toenail questions

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  • Post
    • July 9, 2015 at 4:31 pm
    sassega
    Participant

      Hello, I'm a 65 year old female and in the past year noticed that several of my toenails developed black lines of various thickness and darkness of color.   They cover most of the whole toe…the right second toe, and fourth toe on left side, with a new single line on the second toe, left side.   I thought these were the result of getting ugly, old lady toes.  But a friend got melanoma on her foot and I decided to look up toenail melanoma and saw some familiar pictures.  It seems to me, though, that there would be a spot on the skin, under the toe and I don't see that.   I clipped the nail and the toenail clipping had the black line througth it.  The nail just keeps growing with the same discoloration all through it.   So would it just be a discolored, ugly old lady toenail since I don't see a spot on the skin?

       

      BTW, I am Native American and have a Nevus of Ota on my face, and doesn't involve the eye.   I also have sundanced about eight years and have been a little paranoid about sunburned feet all those years.

       

      Should I be concerned?

       

      Thank you,

      Glenda

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    • Replies
        • July 9, 2015 at 4:51 pm
        Janner
        Participant

          As always, discuss with a doc.  The general rule of thumb is if the discoloration grows out with the nail, it's ok.  Typically trauma/blood will grow out with a nail.  If the discoloration stays in one spot as the nail grows out, it's more suspicious.  It's possible you might have some type of nail fungus?    The fact that you have multiple toes involved is probably a reason to think it is benign – typically people only get one primary melanoma.  Again, the best thing is to talk to a derm or a podiatrist to get an official opinion.

          • July 9, 2015 at 4:51 pm
          Janner
          Participant

            As always, discuss with a doc.  The general rule of thumb is if the discoloration grows out with the nail, it's ok.  Typically trauma/blood will grow out with a nail.  If the discoloration stays in one spot as the nail grows out, it's more suspicious.  It's possible you might have some type of nail fungus?    The fact that you have multiple toes involved is probably a reason to think it is benign – typically people only get one primary melanoma.  Again, the best thing is to talk to a derm or a podiatrist to get an official opinion.

            • July 9, 2015 at 4:51 pm
            Janner
            Participant

              As always, discuss with a doc.  The general rule of thumb is if the discoloration grows out with the nail, it's ok.  Typically trauma/blood will grow out with a nail.  If the discoloration stays in one spot as the nail grows out, it's more suspicious.  It's possible you might have some type of nail fungus?    The fact that you have multiple toes involved is probably a reason to think it is benign – typically people only get one primary melanoma.  Again, the best thing is to talk to a derm or a podiatrist to get an official opinion.

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