What are the symptoms of toenail melanoma

Symptoms of toenail melanoma may include changes in nail color, black or brown streaks, irregular edge pigmentation, abnormal nail thickness, surface damage, redness, swelling or pain in the surrounding tissue, etc. If such symptoms occur, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible for a clear diagnosis. Toenail melanoma is a malignant tumor, and early diagnosis and treatment are crucial.

1. Abnormal nail color

Toenail melanoma often appears as black or brown streaks that can run the entire length of the nail and even extend to the base of the nail. The streaks may gradually widen and vary in color, or a single nail may become darker overall. This type of pigmentation is often different from ordinary nail trauma or bacterial infection. For abnormal pigmentation without external force or stimulation, you should be alert to the possibility of melanoma.

2 Changes in nail surface and thickness

In addition to color changes, melanoma may cause the nail surface to be uneven, pitted, dull, or even abnormally thick. As the disease progresses, the nail may gradually break or loosen, with the nail no longer clinging to the nail bed.

3. Accompanied by pain and changes in surrounding tissues

Some melanoma patients experience pain in the toes, especially redness, swelling, heat, and even ulceration of the tissues around the nails. This usually reflects that the pathology is advanced or the surrounding tissues are involved, which may have caused invasive damage.

Advice on how to deal with toenail melanoma

Seek medical advice promptly

If you find the above symptoms, especially nail changes without obvious external damage, it is recommended to consult a dermatologist or oncologist as soon as possible. Dermoscopy or subungual biopsy may be performed to clarify the nature of the lesion. Early diagnosis will help improve the cure effect.

Treatment options

1. Surgical excision: Early-stage nail melanoma usually requires surgical excision of the lesion area, including the nail bed and surrounding tissues, and try to completely remove the lesion.

2. Local radiotherapy: For cases where surgery is difficult to completely remove or there is a possibility of recurrence, local radiotherapy can be supplemented after surgery to improve the control rate.

3. Targeted therapy: Some patients with gene mutations may need to use targeted drugs such as BRAF or MEK inhibitors to delay the spread of melanoma.

Early detection is the key to dealing with toenail melanoma, especially for nails that have changed color, do not take it lightly. By regularly checking your body, observing abnormal symptoms, and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits, you can reduce the risk of late development. If symptoms continue to worsen, please go to the hospital as soon as possible to be treated by an experienced doctor.