Beau's lines

Beau's lines are grooves that run across the nails. They can appear when nail growth temporarily stops due to injury or illness.

Beau's lines may be caused by:

• Infections.
• Diabetes that is not well controlled.
• Conditions in which narrowed blood vessels lower blood flow to the arms and legs. This is called peripheral artery disease.
• Illnesses that include a high fever, such as scarlet fever, measles, mumps and pneumonia.
• Not getting enough zinc.
• Some types of medicines, including retinoids and chemotherapy.