Abnormal changes in the color of the nail, as a rule, “signal” damage to the tissue underneath.
Sometimes the problem that arises turns out to be relatively minor (for example, a change in the color of the nail may occur due to a slight bruise).
However, it also happens that a change in nail color warns of serious problems that require immediate assistance from a qualified specialist.
Symptoms of a black or blue nail may include:
Here are some tips to help you prevent black or blue nails:
If there is no pain or signs of infection (such as pus, inflammation, foul odor, fever, chills), you do not need to seek medical attention immediately.
In most cases, your visit to the podiatrist will be an act of self-soothing.
The specialist will check to see if you have an open or closed fracture of the injured leg, if there is an infection, and if further medical intervention is necessary.
Depending on the type and severity of the injury with laceration and exposed bone and the degree of discoloration of the nail, the doctor may decide to remove the nail to examine the nail bed. If there is no wound, but there is blackening of the toenail, the doctor may order special tests, including a biopsy. He or she will ask you about your occupation, the situation that caused the nail color to change, and your medical and family history.
Here are some questions you can ask your doctor if your toenail turns black:
Typically, why a toenail turns blue can be explained by repeated trauma over time, such as the constant “collision” of your toes and the toe of your shoe. And sometimes this can be the result of a one-time, sudden, traumatic injury to the foot (for example, a heavy object fell on the foot).
In some cases, drug treatment is not necessary, especially if the injury was minor.
The bruise under the nail will go away without outside help. However, if you have any concerns about your health, make an appointment with a podiatrist. Only he will be able to determine the cause and severity of the problem, which will determine the treatment.
If the doctor has found out why the toenail turns blue and wants to relieve the pain and pressure of the hematoma, then there are three ways to do this:
Your doctor may recommend a follow-up visit within a week after treatment. You may be asked to soak the nail in Epsom salts and warm water twice a day for ten to fifteen minutes, followed by antibiotic ointment and a dry, sterile bandage.
Recovery time will depend on the severity of the injury, the type of treatment, and how well you respond to treatment. On average, nails will take up to three months or more to completely heal and return to their normal appearance. Nails typically grow at a rate of approximately 3 mm per month.
It's no secret that the nails of our limbs should have a pink color, a shiny and smooth surface of the nail plate. Any deviations from the norm are a signal that there is no longer order here.
Toenails may turn yellow, grow into the skin of the toe, turn green or blue. In any case, this is a problem that needs to be dealt with. In some cases, everything can be fixed at home, and sometimes it is impossible to do without the help of specialists or doctors.
There are many reasons for a blue nail. Let's look at a couple of the most common cases.
The most common and well-known is a bruise or injury. In this case, a darker nail indicates that a hematoma has appeared under the nail. In such cases, you can be treated at home, but if pain occurs, immediately consult a doctor for help.
The second most common infection is a fungal or viral infection. In this case, you need to consult a doctor. Without his consultation, it will be very difficult to choose the right drug treatment.
Blue nails can also occur when wearing uncomfortable shoes. In most cases, this happens to athletes, since they wear uniforms that are not always comfortable for a long time.
With great and constant physical activity, mini blisters may form under the nails. They provoke the appearance of bloody spots under the nail plate. You can’t hesitate here and you need to see a doctor.
There is also a terrible reason for the appearance of blue under the nail - the melanoma virus. In other words, a malignant tumor that appears as dark spots.
Like every disease, a blue nail has its own symptoms:
If the nail has already turned blue due to minor injury, then you can do without medical intervention. It is better to leave the nail alone and it will rehabilitate itself. If it seems that the problem is much more serious, then you should consult an orthopedist. He will already prescribe treatment. It is possible that the nail will have to be removed, the soft tissues washed and disinfected. Apply stitches only if necessary. Later the nail will grow back on its own. Sometimes the doctor may prescribe baths and medications in the form of tablets that help resolve hematomas.
If there is no pain or unpleasant odors, you can disinfect every evening and not seek medical help at the hospital. For infectious diseases, the doctor independently prescribes an antibiotic.
If the injury is serious, then you need to urgently go to the hospital. The doctor will prescribe treatment and perform surgery to remove the nail plate. He will most likely schedule appointments in his office every 3 days.
To summarize, if you receive any injury, it is advisable to seek advice from a doctor, who will make the right decision and give a recommendation.
