Dermatologist’s TikTok warning sheds light on nail conditions that could signal increased cancer risk, with a recent study revealing a surprising link to tumor predisposition syndrome.
It’s important to take a moment and check your nails after hearing Dr. Lindsey Zubritsky’s warning on TikTok. She’s urging her followers to look out for vertical lines that could be a sign of subungual melanoma.
Subungual melanomas are a small but serious type of malignant melanoma that can be easily overlooked without proper diagnosis. Factors like age (between 50 to 70), darker skin, and a family history of melanoma can increase the risk of developing this condition.
It’s essential to note that not all dark streaks on nails are dangerous. Some may be harmless, like longitudinal melanonychia. However, subungual melanomas can sometimes be mistaken for a fungal infection, appearing as brown-black discoloration of the nail bed.
Keep an eye out for Hutchinson’s sign, which is when discoloration or pigment starts creeping up from the nail into the skin. This could be an indication of a subungual melanoma. Dr. Zubritsky also points out the difference between subungual melanoma and subungual hematoma, which is blood pooling under the nail after an injury.
On a related note, researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a benign nail abnormality linked to BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome, which can increase the risk of cancer. This benign condition, called onychopapilloma, was found to be common in individuals with BAP1 tumor predisposition syndrome.
For those with a history of melanoma or BAP1-associated malignancies, screening for nail changes could prove to be beneficial. The study supporting these findings was backed by NIAMS, NCI, Walter Reed National Medical Center, and the Joint Pathology Center. It was published in JAMA Dermatology and presented at the Society for Investigative Dermatology Annual Meeting.
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