r/mildyinteresting • u/SettingPlenty295 • Mar 08 '26
science savvy š§¬ Grey line on finger
Have had it for approx 3 yrs now. but comparing to a picture from 2 yrs ago, Iām noticing that it has become more noticeable (in color and width)
doctors of reddit help a girl out :( (also i have an upcoming appointment w/ family doctor in 2 days)
OK CLARIFICATION bc some of u are drawing conclusions on how white/pale the nails are: No, it is not Terry's. It is due to RECURRING SEVERE ANEMIA. We're talking ferritin levels of 5 and 7 that took MONTHS of treatment to get back to normal values.
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MINI UPDATE: Turns out this is clinically quite common in people with darker pigmentation like myself, and in most cases itās just a benign mole under the nail (melanocytic naevus), especially when it's been present for a few yrs. family doctor said cancer cases are more common in people with lighter skin tones, but to be safe and 100% sure I was given a dermatology referral and the appointment has been booked!
we shan't be defeated (yet)! and to be continued ig? (thank u to everyone for the kind words and laughs <3)
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Mar 08 '26
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u/SettingPlenty295 Mar 08 '26 edited Mar 08 '26
yeahh I have an appointment w my family doc in 2 days, but Iām just trying not to like freak out over nothing
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u/5pr4yp41n73r Mar 08 '26
If you've got an appointment booked then you've done the right thing and that's all you can do :) the doctors will be able to tell you more, try to put it out of your mind as much as you can till you know more for sure at the appointment (easier said than done i know)
good luck at the docs op!
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Mar 08 '26
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u/SettingPlenty295 Mar 08 '26
thank uuu š«¶š¼ hopefully itās just longitudinal melanonychia
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u/no_running_allowed Mar 08 '26
Sometimes itās a mole in your nail matrix. Thatās what mine turned out to be
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u/Final_Luck_1010 Mar 08 '26
It could also be as benign as melanomychia.
Either way- go to your appointment and show the provider and let them do their job homie.
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u/sashikku Mar 08 '26
I have this and itās benign!!!! Definitely donāt freak out, itās actually super fucking rare for this to be cancer.
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u/Deeznutzcustomz Mar 08 '26
Iāve had one on my thumb for years! Never knew until just now it COULD be anything concerning, but Iām not gonna worry about it after all this time š
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u/Is-Potato425 Mar 08 '26
You should really go see a dermatologist. Ive heard of PC drs not being worried about stuff like this because of how rare that cancer is but most dermatologist will take it more seriously. Either way be insistent on testing it.
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u/amedun Mar 08 '26
Go to derm not family doc. My friend went to family doc for a mole, they said it was fine, he never went to a derm, died before 35.
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u/SoftConfusion42 Mar 08 '26
Iāve had mine look like this since like 2008ā¦ Am I going to die?
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Mar 08 '26
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u/SoftConfusion42 Mar 08 '26
I canāt believe itā¦ My lack of urgency will make me responsible for so many deathsā¦
Itās times like these I wonder why I donāt take more of advantage of having a doctor in the family
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u/Pretend-Quality3400 Mar 08 '26
Itās times like these I wonder why I donāt take more of advantage of having a doctor in the family
Dont bother. Whenever I ask my doctor sister something she just says "go to the doctor".
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u/SoftConfusion42 Mar 08 '26
Mine just says āno, youāre fineā YEAH BUT THE INTERNET TOLD ME OTHERWISE, YA QUACK! NOW please FIX ME
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u/Annonnkneemus Mar 08 '26
Iām a nurse and my hubby always asks me things. I tell him to go see a doctor sometimes too. It isnāt like I can see inside the body lol.
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u/Expensive-Document41 Mar 08 '26
Cool story bro. Anyways Im off to go bond my soul to a phylactery. Sure hope some group of heroic unemployed rapscallions dont wander into my dungeon.