Now you know what to do when you have a blue toenail. Take care of your health! Everyone has one and no one will give or give another for a birthday. Follow the advice of experts.
To comply with them does not require much expenditure, both financial and physical. Therefore, there are no obstacles that can stop anyone from the goal to which a healthy person is heading!
No comments yet. Be first! 5,973 views
The condition of the nail is one of the indicators of human health. Changes that occur in the nail plate may indicate pathological processes in the body. Normally, the plate is transparent, smooth and has clear contours. Changes in the appearance of the nail can occur on both the hands and feet. If your toenail turns blue, you should visit a doctor to determine the cause of the pathology.
It is impossible to make a diagnosis on your own. There may be several reasons why a nail turns blue. In most cases, the toenail plates turn blue as a result of injury. However, if a person is convinced that no mechanical impact occurred, then a medical examination is necessary.
The provoking factors that cause blue fingernails and toenails have slight differences. As already mentioned, the main cause is injury. Mechanical damage can be distinguished from other types of impact only by undergoing the necessary diagnostics or assessing the symptoms of the pathological condition.
Experts consider the following reasons:
Disturbances in the functioning of internal organs and systems can also provoke blueness of the toenails (hands). In this regard, provoking factors are divided into external and internal.
External factors have a direct effect on the tissue of the nail plates. Treatment of such causes does not require any special approach. Most often, the toenail (hand) recovers on its own without the use of medications. You can speed up treatment with the help of ointments that promote rapid tissue regeneration.
Mechanical effects that cause the toenails to turn blue include a blow (bruise) or an incorrectly performed pedicure. Similar reasons provoke pathology in the hands.
A symptom of injury is a hematoma (collection of blood). A distinctive feature is that a bruise begins to form at the site of the hole, and then grows to the area of the entire nail bed. Mechanical injury is characterized by painful sensations. Applying ice to the injury site can help reduce pain.
One of the reasons why toenails turn blue is wearing shoes that cause discomfort.
As a result of this inconvenience, poor circulation occurs, leading to blue discoloration of the nail plate on the finger.
All you need to do to correct the situation is change your shoes to comfortable ones. If you continue to wear the same shoes, the plate will not only change color, but will also be subject to deformation. In the future, you will need to treat the nail with medications and procedures, or even resort to removal.
The nail may turn blue if the plate is exposed to chemicals containing aggressive substances. Often the cause of pathology is:
It is very difficult to get rid of the effects of chemicals. If the color change occurred under the influence of drugs used to perform a pedicure, then special treatment is necessary to help restore the nail plate. But if the nail is blue due to exposure to potassium permanganate or household chemicals, then there is no point in doing anything; no treatment will help until the nail has completely grown back.
The greatest danger to human health is caused by internal provoking factors. The reasons why toenails and fingernails turn blue often signal serious diseases that are progressing in the body.
Blue discoloration of toenails (hands) is very often caused by the activity of a fungal infection. The disease develops in children and adults. The fungus is dangerous because it completely deforms the plate and also damages the periungual skin. In addition, a fungal infection is contagious, leads to disruption of internal organs and causes stress.
Treatment of the fungus should be carried out in a medical facility.
Self-treatment can provoke a deterioration in the patient’s condition and the spread of infection to the skin.
The result of improperly performed cuticle treatment on the legs (arms) can be an inflammatory process, which leads to a change in the color of the nail plates. But the inflammatory process is not limited to this symptom. Redness of the cuticle occurs, the formation of purulent abscesses and other signs of infection in the subungual bed are possible.
If your nail turns blue as a result of an infectious infection, you should consult a doctor for comprehensive treatment. An advanced form of the disease can lead to gangrene.
A blue nail, which can appear in a child immediately after birth, is a sign of a serious pathology. It is possible that the abnormal color of the plate refers to the symptoms of cardiovascular diseases, which pose a great risk to the life of the newborn. The baby requires medical diagnosis and treatment.
You should not do any procedures yourself. Only specialists should treat a newborn. Wrong actions can only worsen the child's condition.
A blue toenail is primarily an indicator of improper care of the nail plates and an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, in order to reduce the risk of pathologies, you should follow the rules of personal hygiene and monitor your health. Treatment should not be carried out without preliminary diagnosis. It is better to identify the cause initially. Until the provoking factor is eliminated, treatment will be ineffective.
