Common Causes
To keep your fingernails looking their best:
- Keep fingernails dry and clean. This prevents bacteria from growing under your fingernails. ...
- Practice good nail hygiene. Use a sharp manicure scissors or clippers. ...
- Use moisturizer. When you use hand lotion, rub the lotion into your fingernails and cuticles, too.
- Apply a protective layer. ...
- Ask your doctor about biotin. ...
Related Conditions
This can be caused by poor circulation, as well as habits that inhibit oxygen absorption such as smoking. A single fingernail may also become purple if it has been injured, indicating a bruise underneath the nail. According to New Health Guide, blood that is rich in oxygen is red.
How do you get rid of ridges on your fingernails?
- Nails are made up of keratin (protein made of dead cells) but the living base part of nail (nail matrix) present under the skin is responsible for the growth of ...
- The new cells (nail matrix) push older cells upward and become harden due to the keratin.
- Fast growth of nails is a good sign of health. ...
Why do fingernails turn red?
“If the nail is very red or purple, that can indicate poor circulation or even heart failure,” says Kechijian. Brownish-red spots may signal a nutritional deficiency in folic acid, protein or vitamin C.
Why are my nails growing so fast?
Is red discoloration under fingernails serious?
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What does red lines in fingernails mean?
Splinter hemorrhages look like thin, red to reddish-brown lines of blood under the nails. They run in the direction of nail growth. They are named splinter hemorrhages because they look like a splinter under the fingernail. The hemorrhages may be caused by tiny clots that damage the small capillaries under the nails.
Should I be worried about splinter hemorrhages?
In about 20% of cases, splinter hemorrhages are caused simply by nail trauma, according to the AAFP. However, the NEJM also reported that splinter hemorrhages could be a sign of a serious health problem—a condition called endocarditis, which is an infection in the heart chambers and valves.
Should I see a doctor for splinter hemorrhages?
If the splinter hemorrhages themselves are painful without an injury or trauma as the underlying cause, a person should also see their doctor. Open your inbox to care tips, research, and treatment updates on skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and more.
What do splinter hemorrhages indicate?
Splinter hemorrhages can develop after an injury or trauma to a fingernail or toenail. Stubbing a toe or injuring a finger can damage blood vessels along the nail bed on the affected digit and trigger bleeding underneath the nail. Splinter hemorrhages caused by injury aren't a reason for concern.
Can splinter hemorrhages be normal?
Splinter hemorrhages are harmless if caused by an injury or other trauma. They may look unpleasant but they'll go away within a few days or when your nail grows out. If you haven't sustained an injury, a splinter hemorrhage may be a sign of a more serious condition.
How common are splinter hemorrhages?
Splinter haemorrhages are present in 15–33% of patients with infective endocarditis in association with Osler nodes and Janeway lesions [3]. They may be due to septic emboli in the small vessels of the nail bed and the increased fragility of the vessel walls in sepsis [2,3].
Can splinter hemorrhages last for years?
The duration of splinter hemorrhages ranged between six and 30 years. The fresh lesions were associated with burning sharp pain and tenderness which lasted for a few days. Although commonly located in the distal one third of nails, they were often found in the middle and the proximal third as well.
Can vitamin deficiency cause splinter hemorrhages?
Red spots or vertical lines in the nail bed, known as splinter hemorrhage, may also appear during vitamin C deficiency due to weakened blood vessels that rupture easily.
The Half Moons at The Base of Your Nails
When the nails are healthy, they have a pink color and the moons near the nail base are light pink to white color. According to Dr. L Reed, ND, the...
Spoon-Shaped Nails (Koilonychia)
When your finger nails curve inwards and look scooped out, it may indicate iron-deficiency (anemia), hemachromatosis (liver condition which results...
Pitting Or Dents on The Nails
Pitting or small dents on your nails can indicate psoriasis, eczema, reactive arthritis, and alopecia areata (hair loss due to autoimmune disease).
Grooves Across The Fingernails (Beau’S Lines)
If you notice deep lines or grooves that run across the nail, it might be a result of having chemotherapy, a previous injury, exposure to cold temp...
White Lines Running Across The Nails
In this case the lines run parallel to the base of the fingernail. Don’t confuse it with white spots or streaks that are normal, but when there are...
Dark Stripes Running Down The Nails
This is common among black people and in most cases it’s normal. However sometimes it may indicate a skin cancer that affects the nail bed, called...
