What condition involves the nail bed being damaged due to physical trauma?

Splinter hemorrhages are caused by physical trauma that results in the rupture of small blood vessels beneath the nail bed, leading to the appearance of red or brown streaks that resemble splinters. This condition is primarily a result of damage to the nail bed and surrounding tissues due to injury.

The characteristic presentation of splinter hemorrhages serves as a clue to their origin, as they often align longitudinally with the direction of nail growth. Understanding this mechanism is essential for properly assessing nail health and identifying potential underlying issues, especially in cosmetology and nail technology fields.

In contrast, conditions like a pincer nail involve structural abnormalities of the nail, plicatured nail refers to nails that are folded or bent, and nail pterygium is the growth of skin onto the nail plate, none of which are directly associated with trauma-induced damage to the nail bed.