Mole under toenail

[Dog20]

In the past 3 weeks I've noticed a dark mole under the toenail of my big toe. I suspect it's just a bruise but it's not painful and I have no recollection of injury. Worth a visit to the GP or just leave it? Don't want to waste their time if unnecessary!

It’s a bruise.

It’ll grow out, but takes about a year.

Thank you 👍

I think I'd be inclined to get that checked out. It could be a bruise but it does also look a bit like a subungual melanoma. Better to be safe than sorry!

I would get it looked at

That's not a mole it's a bruise but I'd get it checked, could be underlying conditions

Why would you call it a mole? Unusual to get such a bruise without hitting it etc! I too would get it checked. As someone else said, please look up subungual melanoma- very rare, and often presents as a dark line, but worth checking.

If your GP does on-line consultations you should be able to upload a photo. I had similar (although much smaller and worryingly more line-like) and the GP who specialised in dermatology had a quick look at it, all OK. I kept track of it with photos and it went after a few weeks.

Not sure why I called it a mole to be honest! I think I am a bit paranoid about moles etc due to my teenage daughter being diagnosed with malignant melanoma a few years ago 😞. She had a dodgy looking mole on her leg requiring treatment

That definitely wants seeing, is the little mole on the second toe new too?

Not sure about the smaller one. I have lots of moles and freckles so hard to tell!

I’d get that looked at.

I would get it checked out, OP, although it almost certainly is a bruise as you say. I had something very similar a couple of years ago and was referred to the specialist dermatology service under the two-week pathway. They took some images of the mark and confirmed within a few days that it was just a bruise. If you speak to your GP they should be able to refer you.

I work in dermatology. You have a family history of malignant melanoma and you state you have lots of moles.

It could be a subungual haematoma (bruise under the nail) but you don't recall it being traumatised so it could be something more sinister. You'd be sensible to go to the GP for a referral to dermatology to be on the safe side. Ask for a two week wait referral; with your daughter's history they should act on it.

Best of luck. Chances are it's benign but there is no harm in getting checked out just in case!

Thanks everyone for your responses. The general consensus appears to be that it's most likely a bruise, but worth getting checked just in case. I'll book a GP appointment. Fingers crossed it's nothing!

Agree, get it checked out. Whenever I’ve had a bruise under nail I know how it’s happened- bad shoes, stubbed toe or whatever.

DH had something very similar, no injury that he could recall and it lingered for months so he saw GP who took a sample and had it tested . All fine thankfully but it was several months before it disappeared completely

Well this is the same toenail almost a week later. The mark appears to be moving upwards. Am I right in thinking this makes it more likely to be a bruise? I have a Dr appointment booked for next week

I currently have a bruised toe from a fall, yours looks like mine

If it’s moving upwards as the nail grows it’s more likely to be a bruise, yes. I would still go to the appointment though.

Definitely get it checked.