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u/SongBrief2439 Mar 08 '26
Stop spreading misinformation. Nobody really dies, people just make it up to get away with human trafficking and what not. Like do you really think we can be talking together right now and be dead tommorow ? Naw man doesnāt work like that. We are here forever, will always be here.
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u/Upvotespoodles Mar 08 '26
Any minute, now. RIP ā¹ļø
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u/SoftConfusion42 Mar 08 '26
I just hope my Amazon package arrives beforehand.. I got this cool keychain I saw on tiktok
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u/Ponsugator Mar 08 '26
Melanoma doesn't appear in all the fingers. It also spreads to the nail bed as Hutchinson sign. May be iron deficiency.
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u/JohnnyDerpington Mar 08 '26
Ive had that in a few fingers from being smashed over the years, never knew it was serious. Finger nail would eventually drop off
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u/Nethii120700 Mar 08 '26
i have this, and have seen a dermatologist. itās very uniform and the same colour throughout, just like mine, so my guess is itās just a freckle thatās depositing colour into the nail bed just under the skin, completely harmless.
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u/SettingPlenty295 Mar 08 '26
thank u for this comment, it's very reassuring to hear other possibilities
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u/itaniumonline Mar 08 '26
Still go and go get it checked out and report back and help the next person since you have insurance
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u/SettingPlenty295 Mar 08 '26
oh definitely will be 100% making use of that free health care system in canada
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u/Nethii120700 Mar 08 '26
absolutely!! iām aussie so i also took advantage of our excellent healthcare system to look into it :)
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u/Cr00kedF00l Mar 08 '26
Had this too and then I started to develop vitiligo in the hands. my elder family members were freaking out about it. Derma said it was harmless and I think itās pretty cool having built in camo skin (but only in my hands)
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u/Thegingerbeardape Mar 08 '26
Whoa whoa whoa according to my politicians a little south of you, it takes months to see a doctor! How are you going in 2 days?!
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u/roadside_asparagus Mar 08 '26
I don't know about everyone else, but when I make an appointment for a physical exam here in the States, it can be months. I asked my provider in June one year and they booked me for September. Oh, and the woman in the office seemed very offended when I was surprised at how long it took for me to get an appointment.
Getting a physical exam shouldn't take any longer than, say, getting someone to come out and look at why your bathtub is draining slowly.
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u/Old_Adhesiveness6155 Mar 09 '26
You're acting like we don't see through the lies.
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u/DeeCohn Mar 08 '26
Even if your family doc doesn't think it's melanoma, please insist on a referral to a dermatologist. They will be able to do the testing necessary to rule out cancer
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u/Decadent_Otter2 Mar 08 '26
Hopping in to say I also have a similar line down my finger nail. My dermatologist also told me it was benign. Definitely get it checked but it's not guaranteed to be something cancerous.
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u/dfwhanan Mar 08 '26
iāve got something similar, have had it for at least like 5 years and have no clue if itās something minor or not (most likely longitudinal melanonychia but havenāt checked w a doctor)
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u/Pretend-Captain-6875 Mar 08 '26
Again, this is very often melanoma
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u/dfwhanan Mar 08 '26
skin cancer? š
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u/Pretend-Captain-6875 Mar 08 '26
Yes.
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u/dfwhanan Mar 08 '26
Iāve not been stressed over it for 5 years so that wonāt change now tbh, but iāll book an appointment to double check! :)
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u/hpeezyzz Mar 08 '26
You 100% should be getting that biopsied. My friend lost a finger from this. Fortunately it hadnāt spread to lymph nodes. Yes; I am trying to scare you.
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u/ChetWellingtonEsq Mar 08 '26
Nail biopsies arenāt a benign process. Itās an involved surgical procedure that can often result in significant morbidity to the nail. Scaring someone into thinking it is necessary without a qualified evaluation isnāt helpful. The vast majority of longitudinal melanonychia is physiologic and can be monitored.
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u/APAOLOXIII Mar 08 '26
Im just here to see how many people tell you that you have cancer
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u/B_Ash3s Mar 08 '26
Honestly it could be since itās darker, but the person themselves is melanated, so it could just be that.
