What do Those Unsightly Lines on my Nails Represent?

Those vertical ridges on my nails appear to be getting more and more noticeable as I get older. Recently, I really noticed those unsightly lines in the pictures of my thumb holding a Nilla wafer on my pumpkin cheesecake dip recipe.
At that point, I made the decision to conduct some research to determine whether or not those ridges had any bearing on my health and whether or not I could get rid of them.
  What These Signs Mean for Your Health?
After doing a lot of research, I did find that there is a very small chance that those ridges are caused by an underlying medical condition or even a nail injury.
However, for the majority of us, it is completely normal for them to become more noticeable as we get older, especially if we have dry skin or skin conditions like eczema. They have only recently begun to bother me, even though I am 36 years old, but I am relieved to learn that they are probably harmless. I’m simply getting older.
However, why are they there?
They essentially resemble nail wrinkles! Lines or ridges that extend from the cuticle all the way up to the nail tip are the result of the nail matrix gradually losing its effectiveness as we get older. This causes your nails to grow out unevenly. However, these ridges can also be brought on or made worse by certain deficiencies.
If your body is low in protein, zinc, calcium or vitamin A, a deficiency can sometimes be revealed by those annoying vertical ridges in your nails. It wouldn’t hurt to get a blood test to see if you might have deficiencies if you have deep ridges or any other health issues.

 How to Reduce the Appearance of Your Nails’ Vertical Ridges!
Making sure you moisturize your hands and fingers throughout the day with a thick cream, oil, or petroleum jelly, paying particular attention to your cuticles, is the best way to help reduce the appearance of those lines in the first place.
 Treat your nails the same way you would wrinkles!
Also, I don’t want to sound like I’ve been living under a rock, but I didn’t know you could buff and polish them with a cheap $8 tool that makes them smooth and shiny, almost like clear nail polish. I now feel like I have a brand-new pair of hands because I discovered this shape and shine tool on Amazon!
This seems to be the quickest solution; however, if your nails are thin, be careful not to get carried away with all the buffing and sanding. If you use a base coat that fills in ridges, obviously painting your nails will help hide your ridges as well. Additionally, it aids in the formation of a bond with your nail polish, extending its shelf life.