Home :: Melanonychia

Melanonychia - Longitudinal Melanonychia - Melanonychia Striata & Treatment of Melanonychia

Longitudinal melanonychia is the presence of a pigmented stripe, usually brown or black, along the length of the nail bed in darker-skinned individuals. Longitudinal melanonychia results from deposition of melanin in the nail plate from a variety of causes. A small number of people with longitudinal melanonychia have subungual melanoma.

Longitudinal melanonychia associated with scleroderma is rare. This is paradoxical, as increased skin pigmentation is frequent in the latter disease.

A number of conditions can cause longitudinal melanonychia, but its main importance is that, in some patients, it may indicate the presence of a subungual malignant melanoma. Hyperpigmented nail bands are not uncommon in African-American, Latino & Asian patients, especially those over sixty years of age, & are often multiple in these groups. Longitudinal melanonychia is most worrisome when there is a solitary, dark, broad longitudinal b& with pigment extending over the proximal nail fold (Hutchinson’s sign). Such findings are considered to be a strong indication for biopsy of the nail matrix to rule out melanoma.

Symptoms of Melanonychia

Some common symptoms of Melanonychia are :-

• Discoloration of nail may occur.
• Yellowing, thickening or crumbling of the nail.
• Pain may occur in the nail.

Treatment of Longitudinal Melanonychia

In the treatment of Melanonychia (Longitudinal Melanonychia), the hyperpigmentation of the skin & nails induced by chemotherapy is reversible & most commonly seen with drugs like doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide & hydroxyurea. Patients should be educated about the use of appropriate footwear, especially in high-exposure areas, such as communal bathing facilities & health clubs. Prophylactic antifungal therapy may be required to prevent reinfection of the skin & the nails