Onychophagia-induced longitudinal melanonychia

Abstract

An otherwise-healthy 13-year-old girl with previously normal nails developed longitudinal pigmented bands on multiple fingernails. Physical examination revealed faintly pigmented bands on multiple fingernails and on the left fifth toenail. We believed that the cause of the pigmented bands was onychophagia-induced longitudinal melanonychia, a rare phenomenon, which emphasizes the need for dermatologists to question patients with melanonychia about their nail biting habits because they may not be forthcoming with this information.