title: Reassessing Melanonychia Striata in Phototypes IV, V, and VI Patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Racial melanonychia striata is a nail plate dyschromia described as a gray coloration of the background in dermatoscopy and hypermelanosis in histology. However, many cases with brown or black coloration of the background in the dermatoscopic examination have been followed.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Evaluate racial melanonychia striata dermatoscopical patterns and histological diagnosis in Fitzpatrick skin Types IV, V, or VI population.
  
  
  METHODS
  482 Fitzpatrick skin Types IV, V, or VI patients, between 19 and 72 years of age, were clinically evaluated and underwent nail plate dermatoscopic examination. Fifty-eight patients presenting melanonychia striata and dermatoscopic patterns with brown or black coloration of the background were submitted to a nail matrix biopsy. When occurring in more than 1 digit, biopsy was performed in the lesion with the darkest coloration presented in dermatoscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  All skin Types IV, V, or VI patients who had melanonychia striata, with brown or black coloration of the background in the dermatoscopic examination, revealed histopathological analysis compatible with hypermelanosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Racial melanonychia in skin Types IV, V, or VI patients, resulting from hypermelanosis, may present brown or black coloration of the background in the dermatoscopic examination.
authors: Departments of *Dermatology and †Pathology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP), São Paulo, Brazil.
authors: Máira de Magalhães Mariano
authors: Mde M
authors: Astur
authors: Caroline Benevides
authors: CB
authors: Farkas
authors: João Paulo
authors: JP
authors: Junqueira
authors: Milvia Maria Simoes E Silva
authors: MM
authors: Enokihara
authors: Mauro Yoshiaki
authors: MY
authors: Enokihara
authors: Nilceo
authors: N
authors: Michalany
authors: Sérgio Henrique
authors: SH
authors: Hirata
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D046169:Dermoscopy; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009260:Nail Diseases / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology*; D010859:Pigmentation Disorders / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000473:pathology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult