Mani Monday Meets Melanoma Monday: Why Your Hands Deserve a Closer Look
A top dermatologist explains why your manicure is the perfect time to check your hands and nails for early signs of skin cancer.
Shutterstock
A fresh manicure might be the easiest way to feel put together, but on Melanoma Monday, a day to raise skin cancer awareness against the disease’s deadliest form, we’re reminding you to look a little closer at what’s underneath the polish.
Part of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, today is about awareness, and according to Kavita Mariwalla, MD, president of the American Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ASDS), founder of Mariwalla Dermatology, and a Pretty Local Pro Advisory Board member, your hands are one of the most overlooked places to check.
Yes, It’s Less Common—But That’s Exactly Why It Gets Missed
Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer, with hundreds of thousands of new cases diagnosed in the U.S. each year, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD). But most people are still trained to look for it in sun-exposed areas like the face, shoulders, or back, not their hands, nails, or feet.
And while melanoma of the nail unit or palms is relatively rare (making up a small percentage of total melanoma cases, about 1–3% in certain subtypes like acral lentiginous melanoma, ALM), dermatologists emphasize that rarity is part of the problem. Because it’s less expected, it’s also more likely to be overlooked or diagnosed later.
That’s especially true under the nails.
“Every time your polish is changed, ask your nail tech to let you know if there are any spots,” Dr. Mariwalla says. “And as the client, look at those naked nails and make sure there aren’t any areas of discoloration that need to be checked.”
What to Actually Look For
Dermatologists recommend paying attention to:
A dark brown or black streak in the nail
Pigment that spreads onto surrounding skin
Nails that split, lift, or don’t grow normally
Any spot on the hands that changes in size, shape, or color over time
These changes can be subtle, especially if you’re regularly wearing polish or enhancements, so routine check-ins matter.
A Built-In Moment You Already Have
Your hands are also one of the most sun-exposed parts of your body, often without SPF. Over time, that cumulative UV exposure adds up in ways people don’t always think about.
Which makes something like a manicure unexpectedly useful: it’s a built-in pause where your nails are already exposed.
Don’t Skip the Feet
“Rarely do people look at the bottom of their feet, and believe it or not, a melanoma can develop there,” Dr. Mariwalla says. In fact, ALM can appear on palms and soles and is often missed because it isn’t linked as strongly to sun exposure.
She adds a reminder many people still don’t know: “Most patients don’t believe me when I tell them, but Bob Marley actually died from a melanoma on his toe.”
The Bottom Line
Melanoma on the hands or nails may be less common, but that’s exactly why it gets missed.
So if you’re already sitting down for a manicure this week, take a few extra seconds before the polish goes on. Look closely. Check your nails. Notice your skin. And if you’re a nail tech, know that you play an important role in early detection of this potentially deadly disease.
