Q: Is a red line running the length of your fingernail a cause for concern?
A: A red line does not necessarily signal a worrisome medical condition. It may simply mean that the underlying blood vessels are more visible through a thinner nail plate, which happens to most of us as we grow older.
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
Other times, a single red line may be caused by any one of a number of benign growths in the nail including a lipoma, which is a fatty tumor, a fibroma, or wart.
But in some cases, a red line running the length of your nail may mean something more serious, such as squamous cell nail cancer. If you notice red lines on several of your fingers, it could signal inflammation of the nail root by a variety of conditions such as psoriasis or lichen planus.
Red lines on your nails are worth mentioning to your physician during your regular visit. If there is any change in the line, such as widening or darkening, have your nails evaluated by a doctor.
— Dermatologist Thomas Knackstedt, MD