Always worth it since I know mine turned out to be a zinc deficiency and apparently that was causing some of my health issues we thought weāre Covid related.
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u/choir_invisible Mar 08 '26
I had one of these for like 15 years. Never thought much of it. Then one day I looked down and it was gone. I kinda miss it. But the responses in this thread have made me realize that maybe what I really need is more anxiety. Awesome.
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u/jolicious11 Mar 08 '26
I had the same thing. Ended up being a mole under the nail (they had to remove the entire nail to make sure of course). Not cancerous but I will say my nail grew back a little strange. Once it gets to a certain length, it splits. They did warn me that could happen. Annoying but I guess there are worse things.
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u/Apprehensive_Sea5092 Mar 08 '26
That's my finger, have had this for about two years now. Doctor myself so I have asked a few colleagues and most common answer is melanonychia - might be any medication that you have started in the last couple of years causing this. Please don't panic with the melanoma replies in this thread - that's highly unlikely but yes do get it checked out as well
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u/PapayaJuiceBox Mar 08 '26
Iāve seen a few of these posts. Itās either nothing or itās skin cancer.
Doctor. Yesterday. Please.
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u/amethystmmm Mar 08 '26
No, doctor appt already set for overmorrow.
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u/UnhappyImprovement53 Mar 08 '26
Op is already dead
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u/Superb_Locksmith_745 Mar 08 '26
Tell me you are brown without telling me. š itās genetic
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u/Peanutbutterloola Mar 08 '26 edited Mar 08 '26
I have cancer. Please get this looked at. It could likely be nothing, however you really do not want to simply trust that liklihood and ignore it. Cancer sucks.
ANY change in shape, size, or color -- even if minimal should be looked at. Even if you simply think its changed but you're not sure, or if you just feel like it looks odd. GET IT LOOKED AT. Trust yourself.
I wish you the best.
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u/SettingPlenty295 Mar 08 '26
u are completely right, thank u. I am so sry to hear that, sending u much love and wishing u all the very best
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u/Pretend-Captain-6875 Mar 08 '26
Iāve never heard of this not being melanoma
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u/Expensive-Document41 Mar 08 '26
That could be survivorship bias because chances are people didn't get on Reddit or wherever to clarify that it wasn't melanoma afterwards or only the cases where it was melanoma but they didn't discuss it pre-diagnosis make it to Reddiy.
Essentially, you only hear about the cases with the worst outcomes because those that were unremarkable were never reported or never followed up on.
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u/EternalPancake2021 Mar 08 '26
It can also be nothing as you have dark skin and much like myself, we have these streaks in our fingers from the melanin within our skin. The older I get the more visible it has become but mine at least is harmless. Yours could be as well, but definitely a great idea to check out
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u/evergreengoth Mar 08 '26
It's entirely possible that it's harmless, but it could be melanoma. It's good that you're getting it checked out. Hopefully it's nothing!
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u/AquarianScientist Mar 08 '26
Girl, this is not melanoma if you are black of some other type of colored. We just get extra pigment in different places like this! Ive had this for 6 of seven years. Weāre fine! Weāre black. Black bodies do this!
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u/Classy_Raccoon Mar 08 '26
I just went to the derm for one and they just took a biopsy by clipping my nail! Completely painless! Then if that had come back abnormal, they would have done a skin biopsy, but no need, thankfully!
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u/graycomforter Mar 08 '26
OP, you probably donāt have melanoma. Donāt worry yourself sick. Good for you for making the appointment.
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u/SquintOfSaftey Mar 08 '26
So I have one on my index finger. Google told me I was dying of melanoma, so I asked my PCP. She told me that while it can be a symptom of underlying illness, it is often a fairly common and totally benign melanization of the nail bed. She said it mainly affects people with more melanin than your average Caucasian.
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u/LeastAd6767 Mar 08 '26
!Remindme 7 days
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u/First-Lingonberry907 Mar 08 '26
I have one along my index finger, and Iām b12 deficient (low blood oxygen). I def suggest getting blood work to see how everything is looking.
