[Secondary longitudinal melanonychia secondary to onychophagia].
BACKGROUND
Melanonychia of the toenails sometimes results from repeated trauma. This etiology is rarely put forward in lesions affecting the fingernails.


METHODS
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.


CONCLUSIONS
Nail biting is known to lead to several types of lesions, including melanonychia. The lesions may sometimes disappear several months after stopping this habit.
Salmon-Ehr
V
V
Service de Dermatologie, CHU Robert Debré, Reims.
Mohn
C
C
Bernard
P
P
D000328:Adult; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008548:Melanosis / Q000209:etiology*; D009259:Nail Biting / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000209:etiology*