Red Or Brown Little Streaks Under The Nails
These are usually lines of blood caused by tiny damaged blood vessels and are called splinter hemorrhages. This is nothing to worry about, but if m...
What causes red blood vessels under the nails?
A splinter hemorrhage causes a person to have longitudinal streaks down the nails, which usually appear as small red blood vessels or streaks under the nails.
Why do my nails pit?
Nail psoriasis: This is an autoimmune disorder that causes excess skin cells to build up on the nails, which can result in pitting of the nails.
What causes a splinter in the nail bed?
Image credit: Splarka, MD, (2010, August 23). Splinter hemorrhages occur when blood leaks or swells from small blood vessels that run up and down the nail bed. Tiny blood clots known as microemboli in the capillaries can also cause splinter hemorrhages. One of the most common causes of splinter hemorrhages is trauma to the nails.
What part of the nail is the matrix?
The fingernails grow from a part of the nail known as the matrix, which creates keratin cells that layer over each other and move forward.
How to make your fingernails stronger?
A person can take steps to make their nails stronger, which may help prevent splinter hemorrhages, resulting from trauma or injury. Drinking plenty of water and eating a diet that is high in vitamin B and zinc can support the growth of stronger fingernails.
What causes blood clots in the veins?
Antiphospholipid syndrome: This syndrome causes blood clots to develop in the arteries and veins. It can be the result of another medical condition, such as lupus, or can occur without having a known condition.
Can a splinter hemorrhage affect the nail bed?
Splinter hemorrhages are usually a harmless occurrence that can temporarily alter the nail beds. However, the changes associated with splinter hemorrhages can, in some instances, indicate an underlying disease. In the case of infective endocarditis, the splinter hemorrhages indicate a very severe condition.
Why are my nails turning red?
Trauma to your nails can cause red or brown spots to form underneath your nails. However, if you notice dark brown, black, or red color changes under your nails and you haven’t experienced nail trauma, this can be a symptom of a more serious condition, such as endocarditis or melanoma.
Why do my nails have ridges?
Ridges in fingernails. Your fingernails can reveal a lot about the state of your health. Conditions ranging from stress to kidney and thyroid disease can cause changes in your nails. One common change is the appearance of vertical or horizontal ridges. Most of the time, ridges in fingernails are harmless.
How to treat eczema on hands?
Treatment for skin conditions such as eczema may include moisturizers for your hands or topical ointments to reduce eczema symptoms. If low levels of minerals or vitamins are to blame, you may be advised to alter your diet or take supplements to boost your levels. Buffing your fingernails with an emery board may help smooth ridges.
How to smooth out ridges on fingernails?
Buffing your fingernails with an emery board may help smooth ridges. Ask your dermatologist for advice on treating your nails. You’ll want to be careful not to press too hard to avoid further damage.
What does it mean when your nail is crushed?
a crushed nail. a nail being torn off. bleeding under your nail. During your appointment, your doctor will examine your nails and ask about any other symptoms you’re experiencing. Your doctor may order urine and blood tests if they suspect kidney disease, diabetes, or nutritional deficiencies.
What does it mean when your fingernails have ridges?
Ridges in the fingernails are often normal signs of aging . Slight vertical ridges commonly develop in older adults. In some cases, they may be a sign of health problems like vitamin deficiencies or diabetes. Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau’s lines, may indicate a serious condition.
Why do my nails change color?
If you experience other symptoms like color or texture changes in your nails, it may be caused by a medical condition. In trachyonychia, or 20-nail dystrophy, the ridges may be accompanied by a change in color to your nails, or your nails may become rough or brittle.
Why do my nails have ridges?
The protein keratin makes up a large part of your nails, skin, and hair. But when your body is low in this protein, or zinc, calcium, and vitamin A, your nails tend to show this in the form of ridges occurring on your nails. If young or relatively young with vertical lines on fingernails, you could explore whether you have any of these deficiencies.
How to fix ridges on fingernails?
Whatever the cause of the lines on your fingernails, you can also adjust things cosmetically by using an emery board to smooth the ridges. Do remember, though, that when your nails develop these lines, they may also be dry and brittle. So, do take care not to press too hard when filing them.
What Do Vertical Lines On Fingernails Mean?
You may find either vertical or horizontal lines on your fingernails. They may result from different health issues that need to be addressed.
