A common problem: the toenail turns black, but the feet themselves do not bother. More often the phenomenon appears on the thumb. Most women ignore this, masking the black nail with a layer of opaque varnish.
Black nail is a symptom of serious diseases. If pathology is detected, consult a doctor to establish a diagnosis. You can get rid of the problem by understanding the causes and eliminating them.
Among the external reasons that make a nail black, there are two:
In the first case, there is no need to worry, the change in nail color is the result of hemorrhage after injury and does not cause harm to health. Often the normal color of the nail returns. Sometimes the cause of hemorrhage is simply wearing tight shoes; the owner will not feel when the vessels have burst, the toenail has turned blue or blackened.
It is easy to determine that the cause of a black nail is injury - a local change in the color of the nail plate, blurred edges are observed. More often, at first the nail appears to turn blue, then gradually turns black. With a mechanical injury, the spot decreases and the toenail moves away from the bed. Of course, the process is not very pleasant, but if you have patience, everything will be restored.
The second external reason is rare. Some substances, interacting with the nail plate, cause discoloration that is difficult to eliminate. An example is contact with potassium permanganate. If the nail turns blue or blackened from potassium permanganate, do not worry.
A common cause of external staining is the use of low-quality varnishes applied to the nail without prior treatment with a special base. The varnishes contain aggressive components that penetrate the nail plate and cannot be removed by nail polish remover. Growing the nail completely will eliminate the problem.
There are a lot of reasons that affect the color of the toenail from within the body; to determine it, you will need to consult a doctor; from the outside it is difficult to understand the reason for the change in nail color. Among the probable reasons, we highlight:
There are many reasons for a blackened nail. Further treatment depends on the correct definition. A professional will help determine the cause and give recommendations for treatment.
The fight against a hematoma under the nail plate is no different from measures to eliminate injuries. By following the rules, the nail will quickly return to its original state and grow faster.
If you are injured, your nails should be placed in cold water, preferably with ice. A bath will help get rid of the formation of a hematoma or its spread. Procedures, repeated every couple of days, will accelerate the growth of a new healthy nail. Also worth:
A common cause is a fungus; self-treatment is inappropriate here. To prescribe treatment for fungus, you should consult a doctor. It is worth taking measures to protect against the spread of fungal spores to others. Recommendations boil down to observing hygiene rules:
The treatment prescribed by the doctor lasts for weeks and should be followed constantly. Even when the condition of the nail plate begins to improve, do not stop the course until complete recovery. When your nails return to their normal, healthy appearance and the doctor says that the fungus is over, stop performing the procedures.
If the nail turns black due to illness, you should immediately seek advice and treatment. A visual defect in the nail plate is eliminated by proper treatment of the internal cause.
It has long been known that the best treatment is prevention. You need to follow the rules to help you avoid problems in the future. By spending time on procedures, in the future you will save money required for medications for treatment, and your nails will be healthy.
Rules to follow:
There are a lot of reasons that influence the color change; this phenomenon should not be ignored. If the color of the nail is not restored, or is accompanied by unpleasant sensations, consult a doctor.
Self-medication leads to disastrous consequences. Of course, they also use folk recipes, agreed upon with the attending physician. The doctor will assess the rationality of use for a particular case. Some traditional medicines can cause serious allergic reactions.
The fingers and toes contain many nerve endings and blood vessels. This circumstance is often the cause of dark spots on the nails.
It is a big misconception that if there is no pain when spots appear, then there is nothing to worry about. Stripes of different colors on the nails may indicate internal problems of various organs. To determine all the risks and direction of treatment, it is necessary to find out the specific cause.
There are several reasons for blackening, but quite often the use of low-quality pedicure varnish can cause darkening. This is most often safe. The dye penetrates the top layer of the plate and colors it. Getting rid of such a problem is not at all difficult. It is enough to simply stop using the unsuccessful product. If the coating has been used many times, it may take some time to whiten dark nails.
A nail bruise leads to a slight hemorrhage in the soft tissues, and blood is retained. A dark spot may appear on the nail with blurred edges. This phenomenon is not the most dangerous and does not cause great harm to health. You can even do without medical intervention if the injury does not bother you too much.
Hemangioma is the growth of a bunch of blood vessels, which is why the toenails turn black. You can distinguish it from hemorrhage after injury by pressing on your finger. With this action, a benign tumor changes color to white. This problem poses the greatest danger and requires surgical intervention and constant monitoring.
Black stripes on toenails, separation and an unpleasant odor can be caused by a fungal infection. Depending on the type, the spots can be small or grow over the entire plane of the nail, affecting it deeply.