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u/SettingPlenty295 Mar 08 '26
oh this might actually be a good one, since i recently recovered from anemia (which is sometimes onset by b12 deficiency if i recall well) and also have bp on the lower side
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u/nourtheweenie Mar 08 '26
Usually i have a vitamin deficiency but mine weren't that dark. Hope it's still a benign issue for you š§”
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u/Superb_Locksmith_745 Mar 08 '26
Itās not likely melanoma itās too straight. Itās melanonychia. Its genetic. Not cancerous
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u/FatMacchio Mar 08 '26
Nglā¦I was staring at this pic for a good minute or two before I realized what I was looking at š¤¦āāļø
I thought that was a shadow on your ring finger nail
Best of luck š¤
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u/Sensitive_Week6060 Mar 08 '26
Just went for this, doc said I have a mole under my nail essentially. Looks just like that
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u/National-Double2309 Mar 08 '26
I thought it was shadow! Kept wondering why you did take a better pic.
Itās quite wide and if itās getting worse, you should def go to the Dr.
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u/samedcamus Mar 08 '26
Time to change the nail roll, is just the line that indicate the roll is almost empty.
Now seriously, go to a doctor
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u/Scary_Sweet7951 Mar 08 '26
I have that as well on my thumb. Always have. Went to a doctor in grade school, and they told me I have a freckle in my nailbed/cuticle that dyes the nail as it grows, basically. Would send you a pic, but I just got a manicure today, and also it just looks like yours, so. Still alive at 29. Go get it checked, tho.
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u/singtothescabs Mar 09 '26
You need to be seen by a dermatologist. The most likely scenario is acral nevus, but melanoma is definitely in the differential diagnosis list.
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u/P_Alcantara Mar 09 '26
OP, Iāve had this for a decade. Iām 53. Noticed it all those years ago, people said it looked like cancer. Never got it checked because thatās a reality I didnāt want to live in. Never had anything creep up from it. I feel healthy. Ran a sub 5 minute mile 2 weeks ago, ran about 5 miles in a friendly footy match on Saturday. I feel great and I hope thatās itās just as big of a nothing burger for you.
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u/Divemstr24 Mar 09 '26
My bf (37yo) had the same. He was checked by family dr and got to see a dermatologist. As someone else has mentioned, it looks even, uniform, same colour throughout. Also, the base of your nail looks fine. Itās a good idea to have it checked but I donāt think that you need to panic over it. It could be a freckle or from a trauma. Itās quite common actually and yes, while itās likely fine, itās still better to have it assessed for malignancy. Theyāll probably ask you to monitor and if thereās changes in size, theyāll do a biopsy
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u/grandk1on1 Mar 10 '26
This is not melanoma, Iāve never seen that. This is a sign of low vitamin b12/ sometimes also b1 (but more so critical depletion if all your fingers have these). You should get your levels checked asap, they are likely depleted.
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u/Time_Pomegranate2787 Mar 12 '26
I had one of these appear about 13 years ago! The derm said eh, just keep an eye on it
It hasnāt changed. I am still here.
Hoping for the same outcome for you!
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u/Hops77 Mar 08 '26
If I've learned anything from these posts on reddit, and i haven't, then this is super cancer and turbo aids all rolled into one.
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u/Tricky-Reporter-5246 Mar 08 '26
Terry's disease could explain the white parts of your nails. Get them checked.
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u/baby_smurfette Mar 08 '26
My sister had this, caught it pre-cancer but the nail bed had to be removed.
Wishing nothing but good things for you OP.
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Mar 08 '26
Looks like this is on the nail as it goes all the way to the part that has grown past the nail bed so I don't think this is anything sinister.
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u/Luxxielisbon Mar 08 '26
A quick mani will fix that!!
jk. curious, did it come out of the cuticle and grow with the nail or just appear out of nowhere?
