I have a light brown streak on my pinky toe and lines in other nails I have recently noticed. Going to the gp tmw. Wanted to post a picture here. Please advise how to post pic?
Not a doctor so take what I say with a pinch of salt.
I had the same issue a few years back, a black line down the middle of my big toe. Google lead me to think melanoma same as you, and my initial chat with the dermatologist was a wait and see how it develops - frequent photography to monitor development. However, a second more experienced consultant instantly dismissed it in my next visit and said it was just dried blood - and it was! If you experienced any impact on the finger/toe, play sports like tennis, badminton, hiking etc, it can commonly cause lines down your nail - this is just dried blood that turns into a line as the nail grows(look up tennis/hiking toe) Obviously subungual melanoma is real, but that is a tiny tiny tiny chance of it happening so please quit your worrying. Go to doctors to get peace of mind but they will likely say the same thing.
In the very tiny chance of it being melanoma, you will have caught it very early and most cases of melanoma are very treatable. So don't worry and try to get on with your life while you wait to see your GP
Firstly, can I say it's good that you are seeing your GP as only the experts can diagnose your nail.
As already mentioned, there can be other reasons for marks and lines under the nail, especially toe nails - trauma (especially when wearing close toed shoes) and fungal disease being two reasons. Subungual melanoma isn't common - it only accounts for 4% of all melanoma diagnoses. Add to that the fact that only 25% of patients seen by dermatology are diagnosed with melanoma so the odds your nail is OK are high. The fact you have lines on other nails also means it's less chance you have melanoma as it never occurs in more than one nail.
Should it turn out to be melanoma it's hopefully been caught early and can be treated easily. Good luck and please let us know how you get on,
Angie (Stage 3 subcutaneous melanoma patient since 2009)
Thank you to everyone for replying. The dark streak is on two nails, one in each foot. Also, I've noticed a small black spot / mark / mole on my left foot under the big toe.....will have to wait and see what gp says..
