Transient Discoloration of the Nails Due to Mercury Bichloride

Melanonychia Striata Longitudinalis

“…It is not possible to distinguish clinically the different types of melanocytic lesions cited above in the subungual sites, so all the pigmented lesions should be examined histologically. Furthermore, physicians must know that pigmented streaks of the nail plates and/or nail beds may be found in Cushing's disease after adrenalectomy, 15 Addison's disease, 16 hematomas, trauma, 17 Laugier‐Hunziker syndrome, 18,19 malnutrition, 20 Peutz‐Jeghers” syndrome, 21 photochemotherapy, 22 after X‐irradiation, 23 vitamin B 12 deficiency, trichinosis and fungus infections, 1 bacterial infections, 24 and from drugs like melphalan, 25 cyclophosphamide, 26 silver, 27 antimalarials, 28 phenolphthalein, 29 and mercury bichloride 30 …”

Azure Lunulae Due to Argyria

“…5 Campbell 6 had a 67-year-old male patient who had been taking a laxative (Ex-lax) which contains phenolphthalein and who had bluish-stained lunulae more intense in the thumbnails. The stain was dark blue, was unaffected by pressure on the nail, and was almost completely limited to the lunulae, al¬ though the distal edge of the coloration was saw-toothed in appearance and extended slightly beyond the lunulae.…”