Is melanonychia serious?
Melanonychia, or melanin-derived brown-to-black nail pigmentation, is a diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The most serious disease of the nail unit, melanoma, primarily presents with melanonychia.
What do lines on nails mean?
The bottom line Ridges in the fingernails are often normal signs of aging. Slight vertical ridges commonly develop in older adults. In some cases, they may be a sign of health problems like vitamin deficiencies or diabetes. Deep horizontal ridges, called Beau’s lines, may indicate a serious condition.
Can you treat melanonychia?
Treatment of melanonychia depends on the underlying pathology. Treating the underlying systemic disease, removing an offending drug, or using antibiotic or antifungal treatments may cause the hyperpigmentation to regress. In the majority of cases, benign causes do not necessitate treatment.
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.
How long does benign melanonychia last?
If the cause is benign, the individual may not need treatment. Some cases of melanonychia may fade after addressing the cause. For example, if drugs are the cause, melanonychia should fade within 6–8 weeks of stopping the treatment.
What does black lines in fingernails mean?
A narrow black line that has formed vertically underneath your nail is called a splinter hemorrhage. It occurs for a variety of reasons and may be harmless or a sign of a more serious health condition. This condition is called a splinter hemorrhage because it may look like a wood splinter under your nail.
Should I be worried about melanonychia?
How is melanonychia diagnosed?
A doctor will usually diagnose the cause of melanonychia by taking a medical history and examining the nails. They will determine the number of affected digits and observe the pattern and color of the melanonychia. In some cases, the doctor may require further tests to aid diagnosis.
What do brown lines in fingernails mean?
Grey nails – can be caused by certain medications. Brown nails – can indicate a thyroid disease or malnutrition . Fingernails that are half white at the bottom and half brown near the tips can be a sign of kidney failure, AIDS or appear after chemotherapy.
What causes brown lines under fingernails?
Before finding the remedial measures it is important to rule out several causes that may cause brown line under the nails. Longitudinal brown lines under the finger nails result from increased production of melanin pigment. It is associated with several causes such as Addison’s disease, Nevus, melanoma.
What are longitudinal brown lines on nails?
Splinter hemorrhages are longitudinal thin lines, red or brown in color, that occur beneath the nail plate. They are visible when capillaries within the epidermal ridges leak ( Figure 5).
What is the brown line in your toenail?
Melanonychia is a condition of either the fingernails or the toenails. Melanonychia is when you have brown or black lines on your nails. The decolorization is usually in a stripe that starts at the bottom of your nail bed and continues to the top. It may be in one nail or several.