Why do my fingernails have vertical lines?
In older adults, vertical lines on fingernails develop due to a slowing down of cell production that should take the place of dead cells on the surface. This is a normal process that most of us encounter as we age. But no matter how old we are when this starts happening, if you experience additional symptoms like color or texture changes as well, it may point towards an underlying medical issue. Besides the vertical lines forming due to the aging process, nails could also become either thicker or thinner, begin to split, or you find they break easily.
What is the term for a swollen nail with a rough surface?
Trachyonychia, a condition also referred to as 20-nail dystrophy and common in children with psoriasis, eczema, or other skin conditions, presents as vertical lines on fingernails often with a rough, pitted nails surface. You could also see a change in nail color ranging from brown to a graying white. Nails tend to become brittle.
What are the lines on my fingernails called?
You also find horizontal lines on fingernails called Beau’s lines.
What happens if you cut your nail and it is crushed?
These may all cause an infection that could have some bad consequences.
Why do my nails turn yellow?
2. Discolored nails. Yellow nails can occur due to a long use of nail varnish, but can indicate fungal nail infection or psoriasis.
Why do my nails have white lines?
Don’t confuse it with white spots or streaks that are normal, but when there are parallel white lines across the nails, it’s a sign of low levels of protein in the blood, which can be due to malnutrition or liver disease.
Why are my nails thick?
There are a few reasons for having thick nails but they are commonly caused a fungal nail infection, but can also result from psoriasis and reactive arthritis (a painful form of inflammatory arthritis). Yellowish, thickened, slow-growing nails can also indicate lung diseases.
Why do my nails have a pink moon?
According to Dr. L Reed, ND, the half moons at the base of your fingernail is an indicator of good thyroid health. Each nail that is missing a half moon indicates a weaker thyroid. Weak thyroid can lead to mood swings, depression, thinning hair as well as other symptoms.
Why do my nails get brittle?
Brittle or crumbly nail can be a result of aging or a long exposure to detergents or nail polish, but sometimes it can indicate a fungal nail infection, Lichen planus (a condition that forms an itchy rash on the skin or in the mouth), thyroid disease or psoriasis.
What does it mean when your nails are green?
Green-black nails – indicate bacterial infection that usually occurs under loose nails. Bluish or purple fingernail beds may indicate oxygen deprivation. Grey nails – can be caused by certain medications. Brown nails – can indicate a thyroid disease or malnutrition.
Why do my fingernails hurt?
Sometimes it might be a fungal infection or injury, but your fingernails can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying problem, such as problem in the liver, lungs or heart.
Why is there a red line on my nail?
Other times, a single red line may be caused by any one of a number of benign growths in the nail including a lipoma, which is a fatty tumor, a fibroma, or wart. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission.
What does it mean when your finger is red?
If you notice red lines on several of your fingers, it could signal inflammation of the nail root by a variety of conditions such as psoriasis or lichen planus.
Why do my nails turn yellow?
If your nails turn yellow, thicken, and seem to stop growing, it could be a sign of something going on inside your body. Lung disease and rheumatoid arthritis can cause yellow nails. You may also have a serious nail infection, which requires treatment. Deep groove in nail.
Why is my fingernail turning black?
Greenish black color. When bacteria cause a nail infection , the nail can turn greenish black as shown here. Without treatment, a nail infection tends to worsen. Treatment can get rid of your pain and tenderness and help clear the infection. Fingernail with pits.
What doctor to see for nail fungus?
Still, it’s important to see a board-certified dermatologist if you notice any changes. Board-certified dermatologists specialize in diagnosing and treating the skin, hair, and nails. They have the expertise to tell you whether the change is harmless or requires medical testing. Nail fungus.
Why do my nails lift up?
When a nail lifts up, the cause is often: A fungal infection. Psoriasis. Injury from an aggressive manicure. Injury form cleaning under your nails with a sharp object. A dermatologist should examine any nail that’s lifting up. You may need treatment to clear an infection.
Why do my nails stop growing?
A fever, injury, chemotherapy, or major stress can cause your nails to grow slowly or stop growing. If you cannot think of what could may have caused your nails to grow slowly or stop growing, see your dermatologist or primary care doctor. Once you find and get rid of the cause, nails often start growing normally.
What does it mean when you see a deep groove in your nail?
