🖤 Subungual Melanoma: The Nail Sign You Should Never Ignore

When these melanocytes become malignant, they multiply uncontrollably and form melanoma.

Several factors may contribute:

• Chronic ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure
• Repeated trauma to the nail
• Genetic predisposition
• Personal or family history of melanoma

Unlike many other melanomas, subungual melanoma is not always linked directly to sun exposure, which makes awareness even more important.

It can affect people of all skin tones and ethnic backgrounds. In fact, while it remains rare overall, it represents a higher proportion of melanoma cases in individuals with darker skin tones.

📚 How Is It Diagnosed?

The gold standard for diagnosis is a biopsy of the nail matrix.

Dermatoscopy (a specialized magnification tool used by dermatologists) can provide helpful clues, but it cannot replace tissue sampling when melanoma is suspected.

If your healthcare provider identifies suspicious features, they may:

1. Remove part or all of the nail

2. Take a sample from the matrix

3. Send it for histopathological analysis

Early diagnosis significantly improves outcomes. When detected in early stages, treatment may involve localized surgical removal. In advanced cases, more extensive surgery or systemic treatment may be required.

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