The Basics Of Black Toenails

In the vast majority of cases, black toenails are caused by blood pooling underneath the toenail, otherwise known as a subungual hematoma. This bleeding or bruising can develop underneath your toenail as a result of trauma on the area, either in the acute or chronic form. Dropping a heavy box on your toe is an example of acute trauma that could result in a subungual hematoma, whereas runners may develop them as a result of the repetitive stress on the toenail following a long or intense run.

When truama is the underlying cause of a blackened toenail, there’s less to worry about than if it seemingly developed out of nowhere. That’s not to say that you can just ignore it, because you’ll certainly want to monitor it, but knowing that trauma is the cause solves the question of why it developed in the first place. You wouldn’t do a lot for a bruise that developed on your arm or your leg with a known cause of acute trauma, and the same applies with your toe for the most part.

However, because your toenail can limit the natural formation of swelling and bruising, you’ll want to keep an eye on the toenail. If it is starting to become dislodged from the nailbed or it has become extremely painful, you may want to have it looked at by a professional. Work to keep the area clean and protected from additional trauma in the meantime. Even with additional protection, it’s possible that the nail will disengage from the nailbed as a result of the trauma, and you can learn more about how to care for a nail that has fallen off on this blog.

Essentially, with a subungual hematoma, you’ll want to protect the area from further trauma and keep a watchful eye on it. As long as it seems to be improving, you can likely manage the condition at home.

However, we do want to circle back to a point we made at the beginning of the blog, and that’s in regards to why the blackened toenail developed in the first place. If you don’t believe you suffered trauma to the nail but it has become discolored or blackened, you should consider having it looked at by your primary care provider or a foot specialist. Although trauma is the most common cause of blackened toenails, it’s not the only cause, and its onset could be the result of an infection, a response to an underlying health issue like diabetes, or even a sign of cancer development. All of these issues will be best treated by professional hands, so connect with a physician if you don’t believe trauma is the root cause of your toenail discoloration.

There’s a good chance you’ll experience a blackened toenail at some point in your life, as we all stub our toes at one time or another, but watchful waiting and some protective management strategies can help you overcome the injury. For more hands-on care, reach out to a specialist in your area like Dr. Silverman!

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Why Are My Toenails Discolored?

Your toenails could take on a number of different shades as a result of trauma or an underlying condition, so instead of going through each color, we’re going to break the discoloration into two more common groups – lighter and darker. But before we dive into this, we just want to remind you that you should always seek out an in-person consultation if you have any concerns about toenail discoloration, and that the following is just general advice.

Light Colors

It’s not uncommon for your toenails to take on a whiter or yellowish appearance, and oftentimes this is the result of a toenail fungus. In many instances, toenail fungus can be treated with over-the-counter topical products, but for more advanced stages, connecting with a foot specialist may be your best move. There’s also the possibility that this discoloration is tied to a smoking habit, and quitting smoking would lead to a normalization of toenail color.

If you’re dealing with some pink or redness just to the side of the nail, you may be noticing the beginning stages of an ingrown toenail as it begins to irritate the nearby skin. You can learn more about how you can treat chronic ingrown toenails on this page.

Finally, if your toenail develops some small white streaks, it could be the result of a condition known as leukonychia. There are a number of different underlying causes that could lead to leukonychia, and it could suggest that there is an issue with a key protein inside your body that should be identified. Reach out to a specialist if you notice white streaking or a complete whitening of one or more toenails.

Dark Colors

The most common cause of dark discoloration underneath a toenail is the result of a subungual hematoma, and while it may sound serious, that’s the medical term for a bruise. If you have suffered trauma to the nail bed, or you simply wore ill-fitting shoes for an extended period of time, don’t be surprised if you have some brown, purple or black discoloration under your nail bed as a result of a subungual hematoma. Protect the area and limit time in tight-fitting shoes, and the issue will likely resolve on its own after a few days or weeks.

Dark yellow, dark green or brownish nails could be a sign of a more severe toenail infection. Typically it would only progress to this stage if a lighter color toenail discoloration went ignored. Severe toenail infections may also present with nail cracking and are best treated by a foot specialist.

Finally, red or black toenails, or toenails with dark colored spots should be reported to your primary care physician or a foot specialist. Those could be indicative of certain types of cancer that should be examined sooner rather than later.

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Preventing Blisters While Running

Blisters are small, fluid-filled sacs that develop on the skin where friction and pressure has been exerted for an extended period of time. Your heels are common areas that are subjected to these forces when you go for a run, so you want to take some precautions to prevent blisters from developing.

One thing that can make friction worse is wetness. Wetness can develop from excessive foot sweat or if you step in a puddle during a wet spring run. By preventing your socks from getting wet, you can limit some blister formation due to friction. Make sure that your shoes don’t have holes in them where water can sneak in, and if you know that it’s wet outside, consider bringing a second pair of socks along in case your first pair gets wet.

Other ways to prevent blister formation is to ensure you have a proper fitting shoe. A shoe that is too tight or too loose can lead to friction on your foot, so consider having your running shoes professionally fitted. Also, if you know that certain areas of your feet are more prone to blister formation, some people find relief by taping the area to prevent friction from rubbing directly on the skin.

Preventing Black Toenails

A black toenail is caused due to bleeding or bruising underneath the toe bed, which is also known as a subungual hematoma. They are caused by some sort of trauma to the foot. Sometimes the trauma that causes a black toenail is the constant and repetitive force that is applied to the foot with each step you take during a run. Over time, this trauma can lead to bruising or bleeding under the nail bed.

So how can you prevent against black toenails when you run? For starters, when buying running shoes, make sure you choose a pair that comfortably cradle the heel of your foot. This will help to ensure that your feet aren’t sliding forward when you run, which can traumatize the foot if your feet are repeatedly hitting the toe box. You also want to make sure that your toes aren’t pressed up against the toe box, because if they are crunched, bruising of the toe can occur. Finally, if your toes begin to hurt at any point during the run, cut the run short and give your toes a rest. Trying to run too far too quickly can lead to bruised toes.

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