Facebook Pixel
EmpowHER Guest
Q: 

What can cause a black line in a nail ?

By Anonymous October 6, 2015 - 4:51am
 
Rate This

Add a Comment1 Comments

Guide

Hello Anonymous,

If you have dark skin, it's fairly common to find dark stripes running down your nails. This is called linear melanonychia. This occurs in more than 77% of black people over the age of 20, and in most cases is perfectly normal.

However, dark lines under the nail can be a signal of a serious health issue and should not be ignored.

Dark stripes may sometimes be a form of skin cancer that affects the nail bed, called subungual melanoma. It's important that your doctor checks it to rule out melanoma.

Please take a few minutes to read this article, in which the writer has explained causes of black or brown bands on the fingernails.

Black or Brown Discoloration in Your Nail: What Does it Mean?
https://www.empowher.com/skin-hair-nails/content/black-or-brown-discoloration-your-nail-what-does-it-mean

Regards,
Maryann

October 6, 2015 - 8:40am
Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.
By submitting this form, you agree to EmpowHER's terms of service and privacy policy
Add a Comment

All user-generated information on this site is the opinion of its author only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. Members and guests are responsible for their own posts and the potential consequences of those posts detailed in our Terms of Service.