Nail Pitting: What It Means and How It Links to Health Conditions

When you notice small dents or pits in your fingernails or toenails, it’s easy to brush it off as a minor flaw. But nail pitting, a condition where small depressions appear on the surface of the nail plate. Also known as nail indentations, it’s often one of the first visible signs of an internal problem—not just bad nail care. This isn’t random damage. It’s your body sending a signal, usually through the nail matrix, the living tissue under your cuticle that controls nail growth.

Nail pitting most commonly links to psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that causes skin cells to build up rapidly. Up to half of people with psoriasis develop pitted nails, sometimes even before skin symptoms show up. It’s not just about appearance—it’s about inflammation affecting the nail bed. Eczema, another inflammatory skin disorder. can cause similar changes, though less frequently. If you have pitting along with dry, itchy skin or joint pain, these aren’t separate issues—they’re connected.

It’s not always psoriasis or eczema. Nail pitting can also show up with alopecia areata, an autoimmune condition that causes patchy hair loss. In fact, the same immune system that attacks hair follicles can mess with nail growth. Less common causes include Reiter’s syndrome, lichen planus, or even long-term exposure to certain chemicals. The pattern of pits—how deep, how many, how evenly spaced—can help doctors tell the difference.

What you shouldn’t do is ignore it. If you’ve never had skin or joint issues before and suddenly notice pitting, it’s worth a quick check with a provider. Blood tests or a skin biopsy might be needed, but catching it early means better control. You can’t fix nail pitting by buffing or painting over it. The real fix is managing what’s happening underneath.

What you’ll find in the posts below are real stories and clear explanations about how conditions like psoriasis, eczema, and autoimmune reactions show up in unexpected places—including your nails. You’ll learn how to spot the difference between harmless changes and warning signs, what tests actually matter, and how treatments for skin diseases can improve nail health too. This isn’t about beauty tips. It’s about读懂身体的信号.