Nail melanoma: symptoms, causes, prevention and treatment

Causes of the disease

While other types of melanoma are often associated with excessive sun exposure, here the situation is radically different. Most often, this type of oncology develops on the toes, which are constantly protected from sunlight. Therefore, the causes of subungual melanoma do not include insolation, they look like this:

mechanical injuries of the nail. This includes surgical and cosmetic intervention options in which the nail plate is damaged;
physical injuries: burns, frostbite, etc.;
chemical injuries. Usually we are talking about long-term exposure to aggressive chemicals, for example, in production;
heredity. Up to 14% of all patients diagnosed with nail melanoma have mutations in certain genes4
existing benign neoplasms, for example, dysplastic nevi, which are prone to transformation into malignant ones.

Most often, this disease occurs in people over 60 years of age. And there is another interesting fact: obviously, it depends on the race, because representatives of the Negroid, as well as Mongoloid races, suffer from the disease much more often - 40% more often than Caucasians. Among the latter, people at risk are fair-skinned, red-haired people, as well as people with a lot of freckles.

How to remove black stripes from nails

We looked at the reasons for the appearance of grooves, so it’s worth figuring out how to get rid of them. Not only official treatment methods help, but also folk beauty recipes. In case of mechanical damage and lack of vitamins, it is not difficult to cure the nail plates. You need to take vitamin complexes and do cosmetic procedures. When the cause lies in a disease, it is necessary to begin treatment under the supervision of a doctor. After recovery, the black grooves will disappear on their own.

When streaks appear, then cracks and itching, your nails are infected with fungus. It is necessary to use antifungal drugs. Take plant extracts to fill your body with beneficial substances.

Let's look at ways to eliminate black bars. After injury to the nail plate, a black mark appears. For quick elimination, take baths with salt and lemon juice. Add sea salt and a spoonful of lemon juice to the water and dip your hands into the solution. The procedure lasts 30-40 minutes.

Try rubbing olive or orange oil into the plate to get rid of the streak. A solution of potassium permanganate helps eliminate the symptom. It should be used for a bath. Home treatments can help you remove blackheads quickly and safely.

Take vitamins to fill your body with useful components. Eat more fruits and vegetables that contain fatty acids. Don't forget to drink water throughout the day. Don't overeat junk food. Such lifestyle changes will have a positive effect on the immune system. Not only defects on the nails will disappear, but also other problems with appearance.

If black spots appear due to chemical products, stop using them. Replace polish and remover. Buy only high-quality products to avoid health problems. Never save on beauty and health, because cheap products consist of harmful components. After reading the article to the end, you will learn how to deal with dark spots at home.

Types and symptoms

The classification of nail melanoma provides for two variants of the course of the disease: horizontal and vertical stages. Symptoms of the disease will depend on what type we are talking about.

In the horizontal stage, the patient observes a brown or black stripe on the nail (under the plate). The strip is not necessarily uniform; it can expand, capture more of the free nail edge, and transfer to the skin.

During the vertical stage, the tumor begins to grow into the surrounding tissues, deformation of the nail occurs, and it becomes fragile. As the tumor grows, the nail cracks, the surface becomes covered with bumps, and at the slightest mechanical impact it begins to bleed. The pigment in this case can also be either brown or black.

It is important to understand that nail melanoma can be non-pigmented until a serious stage. For this reason, until the tumor begins to spread vertically, it may not be noticed. This is typical for approximately 30% of cases.

Not always, but the disease can also manifest itself with the following symptoms:

burning, itching in the area of the tumor;
feeling of fullness;
pain that increases as the tumor develops;
decreased functionality of the limb.

Common symptoms on the toenail or fingernail include fever, weakness, and severe weight loss. With the development of metastases, local symptoms are added - those that are characteristic of diseases of the affected organs.

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Factors leading to black stripes in the nail area

Black or dark spots on the nails are not a purely cosmetic defect; you cannot ignore this problem and try to paint it over with varnish or file it off. If a red or black spot appears after an injury, then there is no need to worry. As the plate grows, the stain will also disappear. Among the harmless reasons is an increased level of pigmentation.

If the problem is systematic, then this may indicate a malfunction in the gastrointestinal tract, liver, cardiovascular system, the presence of worms, exposure to chemicals, or circulatory problems. The cause may be subungual fungus on the feet.