Doctors say that the condition of the big toe can determine some diseases of the internal organs. Disturbances in the gastrointestinal tract can turn the plate greenish. A liver disorder causes brown streaks to appear. Vascular diseases and nervous system disorders are marked on the nails by brown and black spots of varying saturation and shape. Bleaching is not required in case of internal health problems. The problem will disappear on its own after the diseased organ is healed.
A bruised nail requires the slightest blow. Black toenails are especially common on the big toe. This is due to its location. It is on the big toe that pressure occurs when improperly chosen tight shoes.
What can be done to stop the blackening:
If you experience prolonged pain after an impact, you should consult a doctor to rule out fractures of the bones of your fingers and toes. A bruised nail will go away over time with normal care. In some cases, if there is a risk of suppuration, it may be necessary to remove the diseased plate. This is a surgical operation performed by a doctor in an inpatient setting.
Careless behavior in public places, reduced immunity and poor hygiene carry the risk of fungal infection. Depending on the type of infection, black nails appear in spots, stripes or entirely. Treatment with antifungal medications, ointments and varnishes, and foot care products is required.
The danger of infection is that it is quite difficult to get rid of the disease. And the growth of infection leads to the fact that the nail plates can be distorted. This is why you should consult a mycologist at the first signs of the disease. If the toenail is already deformed and blackened, then mycosis is quite advanced. Black stripes on the nails disappear as treatment progresses. It is necessary to regularly cut and treat toenails at the slightest suspicion of fungal manifestations.
A bruised nail can be treated at home. However, by taking on such a task yourself, you assume all the risks associated with the development of complications. It is much better to seek help at an emergency room or clinic.
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A change in the color of the nail plate on the toes always signals the presence of a pathological process. If your toenail turns black, it is recommended to visit a doctor to determine the cause. Only after it has been established why the nail plate on the fingers has acquired a dark color can treatment begin.
The big toe can turn black for a number of reasons that are not related to each other. Under the influence of various factors, the pathological process can negatively affect the condition of the nail plate on the toes. In most cases, the patient requires treatment.
The cause of nail pathology is:
Depending on the reasons, the patient is prescribed a specific treatment. Most often, therapeutic methods are sufficient to eliminate nail problems. Only a specialist can determine the correct treatment method after diagnosis.
There are several ways to cure a black toenail. Once the cause is determined, the patient begins treatment. Depending on the factors that provoked the pathology, therapy may include drug therapy, hardware procedures, or surgery.
Nail injuries occur as a result of mechanical damage. Darkening of the nail plate occurs due to the accumulation of blood under the plate (hematoma formation). There is no need to treat such an injury.
In most cases, the color is restored as the hematoma resolves and the nail grows back.
After an injury, it is recommended to apply something cold to the injury site.
To eliminate the risk of severe damage and the development of gangrene, you should contact a specialist who will determine how severe the damage has occurred. For faster recovery and relief of pain, you can use ointments against bruises - heparin ointment, arnica.
One of the most common causes of blackened toenails is the progression of a fungal infection. It is much more difficult to cure the disease than with a simple bruise of the nail plate. It will take a very long time to treat the fungus.
To cure the disease, it is necessary to be examined by a doctor. The pathology can be treated with antifungal tablets, creams, gels and other medications - Nizoral, Lamisil, Irunin, Clotrimazole, Mycozan, Batrafen, Terbinafine, Triderm, Flucostat. All drugs have contraindications, so self-medication is not advisable. To eliminate the fungus, you can also do hardware treatment (for example, laser therapy).
Drug treatment must be accompanied by proper care of the damaged nail plate. The patient should also observe personal hygiene rules to prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy tissue.
The most dangerous cause of black toenail is considered to be hemangioma. Pathology is formed due to the proliferation of blood vessels. The disease is accompanied by painful sensations in the area of the affected nail plate. Pathology can take the form of a tumor.
In this regard, if the nails darken, it is necessary to be examined by a specialist who can prevent negative consequences in a timely manner.
If a benign tumor forms, the patient will need to undergo surgery and then continue long-term drug treatment. It is possible to cure such a disease, the main thing is to consult a doctor in time.
In the presence of pathological processes in the body, the condition of the nail plate may change. Darkening of the toenails occurs when a person develops various diseases (diabetes mellitus, dysfunction of the heart, liver, kidneys, etc.).