Each of us suffered a minor injury to our toes. Bruises and pinched fingers, falling of not very heavy and bulky objects on them - this phenomenon occurs quite often. Moreover, the most common consequence of these injuries is the occurrence of a hematoma, which not only does not please, but even frightens the eye with its unpleasant appearance. So for what reason do nails turn blue and what should you do as a result?
A hematoma under the nail is most often the result of a bruise due to a fall or awkward movement, being pinched by a door, or an object falling on the leg. Athletes often encounter hematomas. But only in them the hemorrhage is not a consequence of injury, but of compression of the toes by a hard and uncomfortable part of the shoe under significant loads on the legs.
After injury, the nail begins to acquire a purple color, which gradually turns into blue. Often, all this is accompanied by pain of varying degrees of intensity. The pain can be sharp, severe, throbbing and sharp. All this is due to the fact that the accumulated blood puts pressure on the plate and the nerve endings located under it.
First, don't forget to disinfect your finger. This can be done using iodine or other alcohol-containing substances. After that, using a heated metal clip, you need to carefully burn a small hole at the most protruding place. Blood will begin to flow, in some cases it may be profuse. You can help it stand out faster by pressing a little from the edges.
This will not cause you any pain, since there are not many nerve endings in the plate, but it will ease the tension and further healing. A damp bandage with boiled cold water will soothe and cool the finger. Cooling will bring relief, stop bleeding, and soothe pain. Apply a heating pad with cold water or ice through a clean, dry cloth. Apply a clean, dry bandage, preferably a sterile bandage, without trying not to touch the damaged area, go without shoes for a couple of days, or wear looser shoes. Also use folk remedies for bruises and bruises, which produce a healing effect.
You can refuse the treatment described above, but then be prepared to part with your toenail, as it may peel off. A bruise under the nail will go through all stages of its maturation - brown - blue - green and yellow. The hematoma will resolve on its own. But if it was large in size, then instead of it a free space will form under the nail, and the growth to the tissue will be disrupted. The result of all this is detachment. There is nothing wrong with this, because after 6 months another plate will grow. But at the same time she can be tough and rude.
If you were unable to avoid peeling, then it is best to secure the plate with a thin bandage or adhesive tape - this will protect it from accidental tearing and snagging. Follow a more gentle physical activity regimen and wear comfortable shoes until the plate comes off. If everything was done correctly, the pain has completely gone, and there are no signs of inflammation, then you can safely rule out a trip to the doctor.
Surprisingly, nails can indicate numerous health problems even before being examined at a medical facility. You just need to pay attention to their color in order to find out what is currently disturbing your body and what needs to be changed in your daily routine so that your nails again acquire a pinkish tint. Blue plates may be the first symptoms of serious illnesses that need to be treated as quickly as possible.
Bruises under the nails can be the result of lung problems, as well as poor circulation in the hands. You should be especially alarmed if the blueness is accompanied by a severe cough.
If you have blue stripes on the plate, get checked by a cardiologist immediately. Very often this color indicates heart problems. In particular, if shortness of breath appears, then there is not enough oxygen in the blood, which is direct evidence of the development of heart failure.
The appearance of clear blue lines may be a cause of skin cancer.
To avoid health problems, as soon as you notice blue streaks or bruises, consult a physician and dermatologist, or be examined by a cardiologist or gastroenterologist.
A blue nail is a rather unpleasant sight that you want to get rid of as soon as possible. To do this, you need to know the reason for the blueness of the nail. The reasons can be quite different, starting from a simple bruise and ending with various hidden diseases of the internal organs.
Trauma is the most common reason why a nail is blue. After a severe bruise, which a person cannot help but notice, the nail turns blue. This is due to a hematoma that forms under the injured nail plate. To avoid such an unpleasant phenomenon, it is necessary to apply something cold to your finger in the first minutes after a bruise, ideally ice. In this case, the swelling will decrease and it will be possible to maintain the natural color of the nail.
If the nail is blue and the finger hurts extremely badly, you should urgently consult a specialist, in this case a surgeon. He will be able to remove blood from under the nail and prescribe treatment. If necessary, the doctor can quickly remove the nail plate. This is done only as a last resort, when the hematoma poses a danger. If a finger is not protected by a nail plate, it becomes more sensitive to external irritants. This can cause considerable discomfort, even when wearing shoes normally.
