Changes in Fingernails from Aging

QUESTION: Of late my finger nails are changing, and I am wondering if this is
caused by some hidden disease. The nail now has ridges running down its
length, and though I used to clip them regularly once a month, there isn't
much to cut away now. Is there any explanation for all of this, and could
you please provide it for me?
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ANSWER: While the finger nails' changing appearance can be a sign of an
underlying medical condition, the reason in your case is a bit less
frightening--that is, unless you fear the years that have gradually been
adding up, for the signs you mention are a result of a normal aging process.
The metabolism of the human body slows just a bit as age advances, and so
nails grow more slowly and often show vertical ridges that may cause concern,
but do not signify any health problems. The average growth rate of a finger
nail is about 1/8 to 1/4 inch per month, while the speed of toenail growth is
only one-third to one-half as much. Thus it takes about 5 1/2 months to
replace a fingernail, and well over a year for a toenail to grow in.
Other factors also affect growth rate. It is slower in cold weather,
slower at night, and the shorter the finger the slower the growth. Nail
growth in women is faster during their menstrual periods and during
pregnancies.
Nails may also suffer from local problems like fungus or bacterial
infections. In such cases there may be signs of local inflammation, nail
discoloration, abnormal thickening and even loosening of the nail. However,
your complaints can just be added to some of the others that age brings; a bit
disturbing, but far from serious, at least not in this case