Melanonychia: Clues for Diagnosis and the Importance of Histology
Originally published May 26, 2021; updated February 23, 2026 by the Next Steps in Derm Editorial Team with refreshed links and expanded guidance on treating nail disorders.
Just as pigmented lesions on the skin can vary widely from freckles to lentigines to nevi to melanoma, similar pigmented lesions can be seen in nails. Melanonychia, brown …
Originally published May 26, 2021; updated February 23, 2026 by the Next Steps in Derm Editorial Team with refreshed links and expanded guidance on treating nail disorders.
Just as pigmented lesions on the skin can vary widely from freckles to lentigines to nevi to melanoma, similar pigmented lesions can be seen in nails. Melanonychia, brown … Continue reading "Melanonychia: Clues for Diagnosis and the Importance of Histology"
Health recently posted an article on the causes of melanonychia. While a black line on a patient’s nail is a common presentation, melanonychia may have a harmless cause or it may be a sign of a more serious health condition. How should a dermatology clinician conduct a workup for melanonychia, and when is a biopsy necessary?
For an expert’s take, I reached out to Molly Hinshaw, MD, profes …