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In some cases, the nail itself may change in texture or structure:
• Brittle or splitting nail
• Partial nail detachment
• Nail deformity
• Persistent cracking in one area
Unlike harmless nail pigmentation (which can occur in multiple nails and remain stable), subungual melanoma typically affects one single nail and evolves over time.
⚠️ Warning Signs You Should Not Dismiss
Pay close attention if you notice:
• Only one nail affected
• A new dark stripe that wasn’t there before
• Rapid changes in width or color
• Irregular or blurred borders
• Pigment that appears to “spill” into nearby skin
• History of repeated trauma to the same finger or toe
The thumb and the big toe (hallux) are among the most commonly affected digits.
It’s important to understand that not every dark stripe is cancer. However, any changing pigmented band deserves professional evaluation.
🧬 Why Does It Appear?
Subungual melanoma originates in the nail matrix, the area beneath the cuticle responsible for producing the nail plate. This region contains melanocytes — cells that produce melanin (pigment).