Panicking… faint vertical line on thumb nail

[Elopelo]

Hi everyone. I read an article late on Friday about a lady who had a dark like on her nail which turned out to be cancer. I started checking my own nails and found this! I have never noticed this line on my thumb before so I am really worried that it might have been there ages and I’ve only just spotted it now.

I can’t stop Googling and can’t stop panicking. I’m running on auto pilot and can’t think or concentrate about anything else. DH thinks I’m over reacting and I can’t get through to GP until tomorrow so I just need to share this with someone.

Has anyone been through anything similar?

After all this googling it seems in majority of cases of melanoma the line presents as darker but this line I have does go all the way from the top of the nail to the bottom. Recently I have had some other skin changes like a few new moles appearing on face and neck (GP checked them over and said all ok) as well as some spots on my eyelid which was what I was originally going to talk to GP about before I discovered this.

I just can’t stop worrying. I feel so sick.

My brother had one on his toenail and it was fungus. I only saw it when it was very manky, but it started as a line.

Thank you for your reply I haven’t even thought about fungal infections, hope your brothers has cleared up now.

If you had it for ages & it never got worse, then it's very probably benign.

I'm going to stick my neck out here.
I bet that vast majority (> 80%) of people with lines like that -- it's benign. And of the 20% that aren't totally benign, the vast majority can be treated medically with great success (ie, they will not suffer from treatment and will die of something else).

prove me wrong?

My brother couldn't get an appointment to get it seen during Covid and they had to operate on it. He's fine now, but you should definitely get it checked out before that!

Get it checked out if it is worrying you, but step away from Dr Google, s/he (they?) is usually wrong.

wow I've been all over here today but just to say I had that on toenail it wasn't fungus it was a viral wart under the nail biopsy taken clear and treated by private dermatologist. still have my nail. the GP didn't care or want to refer me

Is it like that at every angle?
I have developed ridges in my nails that look a little shaded in certain angles

It looks like a normal thumbnail ridge.
Are you normally prone to irrational panic OP? If this happens a lot, maybe talk to the GP - you deserve to live a life free of that sort of upset, and things can be done to help.

It’s green nail caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria. You usually need some antibiotic drops to get rid of it.

Thank you all for your replies and time. It’s much appreciated.

@seperatedmum I’m glad you are okay and it wasn’t anything dangerous. I’ve been thinking ahead and was planning to maybe have a private consultation in case my GP also isn’t interested like yours was. Did you have your biopsy done privately too? I could afford the consultation fee but no clue how much further testing would cost.

I am a worrier, yes. Always have been and I think I always will be. It used to be about anything and everything but since having kids I guess it’s more concentrated on the health anxiety sorts of things. Like I said in my first post, a couple of months ago I had a new mole on my face and was panicking then but this is a whole new level of worry!

When I squeeze my nail down the stripe does become more prominent and looks like a band. I thought it might have been a ridge at first but when comparing to other fingers that have ridges they are colourless whereas this definitely has some colour to it.

@Elopelo the dermatologist just clipped my nail and sent some off "just to confirm" before she started cryo treatment the same day but she was confident it was a viral wart. sorry I can't remember the cost

I have the same thing. I noticed it and had a Google panic. Went to GP who took photos as I recall and shared with specialist of some sort, sorry this is all a bit hazy, and they decided it was fine. Following with interest in case other posters can shed any more light!

I have health anxiety and I'd get it checked op. No one on here knows for certain.

Got through to GP today, was a phone consultation. I sent pictures through and she basically said she thinks it’s a fungal infection of some sorts, she has prescribed some cream which I’m to use for 6 weeks and if it doesn’t clear up then I’m to go back. She basically said it’s very rare to get a melanoma under the nail, which I understand it may be rare compared to other cancers but it does exist! I’m still feeling uneasy and unsure so I’m going to be looking at a private appointment with a dermatologist whilst using the cream at the same time.

Even if the cream doesn't work it could still be the correct diagnosis. It's hard for the cream to penetrate the nail so doesn't always work.
Please update once you have seen the specialist so anyone googling like us in the future may get some reassurance

Not having a good day today. I was okay the past few days and managed to avoid Googling so much but today it’s back with a vengeance. I’m so scared.

There was a mix up with my prescription as well today so I wasn’t able to pick up the medication will have to try again tomorrow.

I’ve been having a look at different dermatologists as well and how much they charge for consultations, it’s all pretty much in the same ballpark. Will update as soon as.

“Been through”? Really? I mean it would be one hell
of a coincidence for you to have that exact symptom just after you read an article on the subject.

exhausting.

I’m not really sure what I’ve done/written to offend you. That’s fine if you find it all exhausting. To be honest, I do too. I don’t want to spend the whole day and night thinking and dreaming about this. As I said not much family support so that’s why I’m on MN.

Thanks for your input though.

That looks like a totally normal line to me. My nails quite often look like that. In fact one does right now. I think it's unlikely to be a symptom of anything sinister.

Apologies for going awol- I wanted to wait to give a more substantial update.

I’ve been using the prescribed cream twice a day but haven’t noticed much difference, so I got in touch with a private dermatologist where I sent in some pictures and he replied the next day saying he think it is a benign melanonychia and I should keep an eye on the base of the line in case it widens or darkens over time.

Thank you to all those posters who were supportive and helpful.

@Elopelo , so it's nothing to worry about? Did he say what caused it and will it disappear? I have a faint line on my toenail.

Hi @BobaTea yes he told me to keep an eye on it particularly at the base in case I notice the line getting darker or wider. He didn’t say what caused it but when I googled ‘benign melanonychia’ it says they can just appear and are more prone in people of mixed race/ethnic minority origin which I am.

You could get it checked out at the GP- mine just gave a fungal cream which dermatologist said wouldn’t do anything for me and I didn’t notice any difference while I was using it.

@Elopelo , do you mind if I ask you how much did the private dermatologist charge? Was it an online consultant?

Yes it was online I had to upload up to 5 clear pictures along with any other relevant information/medical history and the dermatologist got back to me the next day. This method cost £75. They also had options for face to face appointments which I think were at £200.

Dermatologist’s name is Dr. Aaron Wernham this is his website

birminghamdermatologist.co.uk/

@Elopelo , thanks!