Why Are My Fingernails Blue? (2024)

FAQs

Why Are My Fingernails Blue? ›

Blue nails may indicate that the blood is not carrying enough oxygen to the fingertips. There are many possible causes, including heart and lung diseases. Anyone with blue nails should seek medical advice. In some cases, fingernails turn blue or purplish because of cyanosis, which can also affect the lips and skin.

Blue fingernails, or cyanosis, occur when your blood doesn't have enough oxygen. It is most often caused by cold temperatures. Occasionally, it can be caused by medical conditions. These include diseases of the lungs or heart, or atypical blood cells or vessels.

Nail changes in vitamin B₁₂ deficiency present as hyperpigmentation of nails like bluish discoloration of nails, blue-black pigmentation with dark longitudinal streaks, and longitudinal and reticulate darkened streaks. The nail pigmentation associated with B₁₂ deficiency is more frequent in patients with dark skin.

Treatment of cyanosis typically starts with addressing the underlying causes for the restricted blood flow. Your doctor may also recommend medications to relax your blood vessels, such as anti-hypertension medications and antidepressants.

Why does it happen? Raynaud's is usually triggered by cold temperatures, anxiety or stress. The condition occurs because your blood vessels go into a temporary spasm, which blocks the flow of blood. This causes the affected area to change colour to white, then blue and then red, as the bloodflow returns.

There are several reasons your nails could be blue, including heart conditions. Sometimes a heart murmur will cause blue nail beds. When a health-care provider listens to your heart and hears a certain swooshing sound, it's an indication that the blood is flowing through the heart abnormally.

Terry's nails is a type of nail discoloration. The nailbeds look “washed out,” except for a thin reddish-brown strip near the tip. Often, Terry's nails is a symptom of a chronic condition, such as liver failure or diabetes.

If you have blue or purple nail beds or fingernails, it may be due to an underlying condition known as cyanosis . This condition is caused by a lack of oxygen in the blood. Cyanosis can result from exposure to cold temperatures, certain lung and heart conditions, circulation problems, issues with hemoglobin, and more.

Koilonychia is an abnormal shape of the fingernail. The nail has raised ridges and is thin and curved inward. This disorder is associated with iron deficiency anemia. Leukonychia is white streaks or spots on the nails often due to drugs or disease.

Preventing black-and-blue nails

You can prevent many nail problems by wearing the right shoes and trimming your nails properly. To help prevent infection, keep your feet clean and dry. If you have diabetes, talk with your healthcare provider before doing any foot self-care. The right shoes.

What to do when fingers turn blue? ›

A type known as peripheral cyanosis, or acrocyanosis, primarily affects the hands and feet. Sometimes cold temperatures can cause the narrowing of blood vessels and lead to blue-tinged skin. Warming or massaging the blue areas should return the necessary blood flow and color to the skin.

Peripheral cyanosis is the bluish discoloration of the distal extremities (Hands, fingertips, toes), sometimes involving circumoral and periorbital areas. Mucous membranes are generally not involved. Peripheral cyanosis is rarely a life-threatening medical emergency.

Some drugs such as D-penicillamine, gold, thiol-containing drugs, and bucillamine can cause nail discoloration, which resolves after discontinuation [8]. Nail infections and mycosis should be ruled out. Amlodipine is a dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB) used for hypertension and angina [3].

Blue nails may indicate that the blood is not carrying enough oxygen to the fingertips. There are many possible causes, including heart and lung diseases. Anyone with blue nails should seek medical advice. In some cases, fingernails turn blue or purplish because of cyanosis, which can also affect the lips and skin.

COVID nails are a possible symptom that may occur and persist weeks or months after COVID-19 infection, but what do COVID nails look like? Those changes may consist of dents, orange, red, or white discoloration, ridges, or Beau's lines—horizontal grooves across your nails.

Healthy nails are generally pink. Very pale nails may indicate illnesses, such as anemia, congestive heart failure or liver disease. Poor nutrition also may be a culprit. It's a good idea to get very pale nails checked by a doctor.

What do 'light blue nails' mean on TikTok? Basically, if you've got blue nails, it means that you have a boyfriend, or you're taken. There's also a theory that when girls ask their boyfriends what colour they should get their nails done, they will apparently always say "light blue" or "baby blue".

Healthy nails should look pink on the nail bed and white when grown off the nail bed. Any other color could be a sign of a deficiency or disease. For instance, clear, pale nails can be a sign of anemia or poor nutrition. White nails, also known as Terry's nails, are a sign of kidney disease, liver disease, or diabetes.

Peripheral cyanosis is when someone's hands, fingertips, or feet turn blue due to a lack of oxygen-rich blood. Some causes include Raynaud's disease, cardiovascular problems, and hypothermia.