Health

Why does my nail biter client have blood pooling under her nails?

December 07, 2012 | Bookmark +

I have a client who got her nails done yesterday. She is a bad biter and has just told me that she has what looks like blood pooling under a couple of her nails. I have never encountered this in 10 years. What could it be and what should I do?

Answer

This sounds like it may be a subungual hemorrhage, which is when blood gets trapped under the nail secondary to trauma, in this case from nail biting. However, there are many things, some serious, that can cause discoloration of the nail. If the problem persists I would recommend that she see a dermatologist.

— Dana Stern, M.D. is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in nails. She works in private practice in New York City.

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What’s the cause of the pinkish-red oval area on the pad of my client’s toes?

I have a client who has a recurring problem with her fourth toes during the winter months. Both of her “ring finger” toes develop a pinkish-red oval area on the pad. Then a month later, when I see her again, the skin has become dry and hard like a callus, with the layers of skin peeling away to reveal a deeper, dark epicenter.  It’s extremely painful for her and, needless to say, we do not touch it. But it clears up in the summer when she’s wearing open-toed sandals, so I suspect it has to be due to the boots she wears in the winter. Plus she never puts lotion on her feet or uses a foot file in between visits. What do you think causes this?

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What are the big white spots on my natural-nail client’s nails?

I have a client who has been with me for about two years. She used to wear acrylic nails but has been a natural nail client for eight months or so. She has these white spots on her nails — big spots that are dry, but not flaky, right in the middle of the nail. I did try to buff them lightly but they do not come off or grow off. I had a new client come in last week who had the same on her toenails. She said it started after she had a pedicure done at another salon. Can you help?

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