Melanonychia
| Melanonychia | |
|---|---|
| Synonyms | |
| Pronounce | N/A |
| Specialty | Dermatology |
| Symptoms | Brown or black pigmentation of the nail |
| Complications | Possible subungual melanoma |
| Onset | |
| Duration | |
| Types | Longitudinal melanonychia, diffuse melanonychia |
| Causes | Melanocyte activation, melanocytic nevus, melanoma, trauma, medications |
| Risks | |
| Diagnosis | Clinical examination, dermoscopy, biopsy |
| Differential diagnosis | Subungual hematoma, onychomycosis, nail psoriasis |
| Prevention | |
| Treatment | Depends on underlying cause; may include observation, surgical excision |
| Medication | |
| Prognosis | Varies; benign in most cases, but can indicate malignancy |
| Frequency | Common |
| Deaths | N/A |
Melanonychia is a medical condition characterized by a brown to black discoloration of a nail. This discoloration is caused by an increased amount of melanin in the nail. Melanonychia can affect both fingernails and toenails, and can occur at any age.
Causes[edit]
Melanonychia can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- Trauma to the nail
- Infections, such as fungal infections
- Certain medications
- Certain diseases, such as HIV or Addison's disease
- Melanoma, a type of skin cancer
Symptoms[edit]
The main symptom of melanonychia is a brown to black discoloration of one or more nails. This discoloration may be uniform or irregular, and may affect the entire nail or only a portion of it. In some cases, the affected nail may also become thickened or distorted.
Diagnosis[edit]
Diagnosis of melanonychia typically involves a thorough examination of the affected nail and a review of the patient's medical history. In some cases, a biopsy of the nail may be necessary to rule out melanoma.
Treatment[edit]
Treatment for melanonychia depends on the underlying cause. If the discoloration is caused by a medication, for example, discontinuing the medication may resolve the condition. If the discoloration is caused by a disease, treating the disease may also resolve the melanonychia. In cases where melanonychia is caused by melanoma, treatment may involve surgery to remove the affected nail and underlying tissue.
See also[edit]
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