Tiny Red Lines Under the Toenail
Tiny red streaks under toenails (or fingernails) are known as splinter hemorrhages and are caused by broken blood vessels under the nail when small blood clots damage the capillaries. This could indicate a heart infection called endocarditis. People who have received a pacemaker, have an existing heart condition or are immune suppressed (ie: those on immunosuppressant drugs, diabetics, cancer patients, HIV patients) are at a higher risk for endocarditis.
Endocarditis can cause heart failure if it is left untreated, so if you haven’t experienced any recent trauma and notice tiny red lines under your nails, ask your doctor to check your blood circulation and heart.
