Ava Monroe
Red spots under the fingernails can be a cause for concern, as they may indicate an underlying health condition. These spots are usually harmless and can be caused by injury to the nail bed, but they can also be a symptom of a more serious condition such as endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves, or subungual melanoma, a type of cancer.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Appearance | Resembles a wood splinter under the nail |
| Colour | Red or reddish-brown |
| Size | Thin lines or streaks, usually 1 to 3mm long |
| Location | Usually closer to the end of the nail, but can appear anywhere |
| Cause | Bleeding under the nail due to injury or trauma to the nail bed |
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What You'll Learn
- Red spots under the nail can be a symptom of endocarditis
- Beau's lines are thick horizontal stripes on the nail, which can be a symptom of cancer
- Red spots can be caused by injury to the nail bed
- Splinter haemorrhages are small areas of bleeding under the nail
- Red spots can be caused by vessel damage from swelling of the blood vessels (vasculitis)
Red spots under the nail can be a symptom of endocarditis
Splinter haemorrhages can occur after injury or trauma to a fingernail or toenail. Bumping a toe or injuring a finger can damage blood vessels along the nail bed and cause bleeding under the nail. They usually appear closer to the end of your nails, but any part of the nail may be affected. They are normally 1 to 3mm long and will darken to brown or black within a few days.
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Beau's lines are thick horizontal stripes on the nail, which can be a symptom of cancer
Red spots under the fingernail can be a cause for concern and may indicate an underlying health condition. However, they are often harmless and can be the result of injury to the nail bed, such as hitting your finger or toe, which can cause bleeding under the nail. These are called splinter haemorrhages and they resemble wood splinters under the nail. They can also be a symptom of endocarditis, which is an infection of the heart valves.
Beaus lines are thick horizontal stripes on the nail, which can be a symptom of cancer. They are usually not harmful, but they can indicate subungual melanoma.
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Red spots can be caused by injury to the nail bed
Red spots under the fingernail can be caused by injury to the nail bed. This is known as a splinter haemorrhage, which occurs when small blood vessels called capillaries under the skin beneath the nail burst due to damage. This can be caused by trauma to the nail bed, such as hitting your finger or toe, which can damage blood vessels along the nail bed and cause bleeding under the nail. Splinter haemorrhages can also be caused by tiny clots that damage the small capillaries under the nails. They may also be caused by vessel damage from swelling of the blood vessels (vasculitis) or infection of the heart valves (endocarditis).
Splinter haemorrhages resemble wood splinters under the nail and look like thin, red to reddish-brown lines of blood under the nails. They run in the direction of nail growth and are usually 1 to 3 millimetres long. They normally appear closer to the end of the nails, but any part of the nail may be affected. When they first form, splinter haemorrhages appear reddish or purple, but they will darken to brown or black within a few days. They will usually move with the nail as it grows. Splinter haemorrhages occur more often in fingernails than toenails and usually only affect one nail in otherwise healthy people.
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Splinter haemorrhages are small areas of bleeding under the nail
Splinter haemorrhages occur when small blood vessels called capillaries under the skin beneath the nail (nail bed) burst due to damage. This can be caused by injury or trauma to the nail, such as hitting a finger or toe, or by vessel damage from swelling of the blood vessels (vasculitis). They may also be caused by tiny clots that damage the small capillaries (microemboli).
In some cases, splinter haemorrhages may be a sign of an underlying condition such as endocarditis, an infection of the heart valves. While often harmless, they can sometimes signal a more serious health issue. If you are concerned about any changes to your nails, it is important to seek medical advice.
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Red spots can be caused by vessel damage from swelling of the blood vessels (vasculitis)
Red spots under the fingernail can be caused by vessel damage from swelling of the blood vessels (vasculitis). This is known as a splinter haemorrhage. They are small areas of bleeding under the fingernails or toenails and are named splinter haemorrhages because they look like splinters under the nail. They are usually 1 to 3 millimetres long and appear closer to the end of the nail, but any part of the nail may be affected. They can be caused by injury to the nail bed, such as hitting the finger or toe, which can cause bleeding under the nail. They can also be caused by infection of the heart valves (endocarditis).
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Frequently asked questions
This is likely a splinter haemorrhage, which is a small area of bleeding under the nail. It can be caused by injury to the nail bed, such as hitting your finger.
Splinter haemorrhages resemble wood splinters under the nail. They look like thin, red or reddish-brown lines that run in the direction of nail growth. They are usually 1 to 3mm long.
While they are often harmless, they can sometimes be a sign of a more serious health issue, such as endocarditis (an infection of the heart valves).
If you are concerned, you should seek medical advice.
Splinter haemorrhages usually resolve on their own and do not require treatment.
