Dark vertical line on thumb nail

[LoadsaBlusher]

Has anybody experienced this
I have a dark line on my thumb nail extending down to cuticle
Think my nail is starting to lift at the top
Had it for months but was ignoring it thinking it would go away but it seems darker now

[Anatidae]

Go and see your GP. If it's been there months you need to rule out melanoma.

Please go get it checked.

[LoadsaBlusher]

Rang this morning all appointments taken
Going to try again tomorrow

[Anatidae]

There are other more benign things it can be (Melanonychia) but you need to get this checked out urgently. As in book an apt today. Don't leave it please

[Anatidae]

You need to ring back. This isn't something you should be leaving.

[LoadsaBlusher]

It was previously just that dark line
Now the lighter part is where I think my nail is lifting away
I did google a few things and saw melanoma so really hoping for a peace of mind

I am not the type to bother Doctors's and feel quite embarrassed going about a nail but after reading up online it has worried me ever so slightly

[LoadsaBlusher]

I did ring back for any lunchtime cancellations and they have none
V frustrating

[Anatidae]

Have you told them you suspect melanoma? You need to be pushy, go down there and say you will wait for a no show if you have to. GP will only refer you on if it is but you need to be fast.

[NC4now]

Have you bashed it at all? I've had bruises under my nails from bashing them. I bruise very easily.

[LoadsaBlusher]

No not bashed it
No I didn't mention melanoma at all on the phone
Our GP we call first thing and they allocate appintments
Unfortunately if you are in the call queue by the time you get thru they are all away
So annoying

I will try again tomorrow

[Anatidae]

Yes, it works like that at a lot of them. Will you just call one more time and explain what the the issue is and what you need to get ruled out? Say you are happy to go and wait for a no show. There are usually a few. This needs to be checked quickly.

[Dementedswan]

Are you a doctor anatidae? Why are you so insistent that OP must see a doctor today. If I was the OP your posts would have me panicking.

Hope everything is OK OP and you get an appointment soon.

[LoadsaBlusher]

Thanks demented

I can't go sit and wait as I have DC and also work

It needs to be an appointment that I can plan in

I am not panicked at all as I'm sure one day will not make a difference

Hopefully get in tomorrow

[orangefeet]

Would you be able to go and ask a pharmacist?

[Anatidae]

Nope. Well yes, but Not that kind ;) I have some experience with melanoma, in a scientific/research/work capacity.

Op should not panic, but neither should she be waiting a week to get an appointment. It's one of a few things. Most are very trivial and benign, and hopefully that's what it is.

One possibility is melanoma, and in order to rule that out she needs someone who IS a medic (and most likely not her GP, but they are the access point) to look at it.

ANY skin lesion that is at all suspected of even vaguely being melanotic needs a very quick appraisal. Risk is not just assessed by the likelihood of the worst possible outcome but by its potential severity.

[LoadsaBlusher]

Thanks anatidae

I am hopeful of being seen tomorrow

I am very much hoping it is trivial as some of the online info makes for scary reading .

I definitely won't be waiting til next week
I've left it long enough already

[Anatidae]

Please don't panic, hopefully it's benign - there are several things that can cause this and most of them are trivial or manageable) some endocrine disorders, anti malarial drugs, benign moles.) it's just that you don't mess around if you have a dodgy mole, lesion etc. Because it's your thumb, it looks quite wide and you're light skinned, it needs checking.

Hope you're ok. Good luck

[NK346f2849X127d8bca260]

Pleased you are not leaving it, a mum at dd's primary school was fobbed off by doctor with fungal nail treatment and it was infact melanoma...she is fine and remains so several years later.
Hopefully it it nothing but do get it looked at asap.

[Anatidae]

Yes, please don't accept fungal treatment as a 'try this and see if it works' approach. that does not look fungal. Fungal infections tend to not form stripes, they do t look like that.

You can't tell if that's benign or not really without specialist lighting kit and/or a nail biopsy. You need a referral from your GP to dermatology - if they are reluctant to do this you need to get your pushy but polite hat on.

[ImoAsta]

Not a Dr but I see this often in my job as I work a lot with dermatology patients.

It looks like a naevus (mole) to me that can appear on nails just like they do on the skin. However they tend to look like dark vertical lines like that! And just like moles on the skin you have to keep an eye on them.

Go to the Dr like you are and they probably will refer you to a dermatologist for whatever treatment is needed.

[Bunnyfuller]

Recently (Feb) had a toenail removed for something similar. They needed to rule out melanoma. Not the most fun I've ever had but a relief to have it properly checked. Do be insistent tomorrow. Good luck

[Bunnyfuller]

Did you get it checked, op?

[LoadsaBlusher]

Had HCP during week who has referred me to actual Doctor next week

Would be so much better if we actually got to see the doctor in the first place but it's v hard to get an actual real doctor in our surgery

[Bunnyfuller]

Good luck, keep us posted

[PandorasXbox]

Hi OP,

Just wondering how your nail is now? I've got a red line on my thumb nail ( I think it appeared after peeling my gel nail off )

[LoadsaBlusher]

After doctors was referred to hospital , dermatologist doctor at hospital
They have taken samples , medical photographs and now awaiting second hospital appointment in a few weeks