The outlook for most benign melanonychia is good, and in most cases, does not require treatment. However, it usually does not go away by itself. The outlook for malignant melanonychia is not as good. This condition requires the removal of the tumor which may also include amputation of your finger or toe.
What causes linear melanonychia?
Melanonychia can be caused by inflammatory skin diseases that affect your nails. It can also be caused by inflammation due to friction from shoes and biting your nails. Poor nutrition. Malnutrition can cause melanonychia, especially a lack of protein, vitamin D, or vitamin B12.
What is linear melanonychia?
Longitudinal melanonychia is the most common type of melanonychia, a medical term used to describe a black or brownish pigmentation of the nail plate (the hard part of toenails or fingernails). Longitudinal melanonychia can look like a partial or complete stripe running length-wise (longitudinal) along the nail.
Is melanonychia always cancerous?
The most serious disease of the nail unit, melanoma, primarily presents with melanonychia. However, melanonychia most often occurs as a result of benign etiologies such as nail matrix melanocytic activation, nail matrix melanocytic hyperplasia, and nail invasion by melanin-producing pathogens.
How common is linear melanonychia?
Longitudinal melanonychia is quite common in dark-skinned races, especially in people of African descent. It is reported that nearly 100% of African-Americans develop this condition before 50 years of age1, 2, 3. Compared with dark-skinned races, the incidence in whites is very low at around 1%.
Should I worry about melanonychia?
Melanonychia is a very worrisome entity for most patients. It is characterized by brownish black discoloration of nail plate and is a common cause of nail plate pigmentation. The aetiology of melanonychia ranges from more common benign causes to less common invasive and in situ melanomas.
Can melanonychia turn into melanoma?
There are times melanonychia is so egregious that it can only be melanoma. A wide, deeply pigmented band with irregular lines and pigmented extension onto the periungual tissues is nearly pathognomonic for melanoma.
Why does my nail have a brown line?
Brown-black nail lines may represent blood from trauma; bacterial, fungal, or viral infection; drug reaction; endocrine disorders; exogenous pigmentation; excess melanin production within the nail matrix; nevi; or melanoma.
Will black line on nail go away?
Splinter hemorrhages appear as small black or deep-red lines and are caused by injuries to the small blood vessels under the nail beds. They usually heal on their own within a few days.
What vitamin deficiency causes brown lines in fingernails?
Nail color changes.
Nail plate discoloration can result from several nutritional deficiencies. Research has shown vitamin B12 deficiency to cause brown-gray nail discoloration.
Can melanonychia spread?
The complications of melanonychia will depend on the underlying cause. For example, if the melanonychia is malignant, it could spread and affect other parts of the body, leading to severe health issues. Some causes of melanonychia can lead to the nail becoming deformed, which people may find concerning or bothersome.
What vitamin deficiency causes lines in nails?
Our nails naturally develop slight vertical ridges as we age. However, severe and raised ridges can be a sign of iron deficiency anemia. Nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of vitamin A, vitamin B, vitamin B12 or keratin can result in fingernail ridges. Hormonal changes can also cause ridges to appear.
How long does it take for melanonychia to go away?
In the majority of iatrogenic melanonychia cases, the pigmentation develops 3-8 weeks after the initiation of treatment and fades away 6-8 weeks following treatment cessation [3].
Can white people get melanonychia?
Nearly all Afro-Caribbean people will develop black-brown pigmentation of the nails by the age of 50. Melanonychia affects up to 20% of Japanese people. White-skinned people are less commonly affected.
Why do I have a line on my nail?
This condition is called a splinter hemorrhage because it may look like a wood splinter under your nail. The condition is caused by damaged small blood vessels underneath your nail.
How do you get rid of black lines on your nails?
For black lines or splinter hemorrhage caused due to an injury or nail trauma, it may take up to days or months to heal. If this is accompanied by pain and inflammation, apply an ice pack or cold compress on the affected area and consult your doctor if this prolongs.
