Nails Transform Unexpectedly Due to Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Examination of Alterations
Got some less-than-fabulous fingernails, huh? It might be your body trying to tell you something serious is going down, like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). You know, that pesky autoimmune disease that attacks your joints and causes inflammation and tissue damage.
Changes in your nails, like ridges, yellowing, or splinter hemorrhages, could be red flags. If you spot these changes, it's crucial to chat with a healthcare professional. Remember, your nails can signal a problem even before other RA symptoms surface.
RA and nail changes
RA can wreak havoc on your nails, causing ridging, yellowing, thickening, and splinter hemorrhages. While it's not the primary culprit, RA can sure make nails look funky.
Other symptoms of RA
Pain or stiffness in multiple joints, swelling, symptoms affecting both sides of the body, weight loss, fatigue, fever, and weakness—these are some other symptoms you might experience if you have RA. If left untreated, RA can cause permanent damage to your bones and joints.
Rheumatoid arthritis: More than a nail problem
RA is an autoimmune condition that targets your joints, primarily those in your hands, wrists, and knees. But it doesn't stop there. The tissue damage it causes can affect your organs as well.
Nail changes: Which ones to watch for
Here's what you should look out for:
Yellow nail syndrome
If your nails turn yellow and thicken, you might be dealing with yellow nail syndrome. And guess what? RA could be the culprit, along with thiol drugs used to treat RA. In worst-case scenarios, nails can separate from the nail bed and fall out, leading to infections.
Longitudinal ridging
If grooves start to develop that run the length of your nails, from base to tip, it's called onychorrhexis. While a variety of things can cause ridging, them turning into fissures or damaging the nail bed can make you vulnerable to infections.
Splinter hemorrhages
When you see tiny blood vessels leaking under your nails, you've got splinter hemorrhages. While an injury to the nail can cause them, they could also be a sign of an underlying systemic disease like RA if you notice them on multiple nails without any signs of injury.
Other potential changes
Keep an eye out for these changes if you're experiencing other RA symptoms or have a higher risk of developing RA:
- Capillary changes
- Clubbing
- Onycholysis
- Nail bed telangiectasia
- Brittle nails
- Pterygium
- Palpable purpura
- Nailfold infarcts
Rheumatoid arthritis nail pictures
RA vs. psoriatic arthritis nail changes
RA and psoriatic arthritis share some similarities, such as joint pain and nail changes, but there are differences too.
PsA is a mix of psoriasis and arthritis symptoms that often affect the last finger joint the hardest. On the other hand, not every RA patient will experience nail-related symptoms, but those with PsA are more likely to have skin and nail problems.
Rheumatoid arthritis treatment
To treat RA nail changes, you've got to tackle the root cause first: RA. Doctors might prescribe medications like disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or biological response modifiers (biologics) to help manage RA symptoms.
Your doc might also suggest lifestyle changes to reduce and manage RA symptoms, such as exercise, taking movement classes for arthritis, quitting smoking, getting enough rest, changing your diet, or seeing a rheumatologist.
When to see a doc
Nail changes can signal a range of underlying health conditions, so if you notice any changes, it's a good idea to have a chat with a doctor or dermatologist ASAP. If you have other symptoms that suggest RA, let your doctor know and ask about seeing a rheumatologist. The earlier you catch RA, the sooner you can start managing your symptoms.
- Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) can cause changes in your nails, such as ridging, yellowing, thickening, and splinter hemorrhages, which might be a red flag for the condition.
- If you spot grooves developing that run the length of your nails from base to tip (onychorrhexis), this may make you vulnerable to infections, and it could be a sign of RA if left untreated.
- Some other potential nail changes to watch for if you're experiencing RA symptoms or have a higher risk of developing RA include capillary changes, brittle nails, pterygium, and palpable purpura.
