What do the Red Lines on my Fingernails Mean?

What are the Red Lines on Your Fingernails?

We don’t often pay close attention to our fingernails. As long as they are not falling apart, we tend to not take much notice. It might not be until you are getting your gel nails, that you notice something isn’t quite right. The condition of your nails can actually tell you a lot about your general health and if there is something unusual, such as red lines, you may be suffering from an underlying health issue. Red lines are likely to be blood lines and the condition is probably a splinter hemorrhage. Splinter hemorrhages can be perfectly harmless, but in some cases, they may be caused by an underlying condition.

What is a Splinter Hemorrhage?

A splinter hemorrhage is the result of blood leakage from the small blood vessels on the nail bed. If you have had an injury to the nail, hitting your fingernail for example, or anything that could have caused trauma to the nail, this is the likely cause of the splinter hemorrhage. However, if you don’t remember any cause for the injury, it may be an underlying illness and, in this case, it would be better to seek advice from your doctor.

Do I Need to See a Doctor if I Have Red Lines on my Fingernails?

The potential conditions causing a splinter hemorrhage are wide-ranging and include antiphospholipid syndrome, which is when blood clots develop, both in the arteries and the veins. They could also be a symptom of lupus.

Conditions such as infectious endocarditis, which is a sign of an underlying infection could also be behind your red lines. Injecting illegal drugs can also cause splinter hemorrhages, as well as nail psoriasis or rheumatic heart disease. As you can see, there are all kinds of potential conditions causing red lines on the fingernails and the only real way to find out is to speak to your doctor. You should definitely visit your doctor if you have other symptoms, such as a fever or joint pain. If you are concerned, I would always advise you to seek a medical opinion.

Are There Home Remedies for Red Lines on my Fingernails?

If the red lines are just a result of trauma, they probably won’t need any treatment and will vanish with time. However, it is a good idea to try and give your nutrition a boost by eating a diet with a higher quantity of vitamins and zinc, as well as drinking more water.

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These supplements, which include Vitamin D, calcium, magnesium and zinc are a great choice for improving your intake of all the good stuff!

If there is no known cause of the splinter hemorrhages and they are not going away, it’s important to seek advice from your doctor as there may be an underlying health condition such as splinter hemorrhages.

Check out these red fingernail guidelines to make sure if you should be worried in case you are experiencing red lines on your fingernails.


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