What do fingernails look like with arthritis?

What do fingernails look like with arthritis?

The changes can take many forms. Your nails might crumble or come away from your finger. You might notice ridges, tiny dents called pits, spots of blood, or a yellow or brown color.

Can arthritis cause fingernail ridges?

RA may even lead to changes in your nails, such as the development of vertical ridges or a yellowing and thickening. Changes to your nails can be signs of RA or other systemic conditions and should be diagnosed by a doctor.

Can fingernails show signs of arthritis?

Nail symptoms are common in people with psoriasis — and even more common in those with psoriatic arthritis. As many as 80% of people with psoriatic arthritis notice changes in their nails. In fact, nail symptoms can be an early warning sign of this type of arthritis.

What do vertical ridges in your fingernails indicate?

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

Can osteoarthritis affect your fingernails?

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.

Why does a rheumatologist look at your nails?

In most, it means an increased likelihood of rheumatic disease. This means that the presence of these nail changes in a patient with inflammatory arthritis, and/or recurrent tendinopathy/enthesopathy, and/or spinal pain & stiffness is significant.

What illness causes ridges in nails?

“On occasion, they can be the result of medical conditions like diabetes or vitamin deficiency,” she explains. Anemia, rheumatoid arthritis, and peripheral vascular disease may also increase your risk for fingernail ridges. Nail trauma or a growth or tumor growing under the nail cause vertical ridges, too, Rodney adds.