| Melanonychia | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Dermatology |
Melanonychia is a black or brown pigmentation of anail, and may be present as a normal finding on many digits in Afro-Caribbeans, as a result of trauma, systemic disease, or medications, or as a postinflammatory event from such localized events aslichen planus orfixed drug eruption.[1]: 790 [2]: 665
There are two types, longitudinal and transverse melanonychia.[2]: 671
Melanonychia is defined by a darkening of the nail plate that is brown to black; the pigment in question is typicallymelanin. It can affect one or more fingernails as well as toenails.[3]
Melanocytic activation and melanocyte proliferation are the two primary processes of melanonychia.[3] Increasedmelanin production from a typical number of activatedmelanocytes in the nail matrix is referred to as melanocytotic activation. Increasedmelanin pigment results from a greater quantity ofmelanocytes within the nail matrix, which is known as melanocyte proliferation.[4]
Both pregnancy and racial melanonychia are physiological causes of longitudinal melanonychia. People with dark skin tones, includingAfrican Americans,Asians,Hispanics, and people from theMiddle East, often exhibit harmless longitudinal pigmented stripes.[5]
It is important to investigate the possibility ofonychotillomania,nail-biting, frictional trauma, and evencarpal tunnel syndrome if melanonychia is linked to anomalies of the nail plate or the periungual tissues.[6] A common cause of symmetric melanonychia that affects the great toe, the lateral and external portion of the fourth or fifth toenail, is recurrent trauma from overriding toes or poorly fitting shoes.[5][7]
Skin disorders suchonychomycosis,paronychia,psoriasis,lichen planus,amyloidosis, and chronicradiodermatitis can causeinflammation, which can activatemelanocytes and result in the formation of a light-brown band. Melanonychia frequently develops after the inflammatory process has resolved.[5] Nonmelanocytic tumors such as subungual linearkeratosis,[8]verruca vulgaris, subungualfibrous histiocytoma,basal cell carcinoma, myxoidpseudocyst,[9]Bowen's disease,[10] andonychomatricoma have also been shown to induce melanocytic activation, which leads to longitudinal melanonychia.[11]
Systemic-related melenonychia sometimes presents as numerous bands including the fingernails and toenails. Interestingly, cutaneous and mucosal pigmentation are frequently seen in conjunction with melanonychia linked to nutritional problems,AIDS, andAddison's disease.[12]Alcaptonuria,hemosiderosis,hyperbilirubinemia, andporphyria have all been linked to melanonychia.[5][9]
Medication (particularlychemotherapy drugs),phototherapy, radiation exposure fromX-rays, andelectron beam therapy are examples of iatrogenic causes of melanocytic activation.[13][14]
Melanonychia linked with syndromes, such asPeutz-Jeghers, Touraine, andLaugier-Hunziker, usually affects numerous digits and is accompanied by mucosal pigmented macules including the lips and oral cavity.[5]
The most frequent cause of brown-black coloration on nails ishematomas. It can be chronic (repeated, tiny trauma) or acute (after a single large trauma).[3]
Both dematiaceous and nondematiaceous fungi can induce fungal melanonychia; the most prevalent ones areTrichophyton rubrum andScytalidium dimidiatum, followed byAlternaria andExophiala.[15]
Whilemelanocytes are found in the nail bed and matrix, most of them are dormant or quiescent.[3]Melanocyte activation in response to trauma, infection, or inflammation starts the manufacture ofmelanin. Then,melanin-richmelanosomes are transported by dendrites to the developing matrix cells.[16] The nail plate becomes visibly pigmented when these matrix cells migrate in a distal direction and mature into nail plate onychocytes.[5] Melanonychia can also be caused by proliferation ofmelanocytes in the nail matrix, either with or without the formation of a nest (nevus)[3]
It is important to get a complete history, paying close attention to the beginning, development, and potential causes of melanonychia. All twenty nails, skin, and mucous membranes should be examined during the initial physical examination, bearing in mind all possible causes of brown-to-black nail coloration. It is best to rule out the possibility that an exogenous substance on top of or beneath the nail plate is the cause of the linear nail coloring.[17]
Using adermoscopy can help determine whether abiopsy is required. Because melanonychia is typically difficult to diagnose clinically, abiopsy is usually required to rule outmelanoma.[18]
Longitudinal melanonychia or melanonychia striata is distinguished by a longitudinal brown-black/grey band that runs from the cuticle or nail matrix proximally to the nail plate's distal free edge. Diffuse or total melanonychia involves the entire nail palate. Transverse melanonychia is characterized by a transverse band across the nail plate's breadth.[3]
The underlying cause of melanonychia determines how to treat it. Regression of pigmentation may be brought on by the management of related systemic or locoregional diseases, the stopping of the offending medication, avoiding trauma, treating infections, or correcting nutritional inadequacies. Benign causes can be monitored and do not require treatment.[3]
About half of instances ofchromonychia are caused by melanonychia. The most prevalent morphological pattern is longitudinal melanonychia.[19]
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