It is impossible to treat pathology caused by such reasons on your own. First of all, it is necessary to make a diagnosis in order to establish the disease and begin to treat it. Only after this is it worth doing procedures to restore the nail plate. Until the disease is eliminated, no medications or hardware procedures will help restore healthy nails.
If symptoms such as blackening of the nail plates appear, it is recommended to contact a medical facility to diagnose the factors that caused the pathology. This is worth paying attention to in cases where no mechanical damage has been observed in the near future.
It will take a long time to heal a damaged nail. On average, the nail plate is restored only after three months, sometimes longer. In most cases, the blackening disappears as the nail grows out. But treatment should continue until complete recovery.
If the nail on your big toe turns black, what should you do in this situation and is it necessary to look for a good doctor? After all, almost everyone has had such an annoying situation when an incomprehensible dark spot of black or brown color forms on an absolutely healthy nail. What could be the reason for this phenomenon and should you be scared when you discover it?
So, we found out why nails turn black, and now we need to decide on a solution to this problem.
When a nail blackened by a bruise is just a cosmetic problem and does not cause inconvenience or discomfort, the problem will resolve itself within a few months. Only a doctor can speed up the healing process by suggesting surgical methods of assistance. These include removing the nail plate or simply piercing the nail to relieve pressure in the affected finger. After this procedure, the nail dies off within a month, and a healthy one begins to grow in its place.
Under local anesthesia, the doctor will remove the damaged nail plate from the roots so that it does not become an obstacle to the growth of a new nail or so that the old and new nails do not grow together. In addition to treatment, the doctor will prescribe procedures that will reduce discomfort and pain.
To speed up the healing process, you need to eat foods that contain large amounts of calcium. Regular salt baths also contribute to the rapid restoration of the nail plate. Salt normalizes the pressure in the bruised finger and gradually draws out the blood clot from under the injured nail.
Regular treatment of the diseased nail with iodine will also help speed up the replacement with a new nail plate.
The problem of a blackened toenail can be corrected, the main thing is to determine its cause.
If the nail on your big toe has turned black, what needs to be done will be best determined by a good specialist who can prescribe the correct treatment.
Sometimes you have to face a very annoying situation when, for example, a black spot appears on a previously healthy nail. Of course, the question immediately arises as to what the cause of this negative phenomenon is.
As a rule, many medical specialists almost unanimously agree that a black nail on the big toe indicates poor circulation. Thus, a similar manifestation can occur after prolonged wearing of tight shoes or during injury. By the way, in some situations, blackening of the nail may be accompanied in parallel by the occurrence of quite severe swelling on the legs. These two phenomena are of a general nature and are also associated with both partial circulatory disorders and, possibly, quite serious diseases of either the circulatory or cardiovascular systems.
Another reason why a black spot appears on the toenail is the presence of a fungal disease. Moreover, this is possible in the case when a person has relatively recently undergone a course of appropriate treatment. Very often you may encounter the fact that a certain fungal disease needs to be treated in a complex manner, so to speak. That is, use several types of ointments in parallel. If the treatment was completely out of line, or the patient, having barely noticed certain positive changes, decided not to use the appropriate means anymore, then the possibility of relapse increases significantly.
A change in the color of the nail to black or the appearance of spots of the corresponding color should be especially alarming if you visited a pedicurist about three to five days ago. Such options are very common when, while carrying out all the necessary manipulations, a specialist can, for example, prick a finger. The client himself, depending on his level of sensitivity, may either not notice this oversight at all, or may not attach sufficient importance to it. At the same time, in the absence of disinfection, suppuration may occur. Thus, it is necessary to visit a doctor as soon as possible. By the way, in this case there is no need to panic in advance either. The fact is that both hemorrhage and suppuration under the nail have almost the same appearance. And only specialists can distinguish one phenomenon from another.
It was previously noted that blackening of the nail on the big toe may indicate diseases of the cardiovascular system. It is especially important to pay attention to this option in the case when a similar phenomenon occurs after prolonged physical activity.
Sometimes you can hear from representatives of the fair sex that they observe a change in the color of their nails after using certain varnishes (most often, we are talking about fairly saturated shades) or after wearing comfortable, but not very high-quality shoes. In most cases, the legs may turn yellow or brown. But in the case when the quality of both cosmetics and shoes is truly low and even toxic substances may be used, the color of the nail is quite capable of changing to black. In order to return it to normal color, you need to spend a significant period of time. At the very least, you should wait until the nail has grown completely and during this period not use any cosmetic products at all and be as careful as possible in choosing shoes. Darkening of the nails can also be a reaction of the body to taking certain medications. By the way, in such a case it is much more appropriate to adjust this treatment option.
