What does a brown line on your nail mean?

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.

Is melanonychia serious?

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.

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.

Does melanonychia go away?

The treatment options for melanonychia will depend on the primary cause. 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.

Is melanonychia common?

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%.

Subungual Melanoma: What You Need to Know

What does melanonychia look like?

Melanonychia occurs when you have brown or black lines on your nails. The decolorization usually appears as a stripe that starts at the bottom of your nail bed and continues to the top. It may appear in one nail or several. These lines can be a natural occurrence if you have a dark complexion.

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 know if melanonychia is cancerous?

What does Stage 1 melanoma look like?

Stage IA Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is less than 1.0 millimeter thick (less than the size of a sharpened pencil point) with or without ulceration (broken skin) when viewed under the microscope. Stage IB Melanoma: The melanoma tumor is more than 1.0 millimeter and less than 2.0 millimeters thick without ulceration.

How can you tell the difference between melanoma and melanonychia?

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.

Can nail melanoma be cured?

Subungual melanoma is treated surgically. Your doctor will first remove your entire nail and then remove the growth. To date, surgery is the only viable treatment method for this type of melanoma.

Will black line on nail go away?

Splinter hemorrhage

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.

Why is there a horizontal line on my nail?

The most common cause of horizontal ridges on the nails is called “Beau's lines.” Horizontal ridging of the nails is trauma to the nail matrix, which is located just behind the cuticle. There are also a few, rarer nail conditions that can portend liver or kidney issues.

Can B12 deficiency cause nails?

Both iron and B12 are necessary for keeping nails strong and healthy. A deficiency in vitamin B12 can result in entirely blue nails, bluish-black pigments with wavy longitudinal dark streaks and brownish pigmentation ( 5 , 6 ).

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].

What do nails look like with anemia?

Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition known as hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat.

Can fingernails show signs of illness?

Did you know your nails can reveal clues to your overall health? A touch of white here, a rosy tinge there, or some rippling or bumps may be a sign of disease in the body. Problems in the liver, lungs, and heart can show up in your nails.

What vitamin deficiency causes vertical lines in fingernails?

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.

Is black line on nail normal?

Conclusion. The black line on nail is usually caused due to splinter hemorrhages which depending on the underlying cause can be treated and rarely poses any fatal threats. Usually, this is a harmless health condition but can be a sign of a serious problem too. Generally, it grows if you face any nail trauma.

What causes nail discoloration?

Nail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is one of the most prevalent causes of toenail discoloration. The most common organism to cause toenail fungus is called dermatophyte. However, mold or yeast can also infect toenails. Dermatophytes grow by eating your body's keratin.

What do splinter hemorrhages look like?

Splinter hemorrhages look like thin, red to reddish-brown lines of blood under the nails. They run in the direction of nail growth. They are named splinter hemorrhages because they look like a splinter under the fingernail. The hemorrhages may be caused by tiny clots that damage the small capillaries under the nails.

What does melanoma look like on nails?

When checking your nails for melanoma, dermatologists recommend looking for the following changes: A dark streak. This may look like a brown or black band in the nail — often on the thumb or big toe of your dominant hand or foot. However, this dark streak can show up on any nail.

How do you know if you have nail melanoma?

Diagnosing subungual melanoma

brown or black bands of color that increase in size over time. change in skin pigment (darkening around the affected nail) splitting nail or bleeding nail. drainage (pus) and pain.

Is nail melanoma always a stripe?

Subungual melanoma occasionally occurs without the distinctive pigmented streaks. In these instances, a person may experience other symptoms associated with subungual infections, including changes to the nail itself, bleeding, and pain at the nail bed.