Can Nail Color Indicate Cancer Risk? Study Reveals Key Insights

A recent study suggests that a colored band (typically white or red) along the length of a nail might signal a risk of developing cancerous tumors in the skin, eyes, and kidneys.

Researchers at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) have identified a benign nail abnormality called onychopapilloma. This condition manifests as a colored band, nail thickening under the color change, and thickening at the nail’s end. It could indicate a rare inherited disorder known as BAP1 tumour predisposition syndrome, which increases the likelihood of developing cancerous tumors.

The study, published in the JAMA Dermatology journal, reveals that mutations in the BAP1 gene, which usually functions as a tumor suppressor, drive this syndrome. While BAP1 syndrome typically affects only one nail, the study found that about 88% of the 47 individuals with BAP1 syndrome from 35 families exhibited onychopapilloma tumors in multiple nails.

“This finding is rarely seen in the general population. We believe that the presence of nail changes suggesting onychopapillomas on multiple nails should prompt consideration of a diagnosis of BAP1 tumour predisposition syndrome,” stated Edward Cowen, head of Dermatology Consultation Services at NIH’s National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS).

The researchers recommend nail screenings, particularly for individuals with a personal or family history of melanoma or other BAP1-associated malignancies, as these screenings may help in early diagnosis and treatment.