What do splinter hemorrhages look like?
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.
Are splinter hemorrhages common?
1. Splinter hemorrhages are more common in the elderly, are more common in Black people, and are located distally. When found in women, splinter hemorrhages are more likely to indicate systemic disease.
How can you tell the difference between a melanoma and a splinter hemorrhage?
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.
Why do I keep getting splinter hemorrhages?
What causes splinter hemorrhages? 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 vitamin deficiency causes brown lines in fingernails?
Both iron and B12 are necessary for keeping nails strong and healthy. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in entirely blue nails, bluish-black pigments with wavy longitudinal dark streaks and brownish pigmentation ( 5 , 6 ).
How long does it take for splinter hemorrhages to go away?
When splinter hemorrhages result from trauma, they do not usually need treatment. As the nails continue to grow, the splinter hemorrhages should disappear over time. This process usually takes 3 to 4 months.
Can splinter hemorrhages be benign?
They are visible when capillaries within the epidermal ridges leak (Figure 5). While splinter hemorrhages may denote benign problems such as local trauma, psoriasis, or localized fungal infection, they are a classic finding in patients with endocarditis (Figure 9).
What does a splinter hemorrhage look like?
Splinter Hemorrhage. Medically reviewed by Alana Biggers, MD on July 24, 2017 — Written by Valencia Higuera. Splinter hemorrhages are tiny blood spots that appear underneath the nail. They look like splinters and occur when tiny blood vessels (capillaries) along the nail bed are damaged and burst. The nail bed is the skin underneath the nail.
What causes Splinter hemorrhages?
Splinter hemorrhages may be caused by small clots that damage small capillaries under the nails. One may have blood trapped by the overlying nail plates after bleeding.
What is a splinter hemorrhage on a toenail?
The nail bed is the skin underneath the nail. Small amounts of blood from the damaged blood vessel become visible through the nail. The bleeding creates a splinter-like line in the direction of nail growth. Splinter hemorrhages can occur on your toenails or fingernails. What are the symptoms of a splinter hemorrhage?
What are the treatments for Splinter hemorrhages?
Food rich in B vitamins and zinc may help to treat splinter hemorrhages. When splinter hemorrhages result from trauma, they do not usually need treatment. As the nails continue to grow, the splinter hemorrhages should disappear over time.