Has anyone ever had a vertical black line on their fingernail?

[DisneyFan32WI]

For the past three months, I've had a black vertical line on my fingernail. Since I get my nails done each week, you can imagine me getting tired of the question, "What is that?"

I went to the doctor yesterday because I finally Googled this. Well, nothing good comes of going on the internet for a diagnosis. My doctor said he has never seen it, so he grabbed another colleague down the hall to come look. She has never seen it either. They talked in private for a few minutes, and came back in and referred me to a dermatologist for a biopsy. Mine is scheduled for Fri. July 14th.

I just wanted to see if anyone has ever had anything like this happen to them personally.

Thanks

 

[bcla]

I think short splinter hemmoraghing is pretty normal. I get those occasionally. Some sort of trauma breaks a blood vessel and it streaks slowly as the nail grows out. It's never the full length of the nail though. Once the streak reaches the tip I can usually scrape it off, and it's just dried blood.

It sounds like you're being sent in to check if it's melanoma. Something like this?

I think they'll probably just scrape a little bit of the black stuff and look under a microscope.

 

[MillauFr]

I have had them for years.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I think short splinter hemmoraghing is pretty normal. I get those occasionally. Some sort of trauma breaks a blood vessel and it streaks slowly as the nail grows out. It's never the full length of the nail though. Once the streak reaches the tip I can usually scrape it off, and it's just dried blood.

It sounds like you're being sent in to check if it's melanoma. Something like this?

I think they'll probably just scrape a little bit of the black stuff and look under a microscope.

Yes, this is exactly what my nail looks like. I have been very scared all week, not eating well, anxious, etc.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

I have had them for years.

Do they look like the photo above? How long does it last? Mine has been like this for 3 months.

 

[MillauFr]

Do they look like the photo above? How long does it last? Mine has been like this for 3 months.

Mine start midway up on my nail and slowly grow out. Then new ones start again.

 

[adisneyaunt]

So it's trauma related?
Perhaps unknowingly injured during a manicure??
Agree Best to get it checked OP, but looks to be innocuous... till then... try not to worry so much for what "might" be... easier said than done, but atleast u know others were in same place and they re okay!!
Hope you ll let us know! Best of luck..

 

[bcla]

So it's trauma related?
Perhaps unknowingly injured during a manicure??
Agree Best to get it checked OP, but looks to be innocuous... till then... try not to worry so much for what "might" be... easier said than done, but atleast u know others were in same place and they re okay!!
Hope you ll let us know! Best of luck..

If it's full length it's probably not from some sort of trauma. Heck - I've banged my fingers before and ended up with bruises that left marks on my fingernails that slowly grew out.

 

[MillauFr]

Mine is probably a fungus.

 

[ols386]

Mine is probably a fungus.

That's what I was thinking.

 

[low-key]

no, but I had a chalk outline drawn where I passed out

 

[MillauFr]

That's what I was thinking.

it fits my personality. I am annoying at first but I grow on people.