Melanonychia Striata Treatment
The treatment of melanonychia striata includes various types of treatments. There are two main types: surgical removal or laser therapy.
Surgery is used when there is no cure for the disease. Laser therapy involves using lasers to burn away the diseased nail plate. Laser surgery can be done at any age, but it’s most effective during childhood and adolescence because children have less healthy bone growth than adults.
Laser Therapy for Melanonychia
There are several different methods of laser therapy. One method uses light waves to heat up the diseased nail plate.
Another method uses ultraviolet rays to destroy the cancerous cells. A third type of laser therapy uses a high-energy beam of radiation which destroys the tumor cells directly without affecting normal tissue.
Surgery for Melanonychia
If surgery isn’t possible, then laser therapy may be used instead. However, if surgery is necessary, it must be performed under local anesthesia and taken out after a few days.
If the procedure is successful, the patient will feel pain throughout their body and will not experience any side effects from the operation. Surgery requires specialized equipment such as scalpels and drills. There are many different types of tools used to complete the surgery.
These tools are used for a multitude of tasks during the operation. The patient must arrive at the hospital or medical center in a stable condition; otherwise, the surgeon may have to halt the procedure.
This may require blood transfusions or emergency medical treatments. If the operation is successful, then the patient will survive and the disease will not have spread to other areas of the body.
The number of layers in the skin is very important for surgery. The deeper layers will be affected by the disease much more severely than the surface layers.
The dermis layer must be removed before the procedure. The subcutaneous fat layer also need to be taken out.
Sometimes certain tumors may need to be removed. If the disease is very close to some of the vital organs, then those organs will need to be taken out as well.
Age can also be a factor. Children are more likely to have success with surgery than adults. The patient must get adequate rest for the first few weeks after their operation.
If you experience pain in your finger, toe, or any limb, you may have Melanonychia. This condition can be treated using a laser or surgery.
If you haven’t experienced any pain, then you may be able to treat this condition using home remedies. Melanonychia is caused by an overactive melanocyte. Below are some treatment options as well as information on the home remedies for Melanonychia.
Melanonychia Striata Information
Melanonychia (Mela ane KIE uh) is a medical condition that causes the nails to turn black or dark brown. The condition is typically caused by an overactive melanocyte.
Melanocytes are cells that produce a pigment called melanin. Black or dark brown pigmentation forms under the nail and can cause the nail to thicken.
The dark pigmentation may cause the nail to turn completely black or it may appear as a dark stripe running down the center of the nail. Melanonychia may occur in just one or multiple nails, and the condition can affect either the fingernails or toenails.
Other symptoms of Melanonychia include pain and tenderness at the base of the nail. The skin may also be affected and will appear dark brown or black.
The condition may cause permanent changes to the nail and skin which may be noticeable.
The symptoms of Melanonychia are similar to the symptoms of other conditions, and a doctor should be consulted if any of these symptoms are experienced. If left untreated, Melanonychia may permanently damage the skin and nerves of the affected areas causing pain and decreased sensation.
Melanonychia is typically diagnosed by the appearance of the nails and darkened skin. The diagnosis may be confirmed with a skin biopsy.
Melanonychia can be caused by an overactive melanocyte. Nails and skin normally contain low levels of pigment, but in Melanonychia the pigment levels are increased causing the black or dark brown discoloration.
The exact cause of Melanonychia is unknown. Some medical conditions such as HIV or Hodgkin’s disease may increase the risk of Melanonychia.
Treatment of the underlying condition may also help treat Melanonychia.
There is no cure for Melanonychia. Treatment involves removing the discoloration from the nails and skin.
If a medical condition is causing the condition, treating the medical condition will help to improve the condition of the skin and nails.
The treatment for Melanonychia will vary depending on the severity of the condition and the cause. If a medical condition is causing the discoloration, treating the medical condition may improve the appearance of the skin and nails.
If Melanonychia is caused by an injury to the area, treatment will focus on repairing the injured area or affected nail.
