What Causes Black Splinters Under The Fingernails?

Posted on Sun, 27 Aug 2017

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Sun, 27 Aug 2017 Answered on

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 Last reviewed on

Question : Hello sir,
I am 29 years old and suffering from chrons disease in remission stage..I had hemicolectomy surgery in 2009 ..73 kgs..heamoglobin report is low 7.4 due to non eating of iron rich foods and doctor has started me on iron tablets from today..I was on the net and suddenly an article I read of black lines on nails means cancer ..I have no such problem but I have slight black marks on both my hand thumb nail..what does it mean? M really worried..none of my family members have such mark..I have checked them all..can u take a look at this and tell me what it is..no moles ..nothing I have apart from this ..

Answered by Dr. Deepak Sundriyal (5 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Hello. It is not related to cancer

Detailed Answer:
Hello dear. I have gone through rhe images. So i have not heard of any blackening of nails as a sign of cancer. Moreover, in my clinical practice never saw any patient with black nails. You must not worry about this. Images may represent some form of vitamin or mineral deficiency and certainly not linked to cancer.
Thanks and regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Prasad