Do you ever have taken off you nail polish Just to label a dark line on the nail that drives vertically down the finger? These black lines on nails may look like bruises or inner color – not As you just created a wild Nail art. Because your nails are a reflection of your general health, if you see any abnormal markings or they are extremely brittle and continueIt is important to get some of the usual checked out by a doctor first to determine if it is just a splinter bleeding, melanonychia or something worse as melanoma.
To help us understand what the thin black lines on nails are and how we treat them, we turned to professionals. Continue reading for everything you need to know.
Experts displayed in this article
Joshua writerMD, is a board -certified dermatologist and head of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City.
Hannah Lee Is a celebrity manicure.
Common causes of black lines on nails
- Splinter bleeding (nail trauma)
- Fungal infection
- Melanonychia
- Melanoma
Black lines on nails from longitudinal melanonychia
Not all marks on the nails are the cause of alarms. “A black line that extends in the longitudinal direction from the cuticle to the free edge of the nail is often pigment,” says board -certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner. “This can be a normal variant. Just as we develop moles on the body, they can develop at the base of the nail. When this happens, it is the extra pigment produced in the base of the nail racks with the nail when it grows out. This is known as longitudinal melanonychia. Especially in people with more melanated skin.
Although this is quite common and usually not an indication of something serious, “if it occurs in a single nail and the streak is new, it should be evaluated,” says Dr. Zeichner. “The most important sign to look for is if the pigment affects the skin of the cuticle itself. When it does, it is worrying.”
Black lines on nails from a splinter bleeding
“The most common dark stripes that occur in nails develop as a result of trauma,” says Dr. Zeichner. “Known as splinter bleeding, these are small black lines that occur in the longitudinal direction in the nail. They develop as blood leaks into the space between the nail and the nail bed and are caught in the skin.
It can see black or reddish brown in color, does not change appearance when applying press the nail and appear in one or more places under the nail. “The good news is that these are completely harmless,” says Dr. Zeichner. “No treatment is necessary when they grow out with the nail. They usually develop rapidly, seemingly nowhere.” NOTE: Thicker lines that create a horizontal stripe on the nail is called Beau’s Lines, which are often symptoms of a more serious condition.
As Dr. Zeichner mentioned often caused splinter bleeding by trauma. “Another common reason for these may occur is due to poor nutrition or one Fungal infection“says manicureist Hannah Lee.
Serious conditions that can cause splinter bleeding include bacterial endocarditis, vasculitis, systemic diseases, diabetes, Raynaud’s disease and cholesterol. Lee emphasizes the importance of seeing a professional if you think it may be the underlying cause: “It is always recommended to visit your doctor to confirm why these lines appear,” says Lee. “From there it is best to discuss a plan for what you may miss or need to do to treat the lines properly with guidance from a doctor.”
How to treat black lines on nails
There is no real treatment for splinter bleeding, except time. “You usually just wait for the black lines to grow out as long as it is not caused by anything more serious, like melanoma,” Lee says. (Again you want to see your doctor to be safe.)
If the black lines are for a moment and you would rather not look at them every day, painting of the nails can help cover them until they disappear. It is good to use colored Polish, which can easily be removed at home if you need to check your nail health. “It’s perfectly good to paint over them if it is only caused by something like trauma,” Lee says. “If it turns out to be something like a fungal infection or melanoma, it would be best to get what is being treated immediately before applying again.”
Most of the time is thin, vertical black lines under the nails no cause for concern. But if you have had them for a while or if you just want to make sure they are not a sign of something more serious, it is your best option to be reviewed by a doctor.
Jessica Harrington (She/her) is a senior editor for PS Beauty, where she monitors coverage around makeup, skin care, hair, tattoos and more. With more than eight years of industry experience, she has interviewed countless celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends and put more lipsticks than she can count. Before PS, Jessica worked for publications such as makeup.com, skincare.com and the ZOE report.
Sydni Ellis is a former PS contributor.
