Black areas on the heel in a teenage volleyball player. She was reassured that they are harmless and will be shed over several weeks if vigorous exercise is avoided (but need not be).

The same condition may occur on the fingers.

TALON NOIR

In Talon Noir (TN), aka black heel, blood appears as black dots on the heel.

It is induced by vigorous exercise, e.g. basketball, volleyball, which through sheering forces, causes extravasation of blood.
A similar finding called pigmented palmar petechie may be found on the palms.

Clinical

Tiny pinpoint black dots coalescing into a plaque appear on the lateral edges of the heel. Bilateral lesions are common. These changes may occur on the palms as well.

Differential Diagnosis

The main differential is warts and rarely melanoma.

RegionalDerm

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