Black Fingertips

[Eve]

Just a curiosity question really. I saw someone the other day who had black fingertips down to just under the nail bed and all round the finger - not sure about the nails as they had varnish on. Fingers "looked" otherwise ok.

I'm just curious as to whether this could be a medical condition or some kind of custom if anyone can shed any light?

[ChuckFickens]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raynaud's_phenomenon

[Eve]

Thanks Chuck :) I'd thought about that (especially systemic disease as they seems to be more prevelant in certain ethnic minorities, like lupus and other associated conditions) though there were proper black, almost like dip-dyed!

[Peter Pedant]

any vasculitis - of the fingers - not a vasculitis of anywhere

or eating spoilt rye (ergotism)

[Sqad]

My guess?....nothing to do with a medical condition.\\\some kind of custom\\\ seems to be the answer.

[Eve]

Cheers all :) I think you might be right Sqad, hoping someone might see this and recognise some kind of custom. It was quite strange looking, very distinctive.

[Wak]

Could also have been refilling their black printer cartridge??????

[Eve]

It did look a bit like black ink/dye, it was on every finger of each hand and quite routine (all looked similar).

[coccinelle]

In North African countries there is a custom of dipping fingertips in henna for brides and grooms and sometimes guests. All depends from which area they are from as to which fingers, which hand etc By continually dipping the fingers in the henna the fingers get darker and darker this can be over a few days.
There are some regions where the man plunges his hands into the henna for days and literally does have black hands.

[Eve]

Thanks, that sounds like it could be it :) We have a large Libyan community round here - could hear many fireworks and festivities a certain night not so long ago.