Strange Ridges/Dents on Thumbnails

[mickmouse]

About two weeks ago, I noticed that both of my thumbnails had a strange, crescent shaped ridge/dent running across the width of the nail, about mid-way up the nail.  There are no white spots, lines, bruises, etc. to indicate that I injured the nails, just thumbnails that look puffy on the portion of the nail between the cuticle and the dent, and a flatter nail between the crescent-shaped dent and the fingertip. When I press the nails, it almost looks like there are two visible lines demarcating the top and bottom of the dented area, if that makes any sense.

The other fingernails are all normal, and I haven't been at a manicurist or anywhere that I would be likely to pick up any infections. I did have a Kenalog injection about 6 weeks ago for allergy problems and have had a very stressful spring.

Since the only thing I've seen out there in internet world to correlate to this is "arsenic poisoning", and since I'm fairly sure that I don't have arsenic poisoning :-), I was wondering what in the world this could be.

[albaby]

i bashed my thumb about a year ago. Since then a strange growth has come through my nail bed. It has gradually got bigger and I think I should go to the doctors about it. Could you tell me what it is???

Has my nail bed been damaged? The nail is now ridgy.
help!

[mickmouse]

Thanks, Dr. Rockoff.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

A line across the nail usually means some form or disruption of the nail growth area (the white part, that extends behind the nail under the skin.)  If the line is where you say, this would have happened about 6 weeks ago, since fingernails take about 3 months to grow.  I don't know if the stress you were under then, or the Kenalog shot, were relevant, but I think all you need to do is wait 6-8 weeks and watch the line grow out. Systemic issues don't seem likely at all.

Best.

Dr. Rockoff