Melanonychia is the appearance of brown or black lines on your nails. The decolorisation 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. However, these lines can be a natural occurrence if you have a dark complexion.

Melanonychia treatment in Bangalore can diagnose any underlying health issues, if any.
No matter what the cause may be, you should always have a doctor check the condition.

Types of Melanonychia

Melanocytic activation

This is an increase in the production and deposits of melanin in your nail but not an increase in pigment cells. It can be triggered by trauma, nutritional deficiency, medication, and other causes.
Melanocytic activation in nails
Melanocytic hyperplasia in nails

Melanocytic hyperplasia

This is an increase in the number of pigment cells in your nail bed. This growth can be benign or malignant.

Symptoms of Melanonychia

Melanonychia can appear on fingernails or toenails. It can also appear on more than one nail at a time.

It may look like:

  • A black or brown vertical stripe down the length of the nail
  • A black or brown discoloration stripe that is spread across the nail
  • Deformity of the nail
Symptom of Melanonychia on fingernails

Causes of Melanonychia

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.

Melanin deposits are caused by two primary processes, which have different causes.

Melanocytic activation can be caused by

  • Pregnancy
  • Racial Variations
  • Trauma
  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
  • Nail Biting
  • Deformity in your foot that causes friction with your shoes
  • Nail Infection
  • Lichen Planus
  • Psoriasis
  • Amyloidosis
  • Viral Warts
  • Skin Cancer
  • Addison’s Disease
  • Cushing’s Syndrome
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Growth Hormone Dysfunction
  • Photosensitivity
  • Too Much Iron
  • Lupus
  • Hiv
  • Phototherapy
  • X-Ray Exposure
  • Antimalarial Drugs
  • Chemotherapy Drugs

Get The Best Treatment For Melanonychia

Melanonychia Treatment in Bangalore varies depending on the causing factors.

Melanonychia treatment in Toenails

The Regular Treatments:

  • Taking antibiotic or antifungal medications, if infection is the cause
  • Treating the underlying disease or medical condition causing the melanonychia
  • Counselling and letting the nail heal by itself

Frequently Asked Questions

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Longitudinal melanonychia or longitudinal striata is the most common type of melanonychia, where nail plate develops a brownish or black pigmentation that runs longitudinal along the nail. It can be caused due to many reasons, from pigment deposits, infections or melanoma (skin cancer).
Lack of vitamin B12, vitamin D and malnutrition, especially lack of protein, can cause melanonychia
Expert certified dermatologists usually say to look for ceratin signs while checking you are checking for nail melanoma:
  • 1. Pigmentation that is more than 3 mm wide or has increased in size.
  • 2. Granular looking discolouration.
  • 3. Nail deformity.
  • 4. Black or gray pigmentation accompanied with the brown.
If you notice any of these signs, consult your health care provider immediately. Dermatoscopic examination followed by a nail biopsy will help your doctor understand the nature of your melanonychia i.e. whether it is malignant or not.
Melanonychia can be worrisome for some patients as the set of causes for melanocytic activation varies from common benign causes like pregnancy or nail biting to more serious causes like skin cancer (melanoma). Looking for early signs of melanonychia being malignant, including your pigmentation being 3 mm wide or growing in size, or grainy discolouration, will help you get in touch with your health care provider for quicker solution.
The treatment for melanonychia can vary depending on your cause. For noncancerous benign melanonychia, taking antibiotics, treating the underlying condition, or counseling and letting the nail heal by itself is the best treatment. For cancerous melanonychia, it is best to consult your health care provider for the best possible treatment options.
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