What does it mean when you have a dark spot on your toenail?
Nail Trauma: If you’ve recently injured the area, the black spot under the nail may be a type of bruise referred to as a subungual hematoma. As a result of an injury, blood pools under the nail leading to discoloration. This type of hematoma is commonly caused by stubbing a toe or from sports trauma.
What does melanoma of the nail bed look like?
a light- to dark-brown colored band on the nail that’s usually vertical. a dark band on the nail that slowly expands and covers more of the nail. dark nail pigmentation that expands to the surrounding skin. a nodule underneath the nail with or without a pigmentation band.
What does melanoma look like on a toenail?
When checking your nails for melanoma, dermatologists recommend looking for the following changes: A dark streak. This may look like a brown or black band in the nail — often on the thumb or big toe of your dominant hand or foot. However, this dark streak can show up on any nail.
Why do I have a brown spot on my big toenail?
Skin Cancer A discolored spot underneath a toenail may be a sign of melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer. Melanoma under a toenail usually looks like a brown or black streak or may appear similar to a bruise. Although this isn’t common, it’s also not rare, says Sheth.
How can you tell the difference between a melanoma and a bruised toenail?
Mistaken for a bruise Many people first mistake subungual melanoma as a bruise. However, unlike a bruise, the streaks from subungual melanoma do not heal or grow out with the nail over time. It can also be confused with normal pigmentation of the nail bed or a fungal infection.
Can toenail fungus look black?
Nail fungus can cause the nail to become thick or ragged and appear yellow, green, brown or black. An infected nail may separate from the nail bed. Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail.
How does toenail melanoma start?
Subungual melanoma is a type of skin cancer that occurs under the nails. It is a rare form of melanoma that develops unrelated to sun exposure. Melanoma can affect any area of the skin. It starts when melanocytes, a type of skin cell, become cancerous.
How do I know if my toenail is dark under 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.
- delayed healing of nail lesions or trauma.
- separation of the nail from the nail bed.
How do I know if my toenail is black or melanoma?
Does melanoma under toenail hurt?
In 75% to 90% of reported cases, subungual melanomas have been found in the thumb and the big toe. But they can be seen in other toes and fingers. And they can be quite painful.
What causes toenails to turn dark?
There are many causes of black or dark toenails, but the most common cause is trauma. When trauma occurs to a nail resulting in discoloration it is referred to as a subungual hematoma, which simply means there is a collection of blood underneath the nail.
What causes dark spots under toenail?
Melanoma: This is the most serious type of skin cancer, which often appears as a dark brown misshapen spot. Such spots can also occur underneath nail beds. Trauma: Usually caused by an injury, trauma to the toenail can cause the blood vessels beneath a nail to break. The resulting bleeding underneath the nail appears black.
Why is my toe nail turning dark?
Generally, a blackened toenail is a sign that your poor little big toe has undergone some kind of trauma and a bruise or blood blister forms under your toenail. The black color comes from blood that has pooled under your nail.
Why are my toenails turning black, what do I do?
Black toenail: Causes and treatment Six causes of a black toenail. There are various reasons for black toenails and many causes are easy to treat. Treatment. Black toe nails may be a result of repetitive trauma from wearing poorly-fitting shoes. Prevention. Preventing black toenails from forming is not always possible. When to see a doctor. Outlook.