Secondary Raynauds , haemorrhaged capillaries near fingernails

[andy7551]

I've had secondary raynauds for about 3 years, diagnosed by nailfold capillaroscopy and thermology (just told bluntly that my capillaries are abnormal)

I've had all sorts of issues from it like poor/distorted nail growth, white fingers when cold and red puffy fingers when warm, chillblains, red skin just below the nailfold, swollen fingers etc. prescribed Nifedipine in July 2022.

Things has seemed to settle a little this winter, my nails were back to normal, and I'd been using Nifedipine less, really only if I was going to be out in the cold for long periods.

The lastest development is that I'm getting small dark red areas just below the nail, on the cuticles, and on the skin just below that of certain fingers - to me it looks like red blood cells escaping the capillaries and getting into the skin - so haemorrhages of the capillaries possibly.

Has anyone experienced this, does it have a name? It's definitely not occuring on the nail itself (this seems more common when searching )

What happens next? Does it carry on getting worse, do other sysmptoms appear?

It's difficult to photograph because the areas are only a couple of millimetres long each. I will try to get a photo.

[andy7551]

The worst fingers shown, this started a couple of weeks ago.

Dark red groups of lines at the nail fold/cuticle

[Brychni in reply to andy7551]

Yes, I get these. My next rheumatology appointment is in May. I have another pic somewhere...

Nail fold red spots

[LadyTrundle]

sounds/ looks like it could be telengetasia. Very common, can happen any where. I have a few in my fingers, cheeks, chest, legs …

[castlewalks]

Hi, I had similar brownish marks on all fingers for years before I was diagnosed with scloderma. After starting nifidepine they have disappeared.

[OldTed60]

If you’re wondering whether this is a sign of autoimmune connective tissue disease then you should show your rheumatologist or GP and they can request another nailfold capilleroscopy.

If it helps I was finally diagnosed with systemic sclerosis last year, due to specific antibody, severe GI problems and specific nailfold capillary changes of early scleroderma.

I had years of red spots coming and going on fingertips with splinter haemorrhages and deeper permanent capillary pink spots under skin. However I cannot see these newer changes at all with naked eye like yours - it took the Prof at Royal Free to look with dermascope and quickly identify .

Two years previously I was told that my normal nail fold capilliaries meant not systemic sclerosis but overlap CTD with Sjogren’s. So the change was quite rapid but only visible to me as worsening Raynaud’s despite 100mg Losartan and regular Iloprost infusions. Meanwhile if I were you I’d get back onto full dose of Nifedipine if you tolerate it - or ask for other type of vasodilator as well or instead.