What do splinter hemorrhages in nails mean?
Splinter hemorrhages occur when small blood vessels called capillaries under the skin beneath your nail (nail bed) burst due to damage. The leaking blood becomes visible through your nail. Splinter hemorrhages most often occur after you injure your nail, but sometimes they are a sign of a health condition.
Can splinter hemorrhages go away?
No treatment is necessary for splinter hemorrhages caused by trauma. Depending on the severity of the injury, the hemorrhage may clear up within a couple of days or slowly disappear as your nail grows out. Because nails grow at a slow pace, it may take several months for the splinter-like mark to completely disappear.
What causes black lines in finger nails?
Splinter hemorrhage Splinter hemorrhages appear as small black or deep-red lines and are caused by injuries to the small blood vessels under the nail beds. They usually heal on their own within a few days.
Why do I have so many splinter hemorrhages?
Splinter hemorrhages can occur with infection of the heart valves (endocarditis). They may be caused by vessel damage from swelling of the blood vessels (vasculitis) or tiny clots that damage the small capillaries (microemboli).
What does a black streak on your nail mean?
Another cause of black lines on the nails is a splinter hemorrhage, which occurs when blood vessels under the fingernail are damaged, often due to injuries, such as hitting. More seriously, a black line or lines on the nails can indicate the presence of melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer.
How can you tell the difference between a melanoma and a splinter hemorrhage?
What is the black line on my toenail?
Black line on the nail. A narrow black line that has formed vertically underneath your nail is called a splinter hemorrhage. It occurs for a variety of reasons and may be harmless or a sign of a more serious health condition.
What do red and black lines on fingernails mean?
Black lines can signify some further health troubles, but so can reddish or brown ones. These lines, mentioned earlier, are called splinter hemorrhages and indicate small areas of bleeding beneath the nails. These thin red lines run vertically down the nail, and basically look like splinters,…
What does it mean when you have a splinter under your nail?
This condition is called a splinter hemorrhage because it may look like a wood splinter under your nail. The condition is caused by damaged small blood vessels underneath your nail. Characteristics include the following: It’s black or reddish brown in color.
What does it mean when your nail bleeds under the nail?
Bleeding underneath the nails is known as a splinter hemorrhage and this sometimes causes black or dark red lines. It can occur due to blood vessel inflammation or capillary damage and affect one or multiple nails.