Progressive fading of longitudinal melanonychia due to a nail matrix melanocytic nevus in a child

Spontaneous Regression of Congenital Melanocytic Nevi without Evidence of the Halo Phenomenon

“…To the best of our knowledge, no such cases have previously been reported. The type of spontaneous regression in these cases is similar to that in nevoid nail melanosis [7, 8, 9], which normally does not show the halo phenomenon. Furthermore, the majority of longitudinal melanonychia in children were melanocytic nevi [9, 10, 11, 12].…”

“…The type of spontaneous regression in these cases is similar to that in nevoid nail melanosis [7, 8, 9], which normally does not show the halo phenomenon. Furthermore, the majority of longitudinal melanonychia in children were melanocytic nevi [9, 10, 11, 12]. However, our cases demonstrated complete regression by the age of 5 years, younger than the age at which nail melanosis regressed in previous reports [7, 8].…”

Equivocal Longitudinal Melanonychia in a 3-Year-Old Caucasian Girl: Rapid Evolution and Fading during Digital Dermoscopy Follow-Up

“…LM caused by NMN in children can present clinically darker, wider, and with more colors than in adults and can more frequently show irregular dermoscopic features, such as Hutchinson's and pseudo-Hutchinson's sign, irregular pattern, triangular sign, and dots/globules. Gradual fading of NMN has been attributed to involution with continuous decrease in melanin production and apoptosis of nevus cells, rather than to true regression [10,[12][13][14]. The dermoscopic finding of dark "dots and lines" has shown to be associated with the involution of LM in children [15]; these dots were considered to represent accumulation of melanin pigment or migrating nested melanocytes distributed along the melanotic lines within the nail plate [7].…”

Use of Nail Dermoscopy in the Management of Melanonychia

“…In children, it is not uncommon to notice a gradual darkening and enlargement of the band that may have a proximal part broader than the distal (triangular shape); thinning and fissuring of the pigmented nail plate may also occur. It is also quite common to observe a gradual fading of the band with age [13]. This “regressing nevoid nail melanoma in childhood” is unique to children and not indicative of regression of the nevus but may just indicate decreased melanocytic activity from nevus cells [14].…”