& another pic

[Caza]

Maybe this angle gives you a better view of the dent.

[helixhelix]

Photo isn’t really in focus, so only get a vague impression? Do you have psoriatic arthritis? As ridged and pitted nails more common with that. Otherwise could be an infection of the nail bed, have you noticed it being hot and red at all? If it is then time to visit the GP....

[Caza in reply to helixhelix]

Thanks for replying HH. PA has never been mentioned to me so guessing not. My nails all have ridges on them & my little finger nail is completely split into. Right down the middle. The finger(sorry about it not being a great pic) has been red swollen painful & bumpy for a couple of years now but the dent is new. I showed it to the consultant who said it was IOA

[charisma]

I don’t have first hand experience of that but it looks like one effect of OA of the DIP. Does it get a swelling which could be a cyst?

[helixhelix in reply to charisma]

That’s a thought....my OH has a myxoid cyst in his nail bed and dents in his nail.

Many of my nails are ridged..

[charisma in reply to helixhelix]

Mine are ridged vertically..

[Caza in reply to helixhelix]

If it was a cyst would the nail bed be more swollen & painful than what it is?

[charisma in reply to Caza]

I don’t know... but probably would look round and swollen?

[helixhelix in reply to Caza]

OH’s is a hard’ish lump below the nail bed, that sticks out of the side of his finger.

[Caza in reply to charisma]

Do you mean swelling on the nail bed, no it doesn’t just red but just below that are hard lumps. I don’t think it’s a cyst.

[charisma in reply to Caza]

Best ask a doctor. The pics of cysts I have seen are below where the cuticle ends ie on or under the skin of the top part of thumb. I have no personal experience of this.

[Caza in reply to charisma]

I’ll show the consultant next time I’m there.