Why does a rheumatologist look at your nails?

There are a number of reasons the appearance of your nails may give us a clue as to the problem you're presenting with (link for some examples). As a rheumatologist, I'm mainly checking out this part of your body to look for: Pitting: these are little holes or depressions in your nails.

Can fingernails indicate rheumatoid arthritis?

Changes to your nails can be signs of RA or other systemic conditions and should be diagnosed by a doctor. Most nail changes from RA do not need to be treated independently from the condition. RA can be managed with medication, and treatment may improve changes to your nails.

What can doctors tell by looking at your fingernails?

Everything from poor diet and stress to serious kidney problems can be revealed by a glance at your fingernails. There are about 30 different nail signs that can be associated with medical issues, though many may indicate more than one problem, according to Dr.

What can your fingernails tell you about arthritis?

If it's under the cuticle, your nail might crumble. Your nails also offer clues about PsA in the rest of your body. For example, blood spots under your nail can mean you have a lot of swollen joints. Nails that crumble or have ridges could mean you have more joint pain than other people with PsA.

What illness can you tell from your nails?

5 Things Your Nails Can Say About Your Health

What are 8 common nail disorders?

What are Covid nails?

COVID nails are nail changes that happen a few days or weeks after a COVID-19 infection. They're either a sign that the infection stressed your body, or they could be a rare symptom of the infection itself, depending on your symptoms.

Does rheumatoid arthritis affect your toenails?

Conclusion: Nail lesions, particularly in toenails, are highly prevalent in RA patients. Although most of them are non-specific, toenail findings suggestive of repetitive trauma may be considered a surrogate marker of disease damage.

Does osteoarthritis affect nails?

Osteoarthritic changes of the distal interphalangeal joints may cause nail lesions by exerting direct pressure on the nail matrix or by interfering with local blood flow. Moreover, inflammation of the Heberden's nodes is often present and seems to participate in the development of nail alteration.

Does lupus affect your nails?

Lupus Symptom: Nail Changes

Lupus can cause the nails to crack or fall off. They may be discolored with blue or reddish spots at the base. These spots are actually in the nail bed, the result of inflamed small blood vessels. Swelling may also make the skin around the base of the nail look red and puffy.

What do lines in your fingernails mean?

The bottom line. Ridges in the fingernails are usually signs of aging. Slight vertical ridges commonly develop in older adults. In some cases, ridges may be a sign of health problems like vitamin deficiencies or diabetes. Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau's lines, may indicate a serious condition.

What does a dark line on your nail mean?

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.

What do your toenails say about your health?

Yellow Toenails

Your toenails tell a lot about your overall health. A fungal infection often causes thickened yellow toenails. Thick, yellow nails also can be a sign of an underlying disease, including lymphedema (swelling related to the lymphatic system), lung problems, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.

What medical conditions cause ridges in fingernails?

Hypothyroidism slows down your metabolism. This can cause dry, brittle, and ridged nails. Liver disease and chronic kidney disease can also cause onychorrhexis.

Can arthritis deform your fingernails?

“Both fingernails and toenails can be affected, and it can affect one nail or all 20 nails,” says Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale School of Medicine. But considering how distorted nails can become when you have psoriatic arthritis, even one affected nail can be one too many.

Which is worse RA or osteoarthritis?

OA is more common than RA. Both involve inflammation in the joints, but RA causes much more inflammation. Until recently, experts believed that inflammation was not a feature of OA, and researchers are still investigating the role that it plays in the illness — whether it is a cause or a result of the condition.

Can MS affect nails?

Nail problems are common, and they are not usually serious. If a person has multiple sclerosis (MS), nail problems can cause pain or discomfort. While nail issues are not directly related to the disease, determining the cause may help prevent a person with MS from experiencing further discomfort.

What does rheumatoid arthritis look like in toes?

Claw toes. If inflammation isn't properly controlled, severe joint damage can cause the toes to take the shape of claws. The small toes take on a prominent appearance as they bend upward and then point downward at the middle joints. Sometimes, toes curl under the foot.

What does rheumatoid arthritis in toes feel like?

pain or stiffness in the toe joints or in the joints and ligaments throughout the foot. persistent aching or soreness in the feet, especially after walking, running, or standing for long periods of time. abnormal warmth in one or more areas of the foot, even if the rest of the body is relatively cool.

What do raised vertical lines on fingernails mean?

The vertical lines running from the cuticle to the top of the nail are nothing to be worried about. In most cases, such longitudinal ridging is simply a side effect of the normal aging process of nails. In addition, nails often lose their luster as they age and may appear opalescent and dull.

What do COVID toes look like?

COVID toes: One or more toes may swell and turn pink, red, or a purplish color. Others may see a small amount of pus under their skin. Sometimes, people who have COVID toes have other symptoms of COVID-19.

What deficiency causes vertical ridges in nails?

Our nails naturally develop slight vertical ridges as we age. However, severe and raised ridges can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia. Nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin B12 or keratin can result in fingernail ridges. Hormonal changes can also cause ridges to appear.

What does it mean when the moons on your fingernails disappear?

It happens when the red blood cells that carry iron-rich hemoglobin do not work correctly or when the body does not produce enough red blood cells. This causes an oxygen deficiency that can result in paleness, including paleness that makes the lunulae invisible.

What do nails look like with anemia?

Spoon nails are thin and soft and shaped like a little spoon that is often capable of holding a drop of water. There are many causes, but the most frequent one is iron deficiency anemia.

What is the most common nail disorder?

Brittle nail, simple chronic paronychia, and onycholysis represent three of the most prevalent nail disorders.