It is often emphasized how certain body parts reflect our health and fingernails are one such part, which depicts a lot about our health just by the looks of it.
Well yes, one such relevance is that of a narrow black line or lines that form vertically beneath your nail. This condition is called a ‘Splinter hemorrhage’. This occurrence could be due to several reasons and may or may not be a serious health disorder.
The formation of black lines arises in the tissues of the nail bed and can also be due to an injury. ‘Subungual Melanoma’, a fatal form of skin cancer could also be one of the reasons for these occurrences, if the formation of these lines is thicker and cover a major portion of your nail. The word subungual comes from the Latin word “sub” meaning beneath and “unguis” meaning nail or claw. Melanoma is a form of cancer that builds in cells called melanocytes. These cells produce melanin, the pigment which gives color to the skin, hair, and eyes.
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While in most cases subungual melanoma is found on the thumb or big toe, it can also be possible that these appear on any fingernail or toenail. Although they are often misdiagnosed and assumed to be a fungal infection and can sometimes be left ignored, they can, however, prove to be fatal for your health.
This condition is relatively uncommon and affects around 0.7% to 3.5% of the population with malignant melanoma worldwide. The condition is more common to be found among darker-complexioned individuals, including Asians, Hispanics, Africans, Americans. Subungual melanoma is also more popular among women and men in their 60s and 70s.
These are dark or faint black streaks that run parallel to the cuticle. Some of these streaks can be brown, black, or dark blue, and in some cases, these can be non-pigmented as well. With time, more streaks may appear and might often be of a different color and the portion nearest to the cuticle may become wider.
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One of the most common findings in subungual melanoma cases is Hutchinson’s sign. This is when the line extends from the top of the nail to the nail bed and finally makes its way into the cuticle.
Poor diet and vitamin deficiencies are some of the most common reasons for any ailments and making healthy changes in your lifestyle with regards to your diet and hygiene can prove to be beneficial in the long run.
If the diagnosis relates to a fungal infection, there are home several remedies to try for the removal of black lines naturally. Alternatively, one can also choose to go as per the medication prescribed by your doctor.
Between The Lines
Mix the ingredients well in a bowl and dip your affected nails for about 15 minutes and pat dry with a clean dry towel.
The appearance of a black streak on the nail can put you in agony but it does not imply that you have a disease or are at the risk of an ailment.
While at the same time this should not be ignored especially if the condition persists along with bleeding. It is advised to maintain nail hygiene and consult a dermatologist, if a problem is found early diagnosis and treatment helps.
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The Knowledge included here is only for information sharing purposes, and the blog is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis, medical advice, or treatment by a healthcare professional. Because individual needs appropriate advice, the reader should consult their doctor to determine the appropriate disease depending on their situation.
Disclaimer: The information included here is only for knowledge sharing purposes, and the blog is not intended to be a substitute for diagnosis, medical advice or treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of individual needs appropriate advice, the reader should consult their doctor to determine the appropriate disease depending on their situation.Having a line on your fingernail is called melanonychia. The lines are brown or black and can also appear on your toenails. It usually looks like a stripe that starts at the bottom of your nail bed and continues to the top.
No matter what the cause may be, you should always have a doctor check for melanonychia because it can sometimes be a sign of other health issues. Melanonychia may also be called melanonychia striata or longitudinal melanonychia.
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Melanonychia is black or brown discoloration of the nail. It may be longitudinal, as seen here, where it runs along the length of the nail. It can also be diffuse or transverse, where it runs along the width of the nail. Dermatology11/Shutterstock
The nails of your toes or fingers are usually translucent and not pigmented. Melanonychia is caused when the pigment cells, called melanocytes, deposit melanin — brown-colored pigment — into the nail. These deposits are usually grouped together. As your nail grows, it causes the stripe of brown or black to appear on your nail.
A diagnosis of melanonychia is reached after a series of exams. Your doctor will begin with a physical exam of all your fingernails and toenails. This includes looking at whether your nail is deformed, how many nails have melanonychia, as well as the color, shape, and size of your melanonychia. Your doctor will also look at your medical history to see if you have any conditions that may be causing the melanonychia.
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The next step in diagnosis is a dermatoscopic examination using a specific type of microscope to get a close look at the discolored areas. Your doctor will look primarily for signs that your melanonychia may be malignant.
Besides looking for signs of a possible melanoma, your doctor will combine findings from both the dermoscopy and the physical exam to determine the type and cause of your melanonychia.
After these two steps, your doctor may also perform a biopsy of your nail. A biopsy removes a small portion of your nail and nail tissue for examination. This step will be done in most cases of melanonychia unless there are no possible signs of cancer. A biopsy is an important step in the diagnosis of melanonychia because it will tell your doctor with certainty if it’s malignant or not.
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The treatment for melanonychia varies depending on the cause. If your melanonychia has a benign cause and is noncancerous, there’s often no treatment needed.
If your melanonychia is caused by medication, your doctor may change your medication or have you stop taking it for a time, if possible. For medications that you cannot stop taking, melanonychia may just be a side effect that you will get used to.
If your melanonychia is malignant or cancerous, the tumor or cancerous area must be completely removed. That may mean that you’ll lose all or part of your nail. In some cases, the finger or toe that has the tumor
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Possible complications of melanonychia include nail cancer, bleeding under the nail, splitting of your nail, and deformity of your nail. The nail biopsy can also cause nail deformity because it removes a portion of the nail.
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. Cancer of the nail is challenging to catch in the early stages because of its similarities to the benign causes of melanonychia. Research has found that performing a biopsy on most melanonychia is the best way to get an earlier diagnosis.
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Has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.For some people, a black line in the nail is simply a color variation, but it can also result from an injury. Other possible causes include the use of certain drugs and various health conditions, including HIV and cancer.
When a person has black or dark stripes running down their nails, the explanations can range from something normal through to severe, such as melanoma.
Most commonly, dark stripes down a person’s nail are due to a symptom known as linear melanonychia. According to the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, these stripes commonly occur in those of African-American descent who are age 20 and older.
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Linear melanonychia is considered a normal fingernail color variation. The condition occurs when pigments in the nail known as melanocytes make excess pigment. This causes the nail beds to darken.
Another cause of black lines on the nails is a splinter hemorrhage, which occurs when blood vessels under the fingernail are damaged, often due to injuries, such as hitting.
More seriously, a black line or lines on the nails can indicate the presence of melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer.
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Typically, healthy fingernails will have small vertical ridges in them, are curved downward from the nail, and do not crack or break easily. However, there are times when a person may experience black lines on the nail.
When a person has linear melanonychia, they may see dark stripes running down
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