Stages of the disease

The classification of nail melanoma involves (like any other cancer) several stages:

zero (in situ). At this stage, non-invasive damage by malignant cells is detected;
first. The thickness of the formation is either up to 1 millimeter or up to 2, but without ulceration;
second. It is placed if the thickness of the tumor is no more than 2 millimeters or no more than 4, but without ulceration;
third. It is placed regardless of the size of the melanoma itself, provided that metastases are detected in the regional lymph nodes;
fourth. Suggests the presence of metastases in internal organs.

Obviously, the lower the stage, the higher the patient’s chances of effective treatment and longer life expectancy.

Acanthosis is a reason to visit a doctor

Dermatologist, Doctor of Medical Sciences Yulia Gallyamova told “360” that acanthosis nigricans is a darkening of the skin, sometimes to a bluish-black color. It is formed due to increased pigmentation in the middle layer of the skin. As a rule, it is observed on the back of the neck, armpits, groin, under the knees and elbows.

“It’s not at all necessary that it will be cancer. Acanthosis may indicate some kind of disorder that can lead to cancer. But we definitely cannot say that everyone who has acanthosis nigricans necessarily gets cancer,” Yulia Gallyamova emphasized.

She explained that, as a rule, such darkening of the skin appears in the later stages of cancer in older people. Therefore, very often acanthosis nigricans is noticed when the diagnosis has already been established, and it cannot be said that it is a harbinger of cancer. However, it is always checked for the presence of metabolic syndrome and insulin metabolism disorders.

“In any case, the appearance of acanthosis nigricans is a reason to visit a doctor. First of all, you need to go to a dermatologist so that he can make an accurate diagnosis of whether it really is acanthosis nigricans or skin changes of a different nature. After which, if necessary, the doctor will refer you to the appropriate specialists,” said Yulia Gallyamova.

Diagnostics

Diagnosing melanoma under the nail is not so easy, because it is often similar to other diseases or problems, for example, subungual hematomas. To exclude simpler situations and make an accurate diagnosis, doctors use dermatoscopy (examination of tissue under high magnification), as well as epiluminescence microscopy. The latter method involves examining changed areas of tissue in a special environment. Thanks to it, it is possible to distinguish a benign disease from a malignant one.

Cytological studies are carried out, but a biopsy in this case is undesirable, since it can provoke the development of metastases. Additional tissue examination is carried out after surgery, when the tissues are removed.

If nail melanoma is not excluded after examination, marginal resection of the nail is performed followed by tissue examination. When the diagnosis is confirmed, the patient is indicated for radical surgery.

Additionally, the following research methods are used:

Ultrasound;
CT;
MRI.

They are needed to verify the presence or absence of metastases.

How to take care of your nails

Every girl strives to look perfect, so you need to start caring for your nails. In the article we tell you how to deal with unpleasant defects at home, because salon procedures do not always give a positive result in a short period of time.

To prevent the plate from delaminating, control the length of your nails. Don't grow it too long to avoid splitting. File regularly to prevent problems in the first place.

Use cream or Vaseline to moisturize the plate every day. It is especially important to do procedures if your nails are constantly exposed to negative influences. Vaseline is sold in pharmacies. Lubricate your hands and then put on gloves for 2-4 hours. We recommend doing a moisturizing procedure at night.

Protect your hands from the negative effects of chemicals. People often ignore the advice and then complain about dry skin on their hands and damaged nails. When washing dishes or the floor, be sure to protect your hands with gloves. Wash your hands after returning home from work or going out. You cannot create a positive environment for bacteria, because you can catch a fungus that is difficult to get rid of. Get rid of the habit of biting your nails, as this leads to damage to the plate.

Watch your diet, because you cannot deprive the body of nutrients, even if the product is high in calories. Proteins help fill the body with microelements. Use liquid vitamin E to care for your fingers.

Strong and healthy nails: dry manicure How to properly file your fingernails, read here

Why gel comes off from natural nails, see the link

Try making a decorative coating using biogel. It helps strengthen the plate, prevent delamination and grow beautiful nails. Contains safe components that have a positive effect on plate growth. Buy a medicated polish that nourishes and moisturizes your nails. It is convenient to use and also creates a protective layer.

In a beauty salon you can make paraffin baths. Do the procedure at home if you find paraffin at the pharmacy. Melt in a water bath to use as intended. We recommend doing the procedure once a week.

Before decorative coating, use a varnish base. It will help protect and strengthen the plate. To avoid problems with your nails, take a break from using polish.

