You do indeed need to have this checked out. I've never seen a melanoma in an African American, but Melanoma does appear in the finger nails of African-Americans. African-Americans sometimes develop Melanoma on the bottom of their feet as well. I suggest you see a Dermatologist, particulary an African-American.

Haha, Thanks Pinkers. You have these vertical lines as well?  They look like school boy's? I honestly have never seen anything like this. You're right school boy. The line is perfectly straight and almost looks like it was drawn with a marker. It probably isn't melanoma, but I'm quick to tell you should have a Doc check it out because I've never seen this before. I vaguely remember in Nursing school that Melanoma tends to show up on the fingernails and the bottom of a foot in African Americans. I searched for pictures on the internet of "melanoma on fingernail" but I only found one picture and the person's entire fingernail was bluish-black. Not like this. And the internet tends to show pics of extreme cases. Most of the Dialysis patients I work with are African-American. African-Americans have deep-rooted genetics for high blood pressure and diabetes which causes their kidneys to fail. I've never seen one of my African-American patients with lines in their fingernails like this. Not trying to scare you school boy, I've just never seen this.

Thank you kjones. I went to see the doctor and he said that this line is common in african americans and that it is usually benign. However, he said that if it was to show on a caucasian persons fingernail, then the risk of it being malignant melanoma is greater. I think he called it a mole that was named longitudinal melanonychia.

Hey Schoolboy, I thought I'd check in...and I see where you went to the Doc. I'm glad it was nothing. 80% of my patients are African-American and I've never seen this. Crazy! I'll keep your story in mind if I see something like this. And Pinkers, I think your nails are OK. Purely a guess, but if you had a malignency under/on your nail, I don't think it would "come and go" as you stated yours' did. It would keep getting worse and worse I'd think. I hope! Yeah, go to the Doctor! haha

Hi, I'm Chinese Asian and 36 yrs old. I've got the same black stripe on my left index finger too! I think its benign too but does that mean i'm suppose to be African Chinese???

Omg...i have had my black line for about a year now also...and it keeps growing and growing. Is it a disease? Should we be worried? Is it having a effect on our lives? I'm not really worried, i mean i'm not sick or anything...but someone tell me should i be;:^)

Hi, I'm a malay-asian from Singapore and I have the exact same line on my thumb nail. I've been to a few sites and they seem to say that it is either nothing or something really serious. The thing is I've had it for about roughly 12 years now. I didn't hurt myself or anything, the line just kinda appeared one day and it continues to grow even after I've cut my nails. I don't feel sick or anything, and I've had it for so long that I kinda thought it was normal and just a part of my nail. But after reading a few cases that points to it being a disease,....should I be worried? I've had for a long time so maybe its nothing..but still...I would like to know oh and I'm 19 btw..

I will say this if you are very light skinned, I think you should go to the doctor. Let them decide if the want to do a biopsy or not. The biopsy is the only way they will know if it is serious or not. Since people with lighter skin do not make as much pigment as darker skin people it is highly likely to be melanoma rather than benign. The reason why they did not order a biopsy on me is because I was: Dark skinned (as you can see), and it never grew for the now 3 years that I have had it. Because of this it, was highly unlikely for it to be serious.  When I visited him he said I had nothing to worry about, however, if it started to change, I should go back to him immideately. If you are very light skinned I think you should go. I do plan to go back later this year , because it is actually now fading away. I have never heard of this happening -_-.

I just wanted to say that I also appreciate finding that I'm not alone.. I am caucasian, and my line looks identical to this picture:( I did see a doctor today and was sent for blood work to rule out other possibility's, and plan to see my family doctor over the next couple of days. Although I was told it could be up to a 3-4 months wait to see a dermatologist?!.. I've had the line for about 4 months and never really thought anything of it until I randomly googled it... Who'd a thunk....

In all the story's I have read, melanoma has been quite likely,, in people with lighter skin, and this line.. And better to be safe then sorry..Skin cancer is one of  the fastest spreading.. Cancer runs on both sides of my family, so I am abit scared...

All my best to others that come across the same issue...get checked!