Under the nails or in the nail beds, splinter hemorrhages appear as thin lines or streaks of blood. This blog post explores the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of splinter hemorrhages, which can be frightening, but they are usually harmless and may resolve on their own.
The following factors can cause splinter hemorrhages:
Splinter hemorrhages can result from minor trauma or injury to the nail bed, such as banging the finger or toe.
Splinter hemorrhages are caused by bacterial or fungal infections of the nail bed or surrounding tissues.
Splinter hemorrhages can result from inflammation of the blood vessels (vasculitis) caused by underlying medical conditions such as lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, or scleroderma.
Small blood clots can form as a result of infectious endocarditis, a bacterial infection of the heart valves, and travel to fingers or toes, resulting in splinter hemorrhages.
Splinter hemorrhages can result from nail disorders such as psoriasis, lichen planus, or onychomycosis (fungal nail infection).
Symptoms of splinter hemorrhages include:
Under the nails, splinter hemorrhages appear as small, reddish-brown lines or streaks.
In most cases, splinter hemorrhages occur under the nails, most commonly under the fingernails, but may also occur under the toenails.
Splinter hemorrhages are usually small and range in size from a few millimeters to a centimeter in length.
Splinter hemorrhages can persist for weeks to months, depending on the underlying cause.
An examination by a healthcare provider is usually sufficient for diagnosing splinter hemorrhages. In some cases, additional tests or evaluations may be performed to rule out underlying medical conditions.
Splinter hemorrhages may be associated with recent trauma, infections, or underlying health conditions.
Check the nails and surrounding tissues for signs of infection or inflammation and assess the size, location, and characteristics of the splinter hemorrhages.
Performing laboratory tests to determine whether underlying infections, inflammatory conditions, or blood disorders exist, such as complete blood count (CBC), blood cultures, or tests for inflammatory markers.
Depending on the cause and severity of the condition, splinter hemorrhages may resolve on their own without specific treatment. The following treatment options may be available if splinter hemorrhages persist or are associated with underlying medical conditions:
Splinter hemorrhages may be caused by underlying infections, inflammatory conditions, or nail disorders.
Prevent further damage and promote healing by keeping the nails clean and trimmed, avoiding trauma to the nails, and practicing good nail hygiene.
In cases of severe or persistent splinter hemorrhages related to conditions such as infective endocarditis, antibiotics or antifungal medications may be prescribed.
The prevention of splinter hemorrhages may involve preventing trauma, infections, or underlying medical conditions that can result in nail bed bleeding. Some common prevention strategies include:
If you engage in activities that may cause trauma to your nails, such as construction work or gardening, wear gloves or protective gear.
Keep the nails clean and dry, avoid biting or picking at them, and use gentle nail care techniques to prevent infections.
In case of persistent or recurrent splinter hemorrhages, consult a healthcare provider, as they may indicate an underlying medical condition.
Splinter hemorrhages are tiny blood spots that appear under the nails, resembling small splinters. They are often benign, but can sometimes indicate an underlying medical condition. For proper management and prevention of complications associated with splinter hemorrhages, it is crucial to understand their causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention methods.
Various factors can cause splinter hemorrhages, including:
A minor trauma or injury to the nail bed can rupture blood vessels, resulting in splinter hemorrhages.
As tiny blood clots lodge in the blood vessels under the nails, bacterial endocarditis, a serious infection of the heart valves, can cause splinter hemorrhages.
Splinter hemorrhages can also be caused by vasculitis, an inflammation of blood vessels.
Inflammation and immune system dysfunction may contribute to splinter hemorrhages in autoimmune diseases such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis.
Deficiencies in nutrients like vitamin C or certain minerals can weaken blood vessels, which can increase the risk of splinter hemorrhages.
The reddish-brown lines or streaks that appear under the nails are usually signs of splinter hemorrhages. Other symptoms may depend on the underlying cause, such as fever or joint pain in the case of bacterial endocarditis. They are usually painless and usually run in the direction of the nail growth.
Several diagnostic tests may be used to determine the cause of splinter hemorrhages. These include:
In order to determine the possible cause of splinter hemorrhages, healthcare providers examine the nails and ask about symptoms.
Infection, inflammation, or underlying medical conditions may be detected through blood tests.
An echocardiogram may be performed to evaluate the heart valves for signs of infection or damage if bacterial endocarditis is suspected.
Splinter hemorrhages are treated by addressing the underlying cause. Depending on the underlying cause, treatment options may include:
The infection will be treated with antibiotics if bacterial endocarditis is diagnosed.
Medications that reduce inflammation and suppress the immune system may be prescribed for vasculitis or autoimmune diseases.
Vitamins and minerals may be prescribed if nutritional deficiencies are identified as the cause.
To alleviate discomfort and prevent further nail damage, pain management and proper nail care may be recommended.
To prevent splinter hemorrhages, it is important to minimize the risk factors associated with their underlying causes. Some preventive measures include:
Maintaining good nail hygiene can prevent trauma and splinter hemorrhages by keeping the nails clean and trimmed.
Wearing gloves during activities that could cause injury to the nails, such as gardening or carpentry, can reduce the risk of injury.
Splinter hemorrhages can be prevented by managing underlying medical conditions such as bacterial endocarditis, vasculitis, and autoimmune diseases.
Eating a balanced diet rich in vitamins and minerals can help prevent nutritional deficiencies that may cause splinter hemorrhages.