When the plate darkens, use bleaching methods. Homemade baths with soda and salt help in this matter. Use lemon to remove unsightly tint from the plate. Glycerin will help moisturize your hands after such procedures.

Simple tips from the article will help prevent black streaks from appearing on your nails. Take care of your hands regularly for the effect to be noticeable:

do hand baths;
take vitamins;
do not use cheap products;
eliminate negative impacts;
learn how to do a manicure;
use a varnish base.

Simple rules of care and hygiene help prevent stains on the plate. Your hands will always be beautiful and well-groomed.

How the treatment works, methods

The main treatments for melanoma under the nail include:

resection at the level of the middle phalanx of the finger. The formation is removed in such a way as to preserve the patient’s quality of life as much as possible;
radiation therapy. It is carried out to exclude tumor recurrence in the area of surgical scars, as well as to influence the primary lymph nodes to prevent the development of metastases;
chemotherapy. Depending on the situation, it can be used before surgery and after surgery. There are different program options that are selected individually;
immunotherapy. The use of certain drugs prolongs the period without recurrence and increases the overall survival of patients with this type of cancer.

It is assumed that gene therapy can also play a positive role in treatment.

Infections

Infections include fungus and plate damage with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the form of black spots.

With a fungal infection or onychomycosis, the affected areas become yellow or yellow-brown. But in advanced cases, the fungus under the nail can be black. In addition to changes in color, onychomycosis is characterized by thickening, crumbling, deformation of the plate, and an unpleasant odor. Fungal infections are more common on the toes. Antifungal ointments, creams, varnishes, and tablets are used to treat onychomycosis. The doctor selects the regimen taking into account the severity of the condition.

Unlike nail fungus, which is not life-threatening, bacterial infections require immediate treatment. They are fraught with the pathogen entering the bloodstream and the development of sepsis. Pseudomonas aeruginosa is characterized by black-green coloration of nails. More often the infection affects the fingers. Sometimes a black nail caused by a bacterial infection is found under gel polish or other coating if the extension was done without following the rules of antiseptic treatment.

Complications and prognosis

With the development of nail melanoma, the risk of metastases is very high. As a rule, they appear in the liver and lungs. However, resection does not protect 100% from these processes.

Another difficulty is that surgery always (but to varying degrees) reduces the functionality of the limb. Patients also experience psychological difficulties, since their lifestyle changes, and in the case of hand operations, difficulties arise with the perception of their new appearance, which is difficult to hide from others.

In the absence of metastases, the five-year survival rate of patients is about 60%, but if metastases are already present, the average survival rate ranges from 7-8 months. The specific timing depends on individual characteristics, as well as the size, thickness of the tumor and other factors.

Reasons for the appearance of transverse stripes

Most often, transverse stripes are found in vegetarians; they are the ones who suffer more from a lack of zinc, and zinc is found to a greater extent in meat. Another reason is iron deficiency.

With kidney pathology, horizontal stripes also appear on the nails. And the more serious the problems here, the more clearly they are expressed. Problems with the gastrointestinal tract affect the absorption of vitamins and minerals, the lack of which also causes horizontal furrows to appear.

Poor-quality manicure, extensions or the use of poor materials, as well as constant painting of nails with cheap varnishes lead to the appearance of grooves.

Horizontal lines also appear against the background of severe emotional stress. All useful substances in this case are used to normalize the mental or physiological state of the body, and this is the basis for the appearance of grooves. At this time, you need to get rid of the stress factor, eat right and lead a healthy lifestyle.

Disease prevention

Prevention of subungual melanoma can include:

protection of fingernails and toenails from physical and chemical injuries, exposure to aggressive chemicals;
additional examinations of those people who have had cases of melanoma among their close relatives;
monitoring existing benign neoplasms (nevi) and their timely removal.

Also, do not ignore the primary signs of melanoma of the nail plate. In many cases, they talk about other, simpler symptoms or diseases, but you shouldn’t count on it.

Diagnosis of vertical stripes on nails

Nails are derivatives and constituent parts of the skin.
Their altered structure is not the only symptom of the onset of the disease. Initially, the doctor examines the nail plates, then prescribes an examination. To do this you may need:

Blood test (cost from 200 to 300 rubles).
Urinalysis (cost in paid clinics from 200 to 300 rubles).
Donating blood for sugar (cost from 200 to 300 rubles).
Skin scraping to identify fungal infections (the cost of microscopic examination of samples is 800 rubles).
If desired, samples are taken to assess the concentration of various vitamins in the body (one sample costs from 600 rubles).