For many years in a row, medical professionals have been focusing on the fact that changes in the color of nails, including those on the toes, may indicate the presence of malfunctions in the functioning of internal organs. In addition to the previously mentioned problems with the circulatory system, blackening of the toenails can signal problems in the gastrointestinal tract. In particular, it is in this way that severe slagging in the body can manifest itself. The only sure way out of a situation of this nature may be to reduce the consumption of foods harmful to the body, as well as a variety of alcoholic beverages. Practicing using fasting days won't hurt either.
Blackening of the nail on the big toe is far from an unpleasant event. But at the same time, we must not forget that it is still possible to recover from this manifestation. It's important to just know the reason.
A black nail that appears on the toe is the result of an injury. A bruised nail returns to normal within six months, but you can speed up the process. To restore the plate, it is permissible to treat the nail yourself or consult a doctor who will make a puncture and remove old nails.
Self-treatment is much simpler, but procedures can only be carried out if the toenail turns black from mechanical trauma, and the darkening is not too severe. If the injury turns out to be complex, the reasons for the change in the color of the nail plate are unknown, it is recommended to contact a professional to diagnose the problem.
Let's look at the reasons why the toenail turns black. This happens due to disruption of the capillaries under the plate. Initially, the surface becomes blue, when blood clotting occurs, the nail becomes black. It can turn black completely or in patches.
When a small area darkens, it is not necessary to treat; the hematoma will disappear after a while. If the nail plate turns completely black, the result will be rejection of the nail plate.
Nails turn black upon contact with selected chemical elements. In the presence of liver disease, the nails change to black. Due to impaired functioning of the kidneys and liver, disruptions in metabolic processes occur, causing changes in the amount of melanin in the nail plate.
Darkening of the nails in the form of longitudinal stripes means the development in the body of a complex and difficult to treat disease - melanoma, which is an oncological disease. A malignant tumor forms in most cases in the nail bed area. A common cause of discoloration of toenails is a fungal infection that requires mandatory treatment. When wearing narrow, tight shoes, the maximum load falls on the big toe, causing the nail to turn black. In situations where strong pressure is applied to the finger, the nail on the lower extremities can turn black a few days after the injury.
Treatment rarely requires surgery. To eliminate swelling after injury, the nail and skin near the plate on the legs are treated with iodine and a mesh is applied.
If black nails are accompanied by pain that causes discomfort and disrupts your usual way of life, you will have to seek medical help. Treatment at a medical institution will be offered in the following way:
Even in a hospital, they won’t be able to immediately replace black nails with healthy ones.
In addition to removing the nail plate, piercing is used. The procedure is carried out to reduce the pressure under the plate. Gradually, after the puncture, the blackened nail comes off, and a new one grows in the old place. If you do not remove the old nail plate, it will prevent the growth of a new one. It happens that the new and old toenails grow together. The surgeon removes the affected nail with its roots.
If you do not stimulate the growth of a new plate and do not treat the black nail, the process of complete recovery takes 2 - 6 months. The following measures are recommended to speed things up:
Salt baths will help speed up the recovery process and gradually draw out blood from under the nail. It is recommended to carry out the procedures several times during the day. More often is better. To quickly peel off the nail, the damaged area should be systematically treated with iodine.
By carrying out these procedures, a person will speed up the process of rejection of the damaged toenail. The nail gradually goes away and a new one appears.
If the blackening of the nail is accompanied by significant pain, a competent and quick diagnosis is required. In some cases, it is possible to develop cancer - melanoma.
Treatment consists of removing the nail plate and part of the affected tissue. Excision of fatty tissue and a section of muscle is performed. The nail plate is completely removed; in advanced stages, the phalanx on the finger is removed.
Fungal infections are infectious in nature. Infection occurs through contact and spores entering the human body. A change in the color of the toenails indicates an early stage of infection; in the initial period, treatment will be effective. Modern medicine and education offers a wide range of effective medicines for the treatment of fungal infections of the toenail.
If the disease is in its early stages, it can be managed using topical medications. It is permissible to use antimycotic varnishes and solutions: Loceryl, Batrafen, Mikozan. Remember, the treatment process must be long and regular. You can't stop halfway. It is recommended to treat the disease until the fungal spores are completely destroyed and healthy toenails grow back.
Today, medicine offers an alternative way to remove the affected nail without surgery. The special composition of the products promotes the removal of the plate.
The process of using drugs consists of the described steps:
In addition to means for treating toenails affected by a fungal infection, antifungal ointments and gels are used. Use is prescribed by a doctor; drugs can cause allergic reactions.
