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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

It's a medical one. Unattractive photo warning..

28 replies

HealthProbs · 12/04/2022 21:47

I've had this mark under my nail for a month or two. No obvious injury and it isn't going away. In fact you can see at the bottom of the mark where it appears to be spreading.

Yes I've googled and worried myself silly. I'm on meds that can increase risk of melanoma too, so it is always at the back of my mind.

I'm going to make a gp appointment but wondering if I should ask for an urgent one or if I'm just being ridiculous about a bit of a bruised nail..

Can anyone medical give me an opinion (I'm not asking for a diagnosis, just a view on how quickly I need to be seen)

Thanks and sorry about the nasty nail pic

OP posts:
Northernsoullover · 12/04/2022 21:49

I'm not medical but you do need to be seen. It's not being silly to request an urgent appointment.

Fraaahnces · 12/04/2022 21:49

You absolutely need to call. Might be nothing at all, and none of us are qualified to make diagnoses. You need to see a dermatologist in case it’s melanoma. (Chances are it’s not.)

Blossom97 · 12/04/2022 21:56

Hi op. I think it is unlikely to be anything serious. Melanoma under the toe nail usually appears as a line down the whole length of the nail. Definitely get it checked out Asap though.

Blueskythinking123 · 12/04/2022 21:56

I would request an urgent appointment. I have stage 2 Melanoma (not under a nail). Early diagnosis is key.

SynchroSwimmer · 12/04/2022 22:05

You could mail the photo to your GP for advice - they would probably send the pic on to Dermatology for advice.

(If it were my nail, I could consider gently filing the nail so it’s squared off across at the top - to see if any debris comes away - to give me a better clue in the meantime)

CircesLion · 12/04/2022 22:09

I got one of these after taking Naproxen for a frozen shoulder.

I was reading through the side effects one last time before throwing the pack away when it was all over and when I read this could be caused by them, I checked my toes and there it was.

PollyPutTheKettleOnKettleOn · 12/04/2022 22:13

Good luck @HealthProbs, would you please come back and update once you've seen doctor?

I have something almost identical under a fingernail, having trouble making an apt atm!

IroningBoardz · 12/04/2022 22:30

I think it’s a splinter haemorrage. They take a while to grow out as toe nails grow slowly. A melanoma would start at the nail bed and grow up the length of the nail.

raffegiraffe · 12/04/2022 22:45

I think it's a splinter haemorrhage. Have you had covid recently? I think I had it Feb 2020 and had two of these afterwards which slowly grew out

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 12/04/2022 22:48

Podiatrist here, Its more likely to be blood under the nail from trauma however carcinoma can present like this so its always better to get it seen asap just in case.
But I wouldn't worry over much, its unlikely but better to know than leave something like this unchecked.

Jedsnewstar · 12/04/2022 22:50

It just looks like clogged blood. It won’t go anywhere until the nail grows out. Get it checked though, always best to get an expert opinion.

Original poster
HealthProbs · 12/04/2022 23:02

Thank you for the replies, and I'm really encouraged by those of you saying probably a splinter haemorrhage. I wondered about that. Will obviously get it checked out.
Sorry can't reply directly but no, never had covid. To the pp that asked me to update when seen gp, I will do. Hope you get seen soon.

OP posts:
sunflowerdaisyrose · 12/04/2022 23:13

Whereas I do agree you should get a proper opinion, I've had subungual melanoma (which is rare) and it did appear as a line from the nail bed. Always worth getting these things checked by an expert as, as a pp said, if it was melanoma, early diagnosis is key, but I don't think it's likely.

BluKorner · 12/04/2022 23:44

I have a line that goes from the nail bed to the top of my nail. I have always ignored it. This thread has made me submit an econsult to my GP tonight.

Thank you OP.

sunflowerdaisyrose · 12/04/2022 23:50

@BluKorner well done, if it's been there ages and hasn't changed it's also likely to be benign, but I'd want a referral and it to be seen by a dermatologist as they use a dermascope so can get a better look.

Thehonestybox · 12/04/2022 23:55

Def get checked, but it looks like a blood bruise from trauma to me. I had a really similar thing under my toenail for about a year, it went away but took ages

Thehundredthnamechange · 13/04/2022 07:00

I have really bad health anxiety and I had similar. I worried myself sick. It grew out in the end, no idea what it was, I think perhaps a fungal thing or a blood blister/bruise. Toenails grow ridiculously slowly. So that explains why it hasn't gone yet, doesn't mean it's anything bad. Don't worry too much.

cherry978 · 13/04/2022 07:06

From your photo where the dark mark is it looks slightly red so i would assume its something stuck under the nail

Original poster
HealthProbs · 13/04/2022 08:35

@BluKorner

I have a line that goes from the nail bed to the top of my nail. I have always ignored it. This thread has made me submit an econsult to my GP tonight.

Thank you OP.

I'm glad. I hope you get seen quickly.
OP posts:
Original poster
HealthProbs · 13/04/2022 08:37

@sunflowerdaisyrose

Whereas I do agree you should get a proper opinion, I've had subungual melanoma (which is rare) and it did appear as a line from the nail bed. Always worth getting these things checked by an expert as, as a pp said, if it was melanoma, early diagnosis is key, but I don't think it's likely.
I'm sorry to hear that, I hope you have had treatment. Thanks for your reassuring reply.
OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 13/04/2022 08:44

I get splinter haemorrhages like this all the time (currently 7 among my nails on a count) and though they grow out quickly on my fingers, toes take a lot longer.
My dad did have investigations for a subungal melanoma, and that mark started much further back down his toe nail, showed no red, and was wider. 30 seconds with the dermatologists and they said it was a bleed, but when he said he felt like a fool they said they'd always rather check

GoodSoup · 13/04/2022 08:54

I had a dodgy mole looked at recently and the GP just asked me to send over some pictures and they phoned me back when they had looked at it. Was so much easier than trying to make an appointment. Hopefully you can do something similar.

Tippexy · 13/04/2022 08:56

As per a pp, if you trim your nail down you will be able to see if it is dried blood or something else.

10HailMarys · 13/04/2022 09:41

As others have said, a melanoma is usually a line that starts from the nail bed. What you've got there looks like a little bleed, probably from a splinter or a small knock or a tiny grain of grit or something.

By all means get it looked at to rule out anything serious - your GP may well even just suggest you email a photo in the first instance without a need for an appointment - but it's almost certainly absolutely nothing to worry about. :)

Original poster
HealthProbs · 13/04/2022 10:35

Thanks again everyone. I have emailed a photo to my GP just for reassurance.

OP posts:
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