The doctor on video

Black line on the nail: is it always melanoma?

With Doctor Florian A. Vallecillo Cabrera· Published: 26 August 2026
The doctor on video
Subtitles2:52

Video in Spanish · subtitles available

A brown or black stripe on the nail? It's not always melanoma. In this video I explain what longitudinal melanonychia is, why it appears, and when it should be checked.

A brown or black line on a nail is alarming, especially after searching online. In this video I explain what longitudinal melanonychia is, how it forms in the nail matrix, and why the majority of causes are benign. I also walk you through the signs that make it advisable to have it examined: a new band on a single nail that is widening, changing color, or becoming irregular; the Hutchinson sign; or a nail that is beginning to deform. The key, almost always, lies in how it evolves over time.

Doctor Florian A. Vallecillo Cabrera

Doctor Florian A. Vallecillo Cabrera

The doctor on video

Informational content by Doctor Florian A. Vallecillo Cabrera. It does not replace an in-person consultation or an individual diagnosis.

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