If you see deep grooves that run the width of your nail like the ones shown in this picture, it means that something slowed (or stopped) your nails from growing for a while.
What to do if your new nail is red?
If you have redness and swelling around a nail, you may have an infection. When diagnosed early, you can often treat an infection with soaks and antibiotics.
What causes a bleed under a fingernail?
Splinter hemorrhages can develop after an injury or trauma to a fingernail or toenail. Stubbing a toe or injuring a finger can damage blood vessels along the nail bed on the affected digit and trigger bleeding underneath the nail.
What happens if you accumulate cholesterol in your fingernails?
Cholesterol: Accumulation of this substance in the blood vessels of the fingernails can result in damage.
What happens when you have blood in your toenails?
The bleeding creates a splinter-like line in the direction of nail growth. Splinter hemorrhages can occur on your toenails or fingernails. Share on Pinterest.
What causes nail bed to thinning?
Fungal infection of the nail: Infections can trigger thinning of the nail bed and possible blood vessel damage.
What causes a splinter to bleed?
But sometimes a splinter hemorrhage indicates an underlying disease or disorder. If you didn’t injure your toe or finger, the hemorrhage may result from conditions that can damage blood vessels. Underlying conditions may include: Bacterial endocarditis: Bacterial in the blood stream travels to the heart valve.
Why do my nails have black lines?from healthline.com
It can be caused by local trauma, such as getting your finger stuck in a door, or a medical illness like endocarditis or psoriasis. Another kind of line, which can be black or brown, is known as melanonychia.
What Causes Dents in Fingernails?from mddk.com
These are the most common causes that lead to the appearance of dents in fingernails:
What Do Vertical Lines On Fingernails Mean?from drlamcoaching.com
You may find either vertical or horizontal lines on your fingernails. They may result from different health issues that need to be addressed.
How do you know if your nails are aging?from medicalnewstoday.com
Just as the skin may show signs of aging, the fingernails and nail beds may also start to change with age. The nails themselves may also: 1 become thicker or thinner 2 lose their smooth shape 3 begin to split 4 fissure 5 break easily
How to get rid of ridges on fingernails?from healthline.com
If low levels of minerals or vitamins are to blame, you may be advised to alter your diet or take supplements to boost your levels. Buffing your fingernails with an emery board may help smooth ridges. Ask your dermatologist for advice on treating your nails.
How long should you wait to see a doctor for a nail injury?from healthline.com
If you damaged your nail in an injury, you may wait to see how the nail and your finger heal for a few weeks before deciding whether to see a doctor. However, you should see your doctor as soon as possible if the injury resulted in:
Why are fingernails important?from healthline.com
Yet our fingernails are a big help to us in our everyday lives: They help us grip, scratch, separate things, and much more. You might also be surprised to learn that the appearance of your fingernails can help you better understand you health.
What is a splinter hemorrhage?
Splinter hemorrhages are small areas of bleeding ( hemorrhaging) under your nails. They can affect your fingernails or toenails. They look like thin, red or reddish-brown lines below your nails. They run vertically in the direction of your nail growth. Splinter hemorrhages get their name because they look like wood splinters under your nail.
Who do splinter hemorrhages affect?
Splinter hemorrhages can affect anyone, but they’re more common in males than females. They’re also more common in people with darker skin tones than in people with lighter skin tones.
What does a splinter hemorrhage look like?
Splinter hemorrhages resemble wood splinters under your nail. They look like tiny lines or streaks under your nail plate that run in the direction of your nail growth. They’re usually 1 to 3 millimeters long. They normally appear closer to the end of your nails, but any part of your nail may be affected.
What causes splinter hemorrhages?
When blood vessels under your nail bed sustain damage, splinter hemorrhages can occur. They can happen after you injure yourself. Trauma to your nail is the most common cause of the condition. Stubbing your toe or getting acrylic nails put on can cause splinter hemorrhages.
How is a splinter hemorrhage diagnosed?
Your healthcare provider will perform a physical examination. They’ll also ask you about your symptoms and medical history. They may ask you:
What tests will be done to diagnose a splinter hemorrhage?
Your healthcare provider may request a test called a dermoscopy. Using a dermoscope, a dermatologist can clearly see the splinter hemorrhage in order to help diagnose it.
How do you treat splinter hemorrhages?
Most splinter hemorrhages don’t require any treatment. If an injury caused the condition, it should go away on its own as the nail grows out.
