What is transverse melanonychia?

Transverse melanonychia is a rare form of melanoychia in which a darkened line runs side to side along the nail plate. It is typically associated with certain medications and radiation therapy used to treat cancer.

How do you know if melanonychia is benign?

They found melanonychia to be wider among children than among adults, which presented as a sharply demarcated pigment band of even width. More importantly, the presence of Hutchinson’s sign with longitudinal brush pigmentation may favor a diagnosis of benign nail matrix nevus over subungual melanoma.

Does melanonychia grow out?

The outlook for most benign melanonychia is good, and in most cases, does not require treatment. However, it usually does not go away by itself.

What is melanonychia caused by?

The most concerning cause of melanonychia is subungual melanoma, although a variety of other causes includes physiologic longitudinal melanonychia, systemic disorders, trauma, inflammatory disorders, fungal infections, drugs, and benign melanocytic hyperplasias.

Why do I have little black lines on my nails?

This condition is called a splinter hemorrhage because it may look like a wood splinter under your nail. The condition is caused by damaged small blood vessels underneath your nail.

Can benign melanonychia become malignant?

In some cases, it can be harmless, or benign, but in others, it can be malignant. There are many possible causes of melanonychia via melanocytic activation, as well as factors that can make it more likely.

How long does it take for melanonychia to go away?

In the majority of iatrogenic melanonychia cases, the pigmentation develops 3-8 weeks after the initiation of treatment and fades away 6-8 weeks following treatment cessation [3].

Which drugs cause melanonychia?

Which drugs cause melanonychia?

• Corticotropin.
• Amodiaquine.
• Amorolfine.
• Arsenic.
• Chloroquine.
• Clofazimine.
• Clomipramine.
• Cyclines.

How is melanonychia diagnosed?

A doctor will usually diagnose the cause of melanonychia by taking a medical history and examining the nails. They will determine the number of affected digits and observe the pattern and color of the melanonychia. In some cases, the doctor may require further tests to aid diagnosis.