Noticing thin vertical lines running from the base of your fingernails to the tips can be surprising, especially as they become more visible with age. Many people first notice them after 40, and in most cases, they are completely normal.
These lines are known as vertical or longitudinal nail ridges. They are usually a natural part of aging, similar to wrinkles in the skin or changes in hair texture. Nails evolve as the body matures.
Fingernails are made of keratin, a protein produced in the nail matrix beneath the cuticle.
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