Black lines on nail can look rather unsatisfying and it can also be quite difficult to get rid of. There are a few different causes for this condition; luckily there are also a few different methods that can help get rid of it entirely.

First determine what the black line is

Before looking for a ways to fix the problem, first investigate what exactly the black lines on the nail are. Here are the possible reasons for getting this condition:

Splinter hemorrhage

Splinter hemorrhages are caused by blood that is under the nail which almost looks like a splinter has occurred. The reason behind developing black lines on the nail in this case is because blood vessels around the nail area might have burst. This results in the nail bed being damaged, which causes the lines on the nail.

Splinter hemorrhages occur on the toenails and finger nails and often aren’t painful at all. The only time you will experience pain from this is if you’ve jammed your finger in a door or slammed your finger/ toe onto a solid surface.

Melanoma

Melanoma can develop anywhere on the body, however it is common to develop on the body. This is severely serious because it is known for being a type of skin cancer. People who are most at risk of developing Melanoma are Africans.

Fungus infections

This can be one of the possibilities for getting black lines on the nail. Visit your doctor to further examine the infection.

Other possibilities

There are other less serious possibilities of getting black lines on the nail. This can be caused by simple reasons such as ink spills etc.

Contact your doctor before treatment

Before treating any condition, especially one that can be extremely serious, it’s of utmost importance that you visit a doctor.

Your doctor will run a few tests to help determine what the underlying cause of the black lines is. During this time it’s important to take the medical advice given to you by your doctor. In certain cases your doctor might look for other symptoms such as a fever, fatigue, joint pain, and shortness of breath to determine if you could have endocarditis.

How to get rid of black lines on the nail

After consulting with your medical practitioner you can try these methods that might help get rid of the issue.

Wait it out

If you have a splinter hemorrhage then you could wait it out until the nail grows out. Once the nail starts growing out, so will the black line. Don’t be too concerned about getting rid of a splinter hemorrhage because they usually disappear before you know it.

Scrub your hands

If you’ve had an ink spillage and messed some dark ink on your nails then try scrubbing the ink of. Uses a nail brush along with a mild soap to help get rid of any stains. Just be careful not to over scrub the area because this can damage your cuticles.

Baking soda

Baking soda works superbly when trying to get rid of fungus. Reason being that it has antifungal properties and it’s antimicrobial.

You will need:

2 tablespoons of baking soda
1 tablespoon of water
4 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar

Stir the ingredients together until it is well combined and then soak the nails in the mixture. Ideally, you will want to leave your nails in the solution for about 20 minutes. After the nails are soaked, gently pat dry with a towel.

This can be done once or twice a day, depending on the severity of the problem.

Nail health care tips

Try and maintain healthy nails by taking a few vitamins that are made for the nails. These vitamins keep the nails strong and healthy by providing it with all the nutrients that is required.

Always wear protective gloves when working with strong chemicals. Certain detergents and cleaning agents can completely ruin the skin and nails.

Avoid having long nails because this attracts more dirt and bacteria to form in and around the nails. However, if you do keep long nails always ensure to keep them as clean as possible. Invest in a nail scrub to help get rid of dirt from under the nails.