| Toenail melanomas are similarly found on the skin | | | | is not a certainty. You need to go in for a biopsy |
| but they are on the skin beneath the toenail or | | | | to determine the kind of toenail melanoma you |
| thumbnail. This makes them less noticeable | | | | have. |
| especially for people who frequently wear dark | | | | Sometimes a toenail melanoma starts not as a |
| nail polish. This is also the reason why most toenail | | | | spot but a streak, similar to the white streaks |
| melanomas are only treated or removed only | | | | that sometimes appear on the nail following |
| when they have reached the more advanced | | | | trauma. If you notice these streaks on your nails |
| stages of growth. | | | | without undergoing any kind of nail trauma, you |
| Fortunately, toenail melanoma is commonly benign, | | | | should have your nail checked as this can be the |
| in which case a simple surgery can be done to | | | | beginning stages of a tumor. |
| remove the skin tumor. Since toenail melanoma is | | | | Although this condition is generally called toenail |
| covered by the nail, the operation would require | | | | melanoma, it can actually occur in any of your |
| the partial or total removal of the covering nail as | | | | other nails as well. They do appear much more |
| well. | | | | frequently on the toenails and thumbnails but you |
| This is all done under local anesthesia so there is | | | | should regularly check your other nails as well. |
| nothing to worry about. With the advances in | | | | Once you begin to notice these changes in your |
| modern medicine, this surgery will only last about | | | | nails, it is best to consult a doctor right away. |
| an hour. | | | | Melanomas are still a kind of cancer, and just like |
| The first symptom of this kind of skin cancer is a | | | | other cancers, they are more easily treated if |
| small dark spot resembling a mole. Oftentimes, a | | | | detected early. Also, since they are just like any |
| toenail melanoma is dark yellow, brown or black. | | | | other tumor, you will need to undergo |
| In rare cases, the spot is colorless, making it | | | | chemotherapy and radiation in case the toenail |
| more difficult to detect. These types are the | | | | melanoma turns out to be malignant. |
| riskier ones especially if they turn out to be | | | | Medical studies have shown that this particular |
| malignant. They can keep growing with the person | | | | kind of melanoma, also called acral lentiginous |
| not even knowing he has it. | | | | melanoma in the medical community, is more |
| To differentiate between a regular mole and a | | | | common in Asians and other people with darker |
| toenail melanoma, you will have to observe the | | | | skin. However, Caucasians are not totally risk-free |
| spot for a few days or even weeks. If the spot | | | | as there have also been several cases of toenail |
| grows in size, there is a large chance that it is in | | | | melanoma in very fair-skinned people over the |
| fact a toenail melanoma. | | | | years. |
| Although most toenail melanomas are benign, this | | | | |