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Man Urged To Get Finger Checked By Doctor After Posting Concerning Photo
Despite having ‘no symptoms’ or pain, a man has sparked concern among strangers after posting a photo of his fingernail online.
It could be mistaken for a new, minimalist nail art trend – but this photo of a finger marked with a dark line has sparked concern among strangers.
The seemingly innocent image was posted on Reddit by a man, who described how the thick line on the nail of his index finger has darkened over time.
Asking for advice from the online community, the man said he’d lived with the mark – which many wrongly believe to be a tattoo – for five years.
He added that he’s suffered from no other symptoms or pain – with doctors previously reassuring him that the line is simply a benign mole.
“When I had gone a few years back they told me that it was not a problem since I am brown and in my 20s,” wrote the man. “I often get asked if it’s a tattoo or if I voted, people don’t usually believe me when I say it’s just a mole.”
Yet, responding to the man’s post, worried Redditors pleaded with him to get a second opinion, warning that the mark could be a sign of cancer.
“Unexplained darkening of tissue may be serious,” warned one.
Another wrote: “Skin cancer on both sides of my family here. Melanoma with my dad. I saw this photo and felt my blood stir. I hope he gets checked out…”
A third user, claiming to be a doctor, told the man: “Yes, get it checked out. No, not all melanonychias are cancer. Yes, when they change that is a cause for concern.
“No, there was probably nothing to worry about last time. Yes, you need to see a doctor. No, it cannot be diagnosed over the internet.”
Melanonychia refers to dark pigmentation of a person’s nail.
The nail may appear black, brown or, in some cases, gray.
According to Medical News Today, the condition can be considered ‘normal’ in people with dark skin. However, it can also indicate potentially deadly health issues.
Causes include pregnancy, trauma, nail infection and skin cancer, among others.
The Cleveland Clinic, a nonprofit academic medical center, warns: “Subungual melanoma is a serious type of skin cancer that develops under your nail.
“It most commonly appears as dark brown or black streaks on your nail.”
Referring to the cancer’s ‘distinct shape,’ the center adds: “Some may describe it as looking like you drew a line on your nail with a black or brown marker.
“It appears as a dark line on your nail and runs from bottom to top.”
While it is possible that the mark on the Reddit poster’s fingernail is harmless, another user, who claimed to work in dermatology, warned that it needed ‘reviewing.’
“In this photo, the melanonychia appears relatively uniform, but it is dark enough and wide enough that it needs review, especially if darkened over time,” said the user.
A review of melanonychia may include an examination of the fingernails and toenails, with doctors checking whether they have structural irregularities, Healthline reports.
It could also involve the use of a microscope to closely examine discolored areas.
Thanking the strangers who offered their opinions on the picture of his finger, the man revealed that he had been persuaded to pay another visit to the doctor’s.
“Thanks for the concern!” he wrote. “As a result, I’m going to go get it checked.”
He even managed to make light of the bizarre mark on his nail.
Responding to one user’s joke – ‘Don’t let Gen Z see this. You just started a nail polish trend’ – the man quipped back: “How do I monetize this?”
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