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u/Elustra Mar 08 '26
You should probably ask for a blood test to check for anemia, or low levels of any vitamins while you're there
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u/booklover1517 Mar 08 '26
If youāre a POC, we get extra melanin that goes to our nails. Itās harmless.
However, still get it checked especially if itās changed in colour or sizeĀ
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u/mermaidfairy101 Mar 08 '26
Itās different for people with more melanin in their skin, and more common with black people. Itās usually just increased pigment. Iāve had one on my toe nail since I was a kid and Iām perfectly healthy. Sometimes it can also come from trauma to the nail too.
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u/ravbee33 Mar 08 '26
This. Iāve had this since I was a kid and my grandmother has it too, on the same exact finger at that.
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u/Several_Emphasis_434 Mar 08 '26
Please get this checked out by your doctor just to be safe. None of us are doctors.
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u/KeyDescription2282 Mar 08 '26
I have these an a lot of my fingers and even my toes and a really prominent one on my thumb
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u/Helpful_Wave Mar 08 '26
Subungual melanoma, freckle on the cuticle, cuticle damage. I have a toenail with a line like that and it cracks along the line--it's from a burn I got right there from a splashing bead of molten rhodium, it burned away thar tiny part of the cuticle so now the nail grows with a weak line of fibrous keratin on the nail.
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u/Cold-Assumption9928 Mar 08 '26 edited Mar 08 '26
I had a similar thing many years ago, over 15 years actually, it was something called longitudinal melanonychia. For context, Iām mixed Black and White, and even though Iām light-skinned, I obviously carry genes from both sides. I do remember there was also some mention of a vitamin deficiency at the time, I think it may have been related to B vitamin, but I donāt remember exactly since itās been so long.
The fact that you have darker skin actually makes it even more likely that this is just a harmless part of natural pigmentation bloopers. Sometimes itās simply part of being deliciously seasoned. š
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u/Beautiful_Put_5459 Mar 08 '26
Iāve had that for years on my toes, and one of them is now the full color. No issues though just happened overtime since Iāve been born.
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u/Filipino_fury4 Mar 08 '26
Am I the only one that canāt see what weāre talking about whatsoever?
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u/wafflepiezz Mar 08 '26
I have the same line on my thumb and 2 toes. And had it for the past couple years now
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u/chilledgamedog Mar 08 '26
Damn the amount of nails like this i see on reddit . Like.others have said get it cjecked out as could be serious
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u/Novel-Pass1749 Mar 08 '26
See a nail specialist. They did a biopsy on mine. If the color extends beyond your cuticle or gets wider or worse it could be cancer.
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u/DoCrashOut Mar 08 '26
I used to have a thick band on each middle finger. My grandma also has these so i always attributed it to genetics. Looking at your post made me realize i havenāt felt self conscious about it in a while. When i look at my nails now, i donāt see the discoloration anymore! On my right nail i can still tell where the band was when i bend my nail to the light. Im not sure what this is a symptom of or what it means, but last year i gave up alcohol and i started a gut healing journey.
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u/sassyyanny Mar 09 '26
As everyone said, dermatologist is the person to decide. But given your skin colour it is highly likely that this could be just over acting melanocytes. Especially that the line doesnāt seem to be uneven, it is linear and smooth. So I donāt think you should be panicking before you have a reason to.
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u/Weary_Message5315 Mar 09 '26
I would pay money to have this post about melanonychia banned reddit wide so I wouldn't have to read reddit histrionics about cancer.
Same with raynauds and muh autoimmune diseases
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u/blacknti Mar 09 '26
I have had a near identical thing for about 30 years and it's totally harmless.Ā But keep us posted!
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u/ExoTheFlyingFish Mar 09 '26
- You have super cancer.
- Your political views are bad.
- You need to divorce your husband.
Being on Reddit for a little while has taught me one or multiple of those are definitely the answer.
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u/Icy-Finding-3905 Mar 10 '26
Get it checked. My husband has it and itās a benign mole. Donāt panick. Just get it checked.
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