My Fingernail Has an Indentation. I Have a Cyst Near My Fingernail. Sometimes Jelly-Like Fluid Comes Out Near My Fingernail.

A small cyst that forms near the fingernail — often at the tip of the finger by the base of the nail — is called a mucous cyst or ganglion cyst of the fingertip. It is a fluid-filled bump that arises from the joint at the end of the finger, near the nail.

The jelly-like fluid inside the cyst comes from the joint, usually as a result of arthritis or wear-and-tear in the end joint of the finger. Because the cyst sits right next to the nail matrix, the area that produces new nail, it can press on that tissue and cause a groove, ridge or indentation in your nail.

The Signs

• A smooth, rounded bump near the base of the fingernail
• A groove, ridge or indentation running along the nail above the cyst
• Occasionally, the cyst leaks jelly-like fluid if the skin over it thins or opens
• Usually little to no pain, though the lump can be tender

Sometimes Fluid Comes Out

Over a mucous cyst, the skin can become very thin and shiny. If the cyst opens, a clear, jelly-like fluid may drain onto the skin. When the cyst leaks repeatedly or the skin stays broken, there is a greater risk of infection, and treatment is usually recommended.

Treatment

Small, non-bothersome cysts that are not affecting the nail may simply be observed. When a cyst is painful, growing, draining, or causing a groove in the nail, treatment is often worthwhile. Because the cyst is connected to the joint, simply draining it often leads to recurrence. Surgical removal — taking out the cyst, its stalk, and any associated bone spurs at the joint — provides the most reliable way to stop it from returning.