Man Urged To See Doctor After Sharing Photo Of His Finger That Has People Worried

Byminheditor

Jun 3, 2025 #Minh nick 6

####### Video #######

Because sometimes the internet can be used for the power of good too

Just a heads-up before we begin — this article talks about cancer, which may be upsetting for some readers.

One Reddit user recently turned to the online community for help after noticing a dark line on their finger, and the internet came through in a big way.

Let’s be honest, social media isn’t always the most uplifting place. Between doomscrolling, trolls, fake perfection, and the never-ending stream of negative news, it can sometimes feel like a black hole of stress.

But every now and then, we get a refreshing reminder that the internet can also be a pretty awesome place. In this case, a bunch of Reddit users stepped up to help after someone shared a photo of their hand that had people worried.

It’s important to keep an eye on your hand and nail healthGetty Stock Images

Social media users’ concerns over the image

A Redditor posted a photo showing one of their hands and wrote: “Mark on my finger that darkened over time.”

The photo clearly shows a dark stripe running down one of the person’s fingernails, which understandably sparked a lot of concern.

One user didn’t waste time and jumped in with some solid advice: “Have a doctor look at that. Unexplained darkening of tissue may be serious.”

The original poster chimed back in, saying they were told it’s probably just a mole and that they’ve had it for five years. But they wondered if maybe it was time to have it checked again.

Another user strongly recommended a medical follow-up, adding: “A mole changing in any way should be checked out by a doctor 100 percent of the time.”

And someone else echoed the same concern, saying: “Changes in moles need investigation. Doesn’t mean cancer, but it needs investigation to make sure it isn’t, or to determine if it has become precancerous.”

A healthcare professional also joined the conversation, suggesting that the user should definitely get it checked out. They noted that not every melanonychia is cancer, but any changes are worth investigating.

According to DermNet, melanonychia refers to a dark or brown discoloration of a nail. But what exactly could cause it, and why were people so alarmed by the photo?

What can discoloration of a nail mean?

Healthline explains that a small black vertical line under your nail could be a splinter hemorrhage. If the mark goes across the nail instead, it might be melanonychia.

“These may be harmless or a sign of a more serious health condition.” Healthline adds.

There are also thicker horizontal marks called Beau lines. They’re usually not dangerous, but in some cases, nail discoloration could be linked to something more serious, like subungual melanoma, a form of skin cancer.

As the Cleveland Clinic puts it: “It usually appears as a dark, vertical (top to bottom) streak on your nail. Subungual melanoma is rare but serious. This type of skin cancer – called acral lentiginous melanoma – is an aggressive form of melanoma.”

One of the doctors on Reddit also chimed in, writing: “No there was probably nothing to worry about last time. Yes you need to see a doctor. No it cannot be diagnosed over the internet.”

Thankfully, the original poster took that advice seriously and let everyone know what they decided to do next.

It’s always worth going to a doctor if you’re concernedGetty Stock Images

What did the Reddit user decide to do about their nail?

Fortunately, the person decided to make an appointment with their doctor and thanked everyone in the thread for the encouragement and support.

And to make things even better and funnier, the same doctor who commented on the original post added a little twist to their reply later on:

“Edit: I’d like to use the popularity of this comment to take a public stance on the issue and formally endorse pineapples on pizza.”

Another user jumped in to support the expert comment, saying: “Yes, Dermatology calling in. In this photo, the melanonychia appears relatively uniform, but it is dark enough and wide enough that it needs review, especially if darkened over time.”

They didn’t stop there and added: “Edit: I have been made aware that u/humanlifeform has been using their comment to champion pineapple on pizzas. I implore you all not to attend them for your finger amputation needs, as they are clearly a maniac building a fort out of severed fingers in which they gorge on pineapple soaked pizza while laughing manically.”