blue nail beds

  My 17 year old daughter's hands are always very cold.  Her nail beds often are blue.  She is in good health.  Is this a something that is common?  Does it mean anything?
  Thanks for your help.
  Bev

[Cleveland Clinic, MD]

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Dear Bev,
Thank you for your question. There are several reasons for blue nailbeds. One possibility is poor oxygenation.  This could be due to any number of reasons; lung problems, anemia, carbon monoxide, etc.  A more benign possibility  is Raynaud's phenomenon.  This harmless condition causes coloration changes in the fingers with changes in temperature.  I suppose the third possibility in today's teenage is blue nail polish - which I'm sure you've excluded.  If you are at all concerned about her condition I would suggest a trip to the doctor for a examination.  
I hope you find this information useful.  Information provided in the heart forum is for general purposes only.  Only your physician can provide specific diagnoses and therapies.  Please feel free to write back with additional questions.
If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter.  The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.