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Among the signs that may indicate cancer, a dermatologist explains on Instagram that you should not forget to check your nails. Indeed, an indicator could warn you that you are suffering from serious cancer.
Suspicious moles, pigment spots… some signs of skin cancer are well known and are the subject of prevention by doctors. On the other hand, other elements tend to alert us much less while they could be key indicators in detecting the disease. This is why dermatologist Lindsay Zubritsky warns her patients of a little-known sign at the nail level. Discover this sign to check very easily!
An easy to check but very important sign
Followed by its Internet users on the Instagram account @dermgurudermatologist Lindsay Zubritsky urges her patients to check their nails. In fact, she warns them that a small change could actually be related to subungual melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer that has the particularity of developing under the nail. According to the doctor, it’s important to watch out for dark marks, both under your fingernails and your toenails! “If you have a dark pigmented vertical streak running down your nail, this definitely needs to be checked out,” she said in her video.
Indeed, this sign is the main symptom of nail melanoma. The pigmented line or band (brown or black) appears on the thumb or big toe starting from the matrix and extending towards the end of the nail. It gives it a striated appearance. The skin around the nail can also become darker. The dermatologist adds that other signs should also prompt you to consult a health professional. Among them: a splitting of the nail, discoloration of the nail or the skin around it, a nail that lifts and moves away from the nail bed, a split in the middle of the nail, redness, infection, a wound that does not heal, a deformation of the nail, an alteration of the skin of the finger in the nail area, a yellowish color…
All abnormal signs that could actually be caused by cancer.
A rare but most dangerous cancer
It is a cancerous tumor of the skin that develops from melanocytes, pigment cells of the epidermis. It can spread anarchically and reach neighboring tissues of the epidermis, damaging other parts of the body. Although it is not the most common cancer, melanoma is the most dangerous.
However, this form of skin cancer is quite rare and represents between 2% and 8% of cutaneous melanomas. It more generally affects women and develops in particular under or under the nails of the thumb (hand) or big toe (foot).
Don’t worry directly but consult!
If treated in time, this type of cancer is curable. It is therefore very important to remain alert to the signs related to its diagnosis. Thus, most often the dark streaks on your fingers are not dangerous. It can be a skin condition, a wart, a microtrauma or even a painless injury following a shock. In some cases, we are talking about longitudinal melanonychia, which is nothing other than a benign pigmentation.
In case of doubt and to reassure yourself, the best thing to do is to show your nails to a doctor. Indeed, only an anatomopathological analysis can confirm the diagnosis with certainty.