If you can’t see a doctor, you can try to get rid of the hematoma yourself. To do this, you will need a hot needle, which you need to pierce the nail plate. Then simply release the accumulated blood from the hematoma. This must be done very carefully so as not to worsen the condition of the sore finger. It is believed that if the blood is not released, the nail will soon begin to peel off. If you do everything correctly, there will be no pain, since the human nail does not have nerve endings. The main thing is not to puncture the plate more than necessary, this can cause damage to the sensitive and delicate tissues of the finger, then the pain will be much stronger than before. But it should be taken into account that such an intervention is quite dangerous, since it is possible to introduce an infection, which can lead to very bad consequences. Therefore, if your nail turns blue from a blow, it is better to consult a specialist. If you don't take any action, it will grow back after a couple of months, and the blue discoloration will disappear after a few weeks. But at the same time, there is a very high probability that the nail will peel off from the skin.
But there are also cases when the nails turn blue not from a bruise. This could be a minor injury to the finger or various diseases.
Quite often, patients complain that their toenail has turned blue for no reason. There is always a reason, you can simply not notice it. For example, tight and uncomfortable shoes that put constant pressure on the toes, thereby injuring them, which causes the nail to turn blue. In order to avoid such phenomena, you need to wear soft shoes of your size or even a little loose. The length of the sole should be slightly longer than the foot, and the width slightly smaller.
Also, a blue nail may be due to a fungal infection. In this case, in addition to the blueness of the nail, other symptoms appear, such as itching and the appearance of cracks in the skin. A grayish or yellow tint may also appear on the nails. In this case, the nail plate becomes fragile and brittle, it delaminates and is completely deformed. If there is even the slightest suspicion of a fungal infection, you should consult a dermatologist.
Often girls complain about blue nails on their hands. The reasons for this can be quite different, but the main one is improper manicure. The master can cause a traumatic effect by severely cutting or pushing back the cuticle. This can not only cause the nail to turn blue, but also cause it to grow abnormally and become wavy. To avoid this, you should contact trusted specialists or salons with a good reputation.
Blue fingernails may be a consequence of using low-quality cosmetics. If they are used frequently, the health of the nail plate can deteriorate significantly. It may not only acquire a blue or yellow tint, but also begin to crumble or delaminate. To avoid this, it is necessary to use natural remedies. But if damage to the nails has already occurred, you must first stop using chemicals and carry out medical procedures. To do this, you can use masks and baths made from natural cosmetics. You also need to start using special vitamin and mineral complexes that are aimed at strengthening your nails. It is advisable to quit bad habits and change your diet.
Blue nails can be caused not only by external effects. Poor circulation can lead to this. You can understand this if you look closely at the finger. Its tip also turns blue along with the nail. This happens if the body develops a circulatory disorder or a chronic disease. In this regard, the tissues suffer without receiving a sufficient amount of oxygen. The consequences of such disorders can lead to gangrene. Therefore, in order to keep your limbs healthy, you must consult a doctor as soon as possible.
Blue fingernails can also indicate other diseases of the body. Causes may include heart failure. This disease causes swollen small blood vessels and frozen blood in the venules. As a result, not only the nails turn blue, but also the tissues surrounding them. This disease is quite serious, therefore, if you notice the first signs, you should immediately contact a specialist.
Blue nails may also be associated with pulmonary insufficiency. In addition to these symptoms, headaches, rapid breathing and increased heart rate may occur. Very often, pulmonary failure occurs together with heart failure. You should urgently consult a doctor if the patient not only has blue nails, but also generally feels unwell.
It has now become clear that a blue nail can be for various reasons. They can be either simple and understandable, although unpleasant, or more complex, unnoticeable, but very serious. Finding out the cause of blue nails does not need to be put off until later; it is better to find out the cause immediately and begin treatment in order to avoid serious consequences in the future.
During normal functioning of the body, a person’s fingernails and toenails are shiny and pale pink in color. A change in their usual color is an alarming signal about a disease of the internal organs.
One or several nails can suddenly turn blue - from the cold or when hit. In addition, a similar phenomenon can occur immediately and progressively, with the appearance of additional symptoms, which most often occurs with internal diseases. There may be several reasons for this process:
Correct diagnosis is the key to a quick and successful recovery. Now let's take a closer look at the reasons.
If the reason for a blue fingernail is the appearance of a fungus, then along with a change in color there is thickening and delamination of the nail plate. An unpleasant odor may also be present. In the absence of therapy, complete deformation and separation of the nail from the finger occurs. How to treat blue nail? If you suspect you have a fungal infection, you should see a dermatologist. He will prescribe tests and comprehensive treatment.
You should not rely on self-medication, since it is known that all antifungal agents are very toxic and often cause a number of side effects. And if such drugs are selected incorrectly, fungal resistance may develop. It is very difficult to get rid of them later.
The cause of blueness can be blows or pinched fingers. Blue discoloration in this case occurs due to a hematoma. Associated symptoms are pain, swelling at the site of impact. In this case, consulting a surgeon will help. The doctor will determine the extent of the damage and, if necessary, recommend treatment. Even small cuts, hangnails and an unprofessionally done manicure or pedicure (deep cuticle removal, strong pressure on the matrix with a spatula) can lead to blueing due to infection through a scratch or small cut. In such cases, you need to treat the wounds with any antiseptic solution, for example, chlorhexidine or alcohol.
With oxygen starvation of tissues, which is observed in diseases of the respiratory system, a blue nail also often appears. This can occur in both the upper and lower extremities. Chronic heart failure and other diseases of the cardiovascular system lead to nails turning blue. They are also accompanied by shortness of breath and the skin turns pale.
If you notice such symptoms in yourself or someone close to you, seek medical help immediately. There are cases of metabolic failure in the body, in which the normal process of removing copper from the body is disrupted - it accumulates in the soft tissues of the limbs and visually looks like their turning blue. This Wilson-Konovalov disease can also be congenital. A disease with similar symptoms, but caused by different causes, is called Raynaud's syndrome.
Why does it happen that a person gets a blue toenail? In addition to the options described above, this can happen for other reasons. These include:
Most often, it is the big toes that turn blue. Because they are most susceptible to compression, injury, and the appearance of fungus. Professional athletes are most often exposed to this phenomenon. Because the biggest load falls on their feet, and even the best quality shoes squeeze their toes.
What to do if your nail is blue? First you need to find the reason. In the case when this occurs due to a disease within the body, it is not the blue nail that should be treated, but the root cause. Then after recovery the problem will go away on its own. Consult a doctor to select specific medications so as not to further harm the body.
Tips for helping at home can help you cope with the situation in some cases:
Remember that arms and legs are a kind of indicator of human health. The following recommendations will help you avoid such problems:
Now you know why it happens that a person’s nail is blue. We examined the reasons for this phenomenon.
The article also touches on the topics of treatment and prevention.
If you follow basic hygiene rules and preventive measures, your nails will shine with health and look well-groomed.
Onycholysis is the detachment of the nail plate from its bed under the influence of one or more negative factors. If a person’s nail falls off, this is not only an unpleasant and frightening situation, but also a significant cosmetic defect. An ugly, deformed area can be noticed on a date or a business meeting and will create an unpleasant impression. The main task is to find out where the problem came from, how long ago it appeared and what to do to solve it.
Of course, a nail cannot fall off on its own without any reason. There are 5 main reasons why nails become dull, thin and eventually peel. This process is most often painless, but if you accidentally catch a half-bent nail, severe pain and bleeding occurs. As a result, pathogenic bacteria, fungus or human papillomavirus can get into the wound.
Why do toenails fall off:
If there is a hematoma on the nail plate in the affected area, most likely the reason lies in uncomfortable, traumatic shoes. Many problems arise from using beautiful, but poor quality or disproportionate shoes for the foot. If the nail regularly rests against the tight, hard fabric inside the shoe, it becomes defenseless and loses its natural immunity.
Onychomycosis (fungal infection) is indicated by damage to the cuticle, changes in the color, structure and thickness of the nail. The fungus can be on the foot, but the spores can easily spread under the nail, causing disease. The spores can spread very quickly and often with this pathology most of the toenails and fingernails are affected. This is a disease with a characteristic clinical picture, but the final diagnosis is made by microscopy of the nail plates, which are taken for analysis. Onychomycosis can be treated for quite a long time – from several months to six months.
Vascular pathology also affects the structure of nails and changes in their color. When the passage of blood through the vessels is disrupted, the trophism of the tissues of the distal extremities worsens significantly. Trophic disorders lead to the gradual death of nail tissue, so it is important to carry out diagnosis and examination by a specialized doctor - