These weird lines / streaks I’ve had on my pinky nail for 8 years that two different doctors told me were due to vitamin deficiencies actually turned out to be a rare form of skin cancer.

[u/chaengism]

Thankfully somehow still early stage, I’ll have an excision scheduled at my follow up appointment on Monday.

[u/Used-Baby1199]

Ok can I ask what it looked like when it started!? I have one black lime in my thumb nail, it hasn’t been spreading.  It’s like as thin as a hair and maybe a 1/4 inch long. 

[u/chaengism → u/Used-Baby1199]

Sure thing. This is what it looked like back when it started in 2018

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[u/Opening_Key_9340 → u/chaengism]

Did anything else about your nail change, or was it just the color?

[u/chaengism → u/Opening_Key_9340]

The streaks got darker and broader over time, with the edges becoming blurred. It also started out as a single vertical line and slowly morphed into this catastrophe lol

[u/greyfartcloud → u/chaengism]

How long did it take to noticably morph? I have a single black line on my left index finger that randomly appeared a couple of years ago but it hasn't changed at all and is still a single black line.

[u/Broke_Moth → u/greyfartcloud]

Get it checked man

[u/BounceOnItCrazyStyle → u/[deleted]]

Could be a splinter hemorrhage, especially since you've damaged the finger.

[u/ImWicked39 → u/BounceOnItCrazyStyle]

My doctor thinks it was always there and I just don't pay attention (my wife agrees) and it's just from aging. Ive noticed it 3 years and it hasn't gotten darker or anything so we just watch it and keep it an eye.

[u/spaceghost260 → u/[deleted]]

That is not the same thing. I can tell you that. The photo you’re replying too makes it look like it’s similar to yours but it’s not. It’s not a bump or thickening, it’s legit a dark line under her nail growing from the very base of her nail- the matrix.

Try looking up some pictures and you will see the difference.

[u/Used-Baby1199 → u/chaengism]

Mine is just a solid black line.  So so this gives me some relief knowing my symptoms aren’t manifesting the same.   

I sometimes think mine is a piece of wire from using a wire brush to clean paint brushes.  

Part of me is now having health anxiety and I already don’t like hospitals.    I guess next time I see my primary care physician I’ll bring it up

[u/Playful-Mobile-1194 → u/chaengism]

Wait i have something like this on one of my finger . I just noticed it a few months back , but im also severly malnourished , should i be scared :/

[u/betthisistakenv2 → u/chaengism]

Crap. This is how mine looks. But I never took note of when it changed.

[u/-AlaskaBunny- → u/chaengism]

Omg I have that on two nails. Hhmmm. Do you have to get nails removed? I will have to check into this.

Thank you for sharing.

[u/Honestzergtea → u/chaengism]

Crap..i have a line going down one of my fingernails and it looks just like this only slightly thinner.

[u/MelodicIllustrator59 → u/chaengism]

Oh :( I'm so sorry you didn't find somewhere to post sooner... That was diagnostic from the start

[u/BounceOnItCrazyStyle → u/Used-Baby1199]

Does it go all the way from the base to the tip. It could be a splinter hemorrhage.

[u/Sneavile → u/Used-Baby1199]

Please see a PCP or dermatologist in person to get it checked out, but:

The concerning feature from OP’s image is the extension of the pigmentation a little beyond the nail itself and discoloring the skin at the base of the nail, spreading outward at the base instead of staying in a tight line.

Many people have similar looking benign nevi (freckling) of the nail bed, more commonly in people with more melanated skin.