What Your Hands Can Say About Your Health

7. JOINTS THAT POP _Condition: _Trigger finger Finger joints that stick or lock, accompanied by a pop or clicking sound, are clues to this common condition, which happens when the tendon

that allows a digit to bend gets stuck and can’t glide smoothly in its sheath. The condition, which often occurs in the middle and ring fingers, can be quite painful, says Kaplan. “Trigger

finger usually happens in people who have underlying osteoarthritis due to some overgrowth of the bone irritating the tendon,” he explains. _What to do:_ Rest, splints, gentle stretching and

NSAIDs are helpful in quelling the pain. If these don’t work, your doctor may recommend a steroid injection. Surgery to release the tendon is a last resort. 8. NAIL PITTING, RED-BROWN LINES

UNDER NAILS _Condition:_ Psoriasis or skin cancer “Commonly, we see [nail issues] in association with psoriasis as well as psoriatic arthritis,” says Lipner. While you might expect to see

skin problems with psoriasis, sometimes pits in the nails are the condition’s only sign. But they may be accompanied by splinter hemorrhages (red-brown vertical lines under a nail that look

like splinters), and the nail may be lifted from the nail bed. Dark streaks under the nails can, in rare instances, indicate skin cancer. _What to do:_ Consult a dermatologist about the

possibility of psoriasis or skin cancer, the latter of which can be deadly if not treated. 9. DARK FINGERNAIL STREAKS _Condition:_ Skin cancer Black or brown streaks in a fingernail can be a

mole or a sign of infection, but there are more concerning possibilities. Dark streaks can also indicate melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer. “Nail melanomas are actually quite

rare,” says Lipner. “However, they’re important to diagnose early because they can be much more deadly than even skin melanomas.” In addition to the vertical lines, melanomas may also cause

the nail to split, bleed or seep pus. _What to do:_ See your doctor if you notice an issue. And since nail changes can go unnoticed among people who get regular manicures, be sure to give

your nails a good look once a month, Lipner adds.