Fingernail color changes?

[rareed]

Hi all! I just noticed a couple of days ago that my fingernail beds have changed color. At first I only noticed it in both my thumbnails but I can also see it now in my index fingers and my middle finger on my right hand. Both the pinkies and ring fingers seem to be normal in color. Right above the lunula (moon shaped thing) seems to be a dark red/purple color and above that the nail turns to white. It hasn't gone away and I've tried warming up my hands to see if it was just due to the cold but that didn't work, it's been two days now. Just wondering if this could be related to the heart? I have BAV with mild aortic regurgitation and had OHS in 2008 for thoracic aortic aneurysm.


Here are the pictures: http://imgur.com/a/xf2qM

 

[clay_from_nj]

I think that bluish nails or nail beds usually indicates a lack of oxygen. The obvious thing would be to point to your heart condition. Has a doctor looked at you in a while? Maybe you can get access to a pulse oximeter (I bought one in a drug store). To me, it looks like you might have been scratching or prying at something, kind of lifting up on the nails. The separation would cause the white part and the trauma (bruising) would cause the purplish. (Yes, I know something of minor hand and finger trauma from years of personal experience...)

 

[rareed]

I haven't been to my cardiologist since June 2013 and am due back in June 2014 (once a year echo's), but will probably go to my regular physician if this keeps up. The white part isn't from the nail physically lifting off the nail bed and separating, the nail bed underneath the nail plate is actually white. Hope your nail trauma hasn't been too bad!

 

[clay_from_nj]

Google turned this up (and other pages seem to agree): http://www.handresearch.com/finger-nails/nail-tutor-lunula-colour-blue.htm.

 

[rareed]

Google turned this up (and other pages seem to agree): http://www.handresearch.com/finger-nails/nail-tutor-lunula-colour-blue.htm.

Thanks for the info Clay! I checked my blood pressure when i got home from work a few times and noticed the systolic pressure was a little higher than normal 125-137 over 64-78. Normally it is about 105-113 over 60 to 75. Will keep an eye on it the next few days.

 

[epstns]

I don't think I would panic over it, unless something didn't feel right physically. As I look at my own nails, the middles of several are lighter pink to white, and I've already had my BAV replaced. I don't think your BP readings are anything serious, either.

Looking at the pictures, those could be my fingers, except that they aren't banged up enough and don't have all the scars I do. That's what I get for using my fingers and hands where I should have used tools. . .