Causes and treatment for a black toenail

At the beginning of the injury, the color of the nail may be reddish, similar to the color of blood. As time goes by, it changes color and turns dark black. In this way, it is known if the trauma that gave rise to the hematoma is recent or if it is an older injury. In addition, depending on the hematoma, there may be a lifting of the nail and in due course it may lose it. But why does the nail get black? A nail can turn purple as a result of some injuries that can affect the integrity of the feet or for physiological reasons. Next, we will expose the most frequent causes of subungual hematomas :

• Melanonychias : is an alteration that occurs in the color of the toenails. When it is dark brown or reddish in color, it is called chromonychia.
• Matrix nevus : it is a benign lesion caused by the presence of melanocytes in the matrix.
• Malignant melanoma : it is a malignant proliferation of melanocytes (cells that are found in the basal layer of the epidermis and are responsible for the production of melanin).
• Infections caused by fungi : this type of infection causes a white or yellow color but can become darker due to the accumulation of waste. Here we explain more about why I have a white toenail .
• Changes in skin tone : This can cause dark spots to appear under the toenails.
• Disorders or diseases : certain pathologies can give rise to the appearance of black nails on the feet, such as anemia , diabetes or circulatory disorders.
• Small size footwear : in this case, the toes are trapped and hit each other inside the shoe.
• Big size footwear : on this occasion, the lack of grip causes blows between the toes.
• Pointed Toe Footwear – Continuous rubbing of the shoe against the toes creates constant pressure that causes the subungual hematoma.
• Direct trauma to the nail : any impact directly and according to the weight of the object can give rise to the appearance of a black nail.

After reading all these possible causes, you may be interested in this other article by FastlyHealon Dark spots on nails: causes .

Faced with a black toenail, self-diagnosis and self-treatment are strongly discouraged. Therefore, at FastlyHealwe advise you to proceed as follows, especially if your finger is swollen and purple from the blow:

1. Go to the doctor : the first thing to do is go to the specialist doctor, in this case, the traumatologist, who will be in charge of verifying if the black toenail is due to disease or trauma.
2. Drain the blood : next, the accumulated blood under the nail must be drained or evacuated. This procedure will be done through a needle or a sharp object such as a lancet or scalpel blade. With the help of any of these instruments, a hole is made at the level of the nail plate (upper part of the nail) until the blood accumulated under the nail is released.
3. Relief of symptoms : after having extracted the latter, the patient will instantly feel the relief of symptoms, and it will be possible to reduce the pressure exerted by the blood accumulated under the nail.
4. Possible removal of the nail : in case the subungual hematoma has caused lifting of the nail, the doctor will proceed to carry out the treatment according to the injury that the patient presents; If it is detached, it will proceed to remove it, draining the hematoma and disinfecting the area to avoid the appearance of infectious processes.

The doctor will prescribe pain relievers and anti-inflammatory to treat pain and inflammation that occur in the nail bed. If necessary, he will indicate antibiotics to prevent any infection that may appear. In case you prefer, you can also take a look at this other article on The best natural anti-inflammatories .

To avoid the appearance of a subungual hematoma, certain precautions should be taken in the activities that are carried out, because they put the toenails at risk, such as:

• Control the footprint : to avoid subungual hematomas, it is important to provide security when stepping and performing any movement with the feet.
• Keep your nails properly trimmed : especially if you practice sports. Thus, accidents with footwear are avoided.
• Wear suitable footwear: according to the type of activity that is carried out, each sport that is practiced has its own special footwear (footballers, long-distance runners, tennis players, among others). In addition, in order to cushion impacts, it is essential to use a shoe that allows a space of ½ centimeter between the longest toe and the tip of the shoe. On the other hand, the use of safety footwear is recommended for those people who work in jobs where they are at risk of suffering accidents to their feet, either falling objects, etc. Some of these safety boots have a metal toe to prevent this type of accident. In cases where you suffer from circulation disorders or are being treated with blood anticoagulants, it is necessary to avoid the use of shoes with a narrow toe.
• Do not go barefoot in public places : You should not go barefoot in public areas such as bathrooms or changing rooms. Slippers, socks, nail files, and nail clippers should be personal to prevent fungal infections.

Do not hesitate to put the recommendations into practice and, in case of doubts, approach your trusted doctor he will guide you according to the symptoms you present, as well as the steps you must follow to cure a black toenail.

This article is merely informative, at FastlyHeal .com we do not have the power to prescribe medical treatments or make any type of diagnosis. We invite you to see a doctor in the case of presenting any type of condition or discomfort.

If you want to read more articles similar to How to cure a black toenail , we recommend that you enter our Skin, hair and nails category .