues. The lines are horizontal, going from one side of the nail to the other. The line itself is extremely prominent and will have large indents and indurations directly to the shape of the nail, as opposed to simple colour changes underneath the nail. Aesthetically, they can be displeasing to some and that prompts them to seek answers.
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Causes
There are several factors that can cause Beau’s lines to appear, but they are mostly rooted in the main mechanism of halting the normal growth of the nail, directly at the nail root. This could be due to injury in the area. Injury can be physical, such as stubbing the toe, or a direct trauma, such as an object falling onto the toe. Alternatively, there could have been a prior infection of the nail, or a loss of blood supply due to poor circulation from peripheral arterial disease. Other systemic conditions leading to these lines include diabetes, and they almost always appear in children with Kawasaki disease. Perhaps another more uncommon cause of the lines is a simple vitamin deficiency, specifically from zinc.
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Treatment
At this moment, there is no treatment to reverse Beau’s lines. What you are seeing from the lines are remnants of damage sustained long ago, and the damaged nail will simply have to grow out. Should the lines be too prominent, they can be filed down with tools by a Registered Chiropodist or Footcare Nurse, but even then there will still be faint lines remaining due to the indented nature of the injury. They should not be painful and not cause any issue other than be aesthetically displeasing. If the appearance is of concern, a short-term solution could be nail reconstruction by a clinical professional, but this should not be a long-term treatment option, due to the occlusion of the nail and risk of fungus. Although painless, the underlying causes of Beau’s lines will need to be investigated if they last long-term.
