[Secondary longitudinal melanonychia secondary to onychophagia]
[Article in French]
Salmon-Ehr V, Mohn C, Bernard P.
Service de Dermatologie, CHU Robert Debré, Reims.
BACKGROUND: Melanonychia of the toenails sometimes results from repeated trauma. This etiology is rarely put forward in lesions affecting the fingernails. CASE REPORT: A 44-year-old woman developed melanonychia affecting 9 fingernails. Genetic predisposition and drug, hormonal or infectious causes were ruled out and we postulated that the lesions were induced by nail biting. DISCUSSION: Nail biting is known to lead to several types of lesions, including melanonychia. The lesions may sometimes disappear several months after stopping this habit.
Publication Types:
PMID: 10095892 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]