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Brown mark under big toenail.

Forums General Melanoma Community Brown mark under big toenail.

  • Post
    Paige712
    Participant

      Hi my name is Paige and just recently i've noticed a strange medium brownish coloured mark under my right big toenail. it's in the nail's right bottom corner and is around 5-6mm vertical and 3 mm horizontal so fairly rectangular.

      Now I'm just hoping it's a bruise but do you think it could be something worth investigating?

      Thank you 🙂

    Viewing 5 reply threads
    • Replies
        Linny
        Participant

          It could be a bruise, it could be a toenail fungus, it could be anything. But just for peace of mind I'd get it checked out, especially if you have a history of melanoma.

          What your doctor will probably do, is take a close look at it and if s/he is not 100% sure what's going on, will mark the top of the discoloration and the bottom of the discoloration and have you come back in 6 weeks or so. If the discoloration stays within the markings it's growing out with the nail and that's a good thing. If the discoloration doesn't grow out, then further testing will be necessary.

            POW
            Participant

              Linny is correct; a bruise will slowly move in the direction of the tip of your toe as the nail grows. Melanoma will not move. 

              POW
              Participant

                Linny is correct; a bruise will slowly move in the direction of the tip of your toe as the nail grows. Melanoma will not move. 

                POW
                Participant

                  Linny is correct; a bruise will slowly move in the direction of the tip of your toe as the nail grows. Melanoma will not move. 

                Linny
                Participant

                  It could be a bruise, it could be a toenail fungus, it could be anything. But just for peace of mind I'd get it checked out, especially if you have a history of melanoma.

                  What your doctor will probably do, is take a close look at it and if s/he is not 100% sure what's going on, will mark the top of the discoloration and the bottom of the discoloration and have you come back in 6 weeks or so. If the discoloration stays within the markings it's growing out with the nail and that's a good thing. If the discoloration doesn't grow out, then further testing will be necessary.

                  Linny
                  Participant

                    It could be a bruise, it could be a toenail fungus, it could be anything. But just for peace of mind I'd get it checked out, especially if you have a history of melanoma.

                    What your doctor will probably do, is take a close look at it and if s/he is not 100% sure what's going on, will mark the top of the discoloration and the bottom of the discoloration and have you come back in 6 weeks or so. If the discoloration stays within the markings it's growing out with the nail and that's a good thing. If the discoloration doesn't grow out, then further testing will be necessary.

                    UrsulaZ
                    Participant

                      hi, Paige

                      I had a similar mark under my thumbnail that did turn out to be melanoma. It extended the full length of the nail before I noticed it. 

                      But when it appeared, I was already in stage IV. If you have never been diagnosed with melanoma, then your pre-test probability would be lower!

                      Still worth checking out, in my opinion.

                      best, 

                      Ursula

                        Thefranster
                        Participant

                          Wow what is your prognosis? I just discovered a strange brown circular spot under my nail and I'm scheduled for a nail biopsy next month. Having a lot of anxiety about it 

                          Thefranster
                          Participant

                            Wow what is your prognosis? I just discovered a strange brown circular spot under my nail and I'm scheduled for a nail biopsy next month. Having a lot of anxiety about it 

                            Thefranster
                            Participant

                              Wow what is your prognosis? I just discovered a strange brown circular spot under my nail and I'm scheduled for a nail biopsy next month. Having a lot of anxiety about it 

                            UrsulaZ
                            Participant

                              hi, Paige

                              I had a similar mark under my thumbnail that did turn out to be melanoma. It extended the full length of the nail before I noticed it. 

                              But when it appeared, I was already in stage IV. If you have never been diagnosed with melanoma, then your pre-test probability would be lower!

                              Still worth checking out, in my opinion.

                              best, 

                              Ursula

                              UrsulaZ
                              Participant

                                hi, Paige

                                I had a similar mark under my thumbnail that did turn out to be melanoma. It extended the full length of the nail before I noticed it. 

                                But when it appeared, I was already in stage IV. If you have never been diagnosed with melanoma, then your pre-test probability would be lower!

                                Still worth checking out, in my opinion.

                                best, 

                                Ursula

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