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Concerned About Bruised Big Toe. Never Healed After 17 Years,
Question: concerned about bruised big toe. never healed after 17 years, worried that it is subungual melanoma. it actually partially fell off but grew back with same bruising or fungus??
concerned about bruised big toe. never healed after 17 years, worried that it is subungual melanoma. it actually partially fell off but grew back with same bruising or fungus??
Brief Answer:
Regarding discoloured nail
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have reviewed your query and viewed the image.
I suggest a nail clipping for KOH to rule out if it is fungal. If it turns out to be positive then oral antifungal therapy would help. However, if it is negative I would suggest a nail biopsy to rule out possibility of melanoma although it is highly unlikely that a subungual melanoma would start as early as mid thirties or stay restricted for that long.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need any more assistance.
Regarding discoloured nail
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have reviewed your query and viewed the image.
I suggest a nail clipping for KOH to rule out if it is fungal. If it turns out to be positive then oral antifungal therapy would help. However, if it is negative I would suggest a nail biopsy to rule out possibility of melanoma although it is highly unlikely that a subungual melanoma would start as early as mid thirties or stay restricted for that long.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need any more assistance.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
Regarding discoloured nail
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have reviewed your query and viewed the image.
I suggest a nail clipping for KOH to rule out if it is fungal. If it turns out to be positive then oral antifungal therapy would help. However, if it is negative I would suggest a nail biopsy to rule out possibility of melanoma although it is highly unlikely that a subungual melanoma would start as early as mid thirties or stay restricted for that long.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need any more assistance.
Regarding discoloured nail
Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome to ask a doctor service. I have reviewed your query and viewed the image.
I suggest a nail clipping for KOH to rule out if it is fungal. If it turns out to be positive then oral antifungal therapy would help. However, if it is negative I would suggest a nail biopsy to rule out possibility of melanoma although it is highly unlikely that a subungual melanoma would start as early as mid thirties or stay restricted for that long.
Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if you need any more assistance.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
It was definitely fungal when I clipped it 3 months ago, for sure. I am a Nurse Practitioner. However, the bruising has been present since initial injury in 2002. Plus the fungal infection does not seem to be as bad or noticeable. Stabbing pain in toe today as well. Lasted for 20 seconds only time this has occurred. I workout a lot, run, etcc so who knows. I am currently setting up an appt with a dermatologist. I suspect a fungal infection, definitely want to be the case. I am a mixed race XXXXXXX XXXXXXX I know people of color will present with melanoma in nailbeds. Did you see the pic of my big toe?
It was definitely fungal when I clipped it 3 months ago, for sure. I am a Nurse Practitioner. However, the bruising has been present since initial injury in 2002. Plus the fungal infection does not seem to be as bad or noticeable. Stabbing pain in toe today as well. Lasted for 20 seconds only time this has occurred. I workout a lot, run, etcc so who knows. I am currently setting up an appt with a dermatologist. I suspect a fungal infection, definitely want to be the case. I am a mixed race XXXXXXX XXXXXXX I know people of color will present with melanoma in nailbeds. Did you see the pic of my big toe?
Brief Answer:
Regarding nail pigmentation
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
yes, I did see the image. It is unlikely for a melanoma to remain localized for so long. It is most likely either a fungal infection or nail pigmentation due to trauma or perhaps a melanocytic nevi in nail matrix. The pigmentation looks well defined and there is no color variation unlike a melanoma. Dermoscopy would be a useful tool to evaluate.
take care
Regarding nail pigmentation
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
yes, I did see the image. It is unlikely for a melanoma to remain localized for so long. It is most likely either a fungal infection or nail pigmentation due to trauma or perhaps a melanocytic nevi in nail matrix. The pigmentation looks well defined and there is no color variation unlike a melanoma. Dermoscopy would be a useful tool to evaluate.
take care
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
Brief Answer:
Regarding nail pigmentation
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
yes, I did see the image. It is unlikely for a melanoma to remain localized for so long. It is most likely either a fungal infection or nail pigmentation due to trauma or perhaps a melanocytic nevi in nail matrix. The pigmentation looks well defined and there is no color variation unlike a melanoma. Dermoscopy would be a useful tool to evaluate.
take care
Regarding nail pigmentation
Detailed Answer:
Hi.
yes, I did see the image. It is unlikely for a melanoma to remain localized for so long. It is most likely either a fungal infection or nail pigmentation due to trauma or perhaps a melanocytic nevi in nail matrix. The pigmentation looks well defined and there is no color variation unlike a melanoma. Dermoscopy would be a useful tool to evaluate.
take care
Note: Hope the answers resolves your concerns, however for further guidance of skin related queries consult our Dermatologist.Click here to book a consultation
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Nagamani Ng
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