In advanced forms of the disease, treatment with topical drugs will not be enough for a complete recovery. A fungal infection quickly spreads throughout the body, entering the blood vessels, the spores are carried by the blood to the organs, and continue their vital functions there. The selection of antimycotics is carried out by a competent doctor, who selects a remedy from a long list of effective ones for a particular case, taking into account contraindications and characteristics of the body.
Simple measures will help prevent blackening of the nail:
There are many reasons for a blackened fingernail. The condition of your nails should not be ignored. If there is no injury to the nail, you should definitely consult a doctor to determine the cause of the blackness. Self-treatment can lead to serious complications. It is better to treat any disease in a medical facility.
Well-groomed feet is a complex concept that includes healthy nails. The unaesthetic appearance of feet and toes can ruin not only your mood, but also signals the presence of pathologies or malfunctions in the body. Blackening of the nails indicates external or internal problems, and this ailment, unfortunately, is quite common.
Factors causing pathology
The reasons that the nail on the big toe suddenly changed its color should be sought not only in external influences, but also in internal factors. The first experts include:
Internal causes that cause blackening of nails should be looked for:
1. in a benign tumor of the thumb and the proliferation of blood vessels under the plate;
2. in fungal diseases. Bacterial causes of the pathology can be assumed if the fingernails and toenails turn black at the same time;
3. in cardiovascular pathology, especially if there is blackening of the plates on the arms and legs;
4. in endocrine disorders: problems with the thyroid gland, diabetes.
Fungal pathologies, in turn, cause not only blackening of the plate. Under the influence of bacteria, the nail begins to crumble, deform and peel. In addition, the fungus often causes an unpleasant odor and excessive sweating of the feet; together, these symptoms are a serious basis for the assumption of a bacterial foot disease.
Once the reasons why the nail has completely turned black have been established, therapy can begin. To eliminate the problem, both medications and folk remedies should be used. Blackening as a result of injury should be treated according to a certain scheme.
1. Immediately after the bruise, place the finger under cold water or ice. If the plate still turns black, then the procedure is carried out several times a day.
2. The site of injury should be disinfected to prevent tissue infection.
3. An extensive hematoma affecting the nail on the big toe is opened surgically in a clinic.
It is more difficult to treat darkening that is caused by internal problems. First of all, such a symptom may indicate cardiovascular disorders in the body, so you should not postpone a visit to the doctor.
If the change in color of the plate is not associated with heart problems, then the reasons should be sought in the bacterial basis of the pathology. Accordingly, the treatment is adjusted taking into account the antibacterial effect on the affected area.
You should not ignore going to the hospital so that the doctor makes the correct diagnosis, because the bacterial reasons why toenails can turn black lie in the area of various microbial lesions. Clinical analysis will be able to identify the pathogen and, accordingly, adjust therapy.
Treatment with unconventional means
Blackened toenail plates can also be treated using traditional medicine.
1. If the problem arose as a result of injury, then the following is considered effective:
2. If the blackening of the nails is due to a fungal infection, then traditional methods of influence can be considered:
Do not forget that the thumbnail may turn black due to problems with insulin and the progression of diabetes. Only a specialist can determine the correct reason that caused the blackening of the plate, so do not delay your visit to the doctor.
Treatment of the unaesthetic problem of darkened plates on the legs takes a lot of time and effort, so it is worth paying attention to preventive measures for this pathology. It is easier to prevent any disease than to subsequently engage in complex and complex therapy.
First of all, it is worth remembering that the nail can turn black due to too narrow shoes, but you should not take this lightly: the discoloration of the plate itself occurs as a result of the lack of normal blood supply to the toe. The first preventive measures are:
Preventive measures also include:
1. Maintain foot hygiene.
2. Treat the nail twice a day with iodine.
3. Use of individual shoes on the beach, in the sauna, bathhouse.
4. Timely prevention of excessive sweating of the feet.
5. Use well-processed, preferably individual, tools for manicure and pedicure.
If the nail on the thumb turns black, a person experiences internal discomfort, especially in the summer. Sometimes physical negative sensations are also added: pain, itching, burning. Dermatological specialists draw attention to the fact that a darkened nail on the big toe is a kind of indicator of internal problems in the body. The nail plate turns black - it’s time to “sound the alarm”, because the most common cause of the pathology is considered to be a fungus. Timely initiation of treatment significantly speeds up recovery time, and a comprehensive examination helps to promptly identify complex pathological processes in the body.