What does it mean when a black line appears on your fingernail?

A narrow black line that has formed vertically underneath your nail is called a splinter hemorrhage. It occurs for a variety of reasons and may be harmless or a sign of a more serious health condition. This condition is called a splinter hemorrhage because it may look like a wood splinter under your nail.

What deficiency causes black lines on nails?

Anemia. A condition in which the red blood cells decrease usually due to deficiency of iron, vitamin B12 or folic acid is called anemia. Iron deficiency alone may be responsible for triggering skin problems. Associated effects can include brittle and fragile nails which may develop vertical ridges or lines.

What does a streak in your fingernail mean?

Nail streaks may be a sign of injury, disease, or cancer Piracha, MD, is a board-certified physician with over 14 years of experience treating patients in acute care hospitals and rehabilitation facilities. Common Causes. Genetics. Cancer. Environmental.

What does melanoma of the fingernail look like?

What does melanoma on the nail look like? Subungual melanomas usually appear as a brown or black streak under the nail. Typically, these streaks gradually increase in size and are usually larger than 3mm. Unlike nail infection or trauma to the nails, subungual melanoma typically affects one nail at a time.

What causes dark nail beds?

Melanonychia is caused when the pigment cells, called melanocytes, deposit melanin into the nail. Melanin is a brown colored pigment. These deposits are usually grouped together. As your nail grows, it causes the stripe of brown or black to appear on your nail.

Do black lines on nails go away?

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.

Can vitamin deficiency causes black lines on nails?

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. Hormonal changes can also cause ridges to appear.

Can you scrape off melanoma under nail?

Both squamous cell carcinoma and melanoma would be considered during assessment. In rare instances, the pigment is exogenous, such as that produced by potassium permanganate. This can be demonstrated by scraping the surface of the 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.

What causes a black line on the bottom of the nail?

A malignant tumor in a nail nearly always affects just one nail. Dark lines on several nails that all look the same are very likely benign. Dr. Schlessinger adds, “The colors can be anything due to nail thickness and different areas where moles can originate.

Is it normal to have a black line on your finger?

Melanoma will never push upward, but will expand in width. A malignant tumor in a nail nearly always affects just one nail. Dark lines on several nails that all look the same are very likely benign.

Why do I have dark streaks under my nails?

“Splinters or dark streaks under nails can occur when microscopic areas of bleeding happen and allow blood to settle under the nail,” says Dr. Joel Schlessinger, MD, board certified dermatologist and cosmetic surgeon with a private practice in Omaha, NE.

What causes white discoloration on the bottom of my Nails?

If a nail starts to lift up so that it’s no longer completely attached, you’ll likely see white discoloration, as shown here. When a nail lifts up, the cause is often: Injury from an aggressive manicure Injury form cleaning under your nails with a sharp object