What is melanonychia?
Melanonychia is a brown or black discoloration of the nail.
In a large percentage of clinical cases, it is harmless, although sometimes it can be a sign of skin cancer or other diseases. As they say, the nail is the face of the body, therefore, any change is worth noting. Melanonychia can occur on any finger or toe.
Melanonychia is caused by a deposit of melanin in the nail plate. Melanin is a substance that gives color to hair, eyes and skin. The nail cell, which contains melanin, is inactive - it is activated under the influence of a certain condition or situation.
The main symptom of melanonychia is a dark discoloration of the nail. Visually it looks like:
- Brown or black;
- Vertical line;
- Horizontal line;
- The entire nail is covered.
Causes include:
- A mole in the nail;
- Bruising, bruising;
- Repeated trauma to the nail;
- Genetics;
- Connective tissue disease;
- Fungal and bacterial infections;
- Hormonal conditions;
- Certain medical procedures;
- Nutrient deficiencies in the body;
- Side effects of medications, etc.
Source:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/melanonychia