For Melanonychia that has no known cause, the discoloration may be slowly lightened over time. The medication alpha-hydroxy acids or retinoids may help to lighten the pigmentation.
The medication can be purchased over-the-counter or prescription and applied to the affected area.
Home remedies for Melanonychia include keeping the nails short and clean. Wearing gloves at night will prevent the condition from darkening the skin of the hands.
Applying lotion or petroleum jelly to the hands and nails will keep the skin soft and prevent cracking or splitting of the skin.
If the condition worsens, a doctor may trim and shape the nails to improve appearance. The trimming and shaping of the nails is known as manicuring.
If more extensive treatment is required, the skin and affected nail may be removed and replaced with a tissue graft from another area of the body.
In some cases, Melanonychia is caused by an underlying medical condition. If this is the case, treating the condition will help to improve the appearance of the skin and nails.
The condition is often not serious and does not pose any long-term threat to the health of the patient. Some people may find the darkened skin and nails to be cosmetically unappealing or affect their quality of life.
Melanonychia is the result of an increase in the pigment, called melanin, in the skin or nails. Melanin is responsible for giving skin and hair its color.
Normally the amount of melanin produced is well controlled, but in Melanonychia this control mechanism malfunctions and more melanin is produced than normal.
Melanonychia is most commonly found in the fingernails, but may also be found on the toenails or skin. Fingernail Melanonychia is sometimes called “Muehrcke’s line”.
The nail may be discolored all the way around or have a band of discoloration near the base of the nail. The toenails are less frequently affected than fingernails.
The cause of Melanonychia is not fully understood. Some medical conditions that increase the risk of Melanonychia include HIV and Hodgkin’s disease.
Melanonychia appears as dark brown or black lines in the nails. It also appears as dark patches on the palms, soles or nail beds.
The affected skin may be rough in texture and prone to fungal infections.
There is no specific test for Melanonychia. A doctor will make the diagnosis after a physical examination of the skin and nails.
The treatment of Melanonychia will vary depending on the cause and severity of the condition. If the condition is due to an underlying medical condition or injury, then treating the cause should clear up the discoloration.
Treatments for Melanonychia that are not associated with an underlying condition include:
Melanonychia is not a serious medical condition and does not directly cause any health problems. However, it can be cosmetically unappealing to some people.
Melanonychia is not a life-threatening condition. It may be indicative of an underlying medical condition but it does not directly cause any health problems.
The condition is rare and it may occur in people of any age.
Melanonychia can be identified by the appearance of dark lines in the nails or dark patches on the skin, particularly the palms of the hands and soles of the feet or around the nail beds.
A doctor can diagnose Melanonychia during a routine physical examination.
In most cases, there is no need to treat Melanonychia. However, if the condition is due to an underlying medical condition, then treating the cause should clear up the discoloration of the nails.
There is no cure for Melanonychia but affected skin and nails may be treated with creams and lotions to lighten their appearance.
Sources & references used in this article:
Longitudinal melanonychia (melanonychia striata): diagnosis and management by R Baran, P Kechijian – Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1989 – Elsevier
Longitudinal melanonychia by E Haneke, R Baran – Dermatologic surgery, 2001 – Wiley Online Library
Dealing with melanonychia by A Tosti, BM Piraccini, DC de Farias – , 28, 1, 2009 – ingentaconnect.com
Fungal melanonychia by J Finch, R Arenas, R Baran – Journal of the American Academy of …, 2012 – Elsevier
Melanonychia by J Jefferson, P Rich – Dermatology Research and Practice, 2012 – hindawi.com
Melanonychia striata by AW Kopf, E Waldo – Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 1980 – Wiley Online Library
Dermoscopy provides useful information for the management of melanonychia striata by L Thomas, S Dalle – Dermatologic therapy, 2007 – Wiley Online Library
Consensus on melanonychia nail plate dermoscopy by ND Chiacchio, DC Farias, BM Piraccini… – Anais Brasileiros de …, 2013 – SciELO Brasil
Melanonychia: diagnosis and treatment by N Lateur, J André – Dermatologic therapy, 2002 – Wiley Online Library
