If the skin around the nail appears red and puffy, this is known as inflammation of the nail fold. It may be the result of lupus or another connective tissue disorder. Infection can also cause redness and inflammation of the nail fold. Dark lines beneath the nail should be investigated as soon as possible.
How to cure ridges in fingernails?
Process:
- Take few drops of coconut oil and apply it on the fingernail where ridges are evident.
- Leave it, and it will get absorbed in no time.
- Apply this oil 3 times a day for few weeks.
- It provides moisture to the fingernail, and prevents drying of the nail which causes ridges on nails.
- It also helps to cure nail i nfections caused by fungus.
What causes dark lines in fingernails?
- Age: It’s much more common in those 50 to 70.
- Width of the line: If the line is wider than three millimeters, it may be a cause for concern.
- Pigment change: If the look of the pigment band at the top of the nail is discolored, it could be an indication that the lines are malignant melanoma.
What are the red lines under your fingernails?
- Splinter hemorrhage shows up as red or brown lines along the long axis of the nail and may be caused by endocarditis (an inflammation of the heart membranes) or trichinosis ...
- A simple dark blue line in the fingernail can be a sign of skin cancer.
- Tiny black streaks can indicate a possible heart problem.
Why do fingernails turn red?
- Childhood conditions
- Teach healthy habits
- Kids' camp
Question
My 11 year old daughter has a horizontal red line across her fingernail. Is this a sign of something bad, like a fungal infection? I don't want to make an issue of it if it's not one for my daughter... that's why I need to know if it's a real health issue.
Answer
Lines and other findings in the fingernails are generally benign but can be caused by many medical conditions, including some that require treatment. Physicians who would be best qualified to evaluate your child include your pediatrician or your dermatologist. Lines in the fingernails can have many causes.
Need more info?
Zocdoc Answers is for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor (in the United States) 911 immediately. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment.
What are the lines on my fingernails called?
You also find horizontal lines on fingernails called Beau’s lines.
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.
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.
What happens if you cut your nail and it is crushed?
These may all cause an infection that could have some bad consequences.
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 does it mean when your nails are red?
It may simply mean that the underlying blood vessels are more visible through a thinner nail plate — which happens to most of us as we grow older. Red lines on your nails are worth mentioning to your physician during your regular visit.
Why do I have a GREY line on my nail?
Share on Pinterest In some cases, black lines on the nails may be caused by melanoma. Most commonly, dark stripes down a person's nail are due to a symptom known as linear melanonychia. The condition occurs when pigments in the nail known as melanocytes make excess pigment. This causes the nail beds to darken.
Why do I have a brown stripe on my nail?
Melanonychia is caused when the pigment cells, called melanocytes, deposit melanin into the nail. As your nail grows , it causes the stripe of brown or black to appear on your nail. These melanin deposits are caused by two primary processes.
What do Beau's lines in nails look like?
Beau's lines are deep grooved lines that run from side to side on the fingernail or the toenail. They may look like indentations or ridges in the nail plate.
What do dents in your nails mean?
Pitting or dents on the nails Pitting or small dents on the surface of your nails can be a sign of any of the following conditions: psoriasis. eczema – a long-term skin condition that causes the skin to become itchy, red, dry and cracked. reactive arthritis.
What does it mean vertical lines on the nails?
Having vertical (longitudinal) ridges on the fingernails refers to the presence of tiny raised lines or ridges that run up and down the length of the nail. Ridges are among the different kinds of nail abnormalities that can develop due to aging, nail injury, or trauma, or underlying medical conditions.
Can thyroid problems cause ridges in nails?
This is often times indicative nutritionally of a selenium deficiency. It also might mean you have an undiagnosed thyroid condition.
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.
What is it called when your fingernails are bleeding?
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 many nails are affected, it may indicate another underlying disease. Don’t ignore your fingernails and the health signs they indicate.
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 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 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.
What does the color of your nails mean?
Did you know the color of your nails can reveal much regarding health, anxiety, and habits? Small white patches, a rosy tinge, or bumps can indicate health issues. Problems with liver, lungs, and heart can be seen through your fingernails.
Why do my nails have a short line?
They are caused by a disruption in blood supply to the nail bed from the underlying disease . Shorter lines may be an indicator of past trauma and usually disappear on their own after a few weeks or months.
What does it mean when your nails are blue?
Bluish Nails. A blue color in your nails means your body is not getting sufficient oxygen. This color can also indicate lung problems like emphysema. Some heart problems are associated with bluish nails. Usually the color of the nail is normal, just the area that lies beneath the nail-bed is tinted bluish.
Why do my nails get yellow?
Yellowish Nails. Yellow nails usually occur with serious pulmonary disease and lymphedema, or swelling of the extremities. Another cause of yellow nails is fungal infections that traverse the entire nail bed. As the infection worsens, your nails may thicken and crumble.
Why are my fingernails pale?
1. Pale Nails. If your fingernail beds are pale you may have anemia, a blood disorder with low red blood cells. It’s usually caused by lack of iron in your blood. Increase green leafy vegetables and beans to increase iron levels.
Why are my nails white?
If your nails are white with darker rims they may be warning you about your liver’s health. This is a good sign of hepatitis. Fingers can also become jaundiced, another sign of liver stress. If you have white nails since birth it can be hereditary. White nails are also a sign of chronic renal failure, congestive heart failure, diabetes mellitus, chronic hypoalbuminemia, and Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
What do ridges on nails and white spots say about your overall health?
What do brittle nails, ridges on nails and white spots say about your overall health? "A lot of times we'll learn in training that the nails can be a window into your health because they can sometimes be an indicator of some underlying medical problems," said Dr. Natalie Azar. eyepark / Getty Images stock.
Why are my fingernails brown?
If you have brown fingernails and the discoloration is round, as opposed to linear, it could be another condition. For example, brown spots on nails, especially if they're pitted, could be a sign of nail psoriasis.
How to stop a nail from swelling?
Course of action: Soak your nail in hot water two or three times a day to help reduce the swelling and pain, experts note. Your doctor may prescribe oral antibiotics or other medicine.
Why do my nails get so bad?
This common problem can happen because of an issue with your diet or the chemicals your hands are exposed to. Nails are formed in the nail matrix, the root of the nail. If you are malnourished or lack certain nutrients, your body doesn’t have the material to make good nails, Rich said.
Why do my nails have brown spots?
Hormones and certain medications can also make pigmented bands in the nails, but be especially watchful for nail cancer symptoms, such as a brown or dark stripe that goes from the cuticle out to the free edge of the nail, especially one that’s getting wider.
What causes a nail to stop growing?
Triggers can include high fever, chemotherapy, a serious illness, major surgery, blood transfusion, a car accident or any major stress to your system, Rich noted.
How many nail symptoms are there?
Here are seven nail symptoms and what to do next: