Uneven growth of a nail may cause which feature?

• A. Wavy ridges
• B. Beau's lines
• C. Pitting
• D. Spoon nails

Answer: (A)

Uneven growth in a nail shows up on the surface as irregular, wavy ridges. When the nail plate doesn’t grow smoothly at a constant rate, the surface develops those uneven, wavy lines as it extends outward.

Beau’s lines are horizontal grooves that indicate a temporary pause in growth, not just uneven growth. Pitting are tiny depressions often linked to skin conditions like psoriasis, and spoon nails are concave nails usually tied to iron deficiency or other systemic issues. So the distinctive sign of uneven growth is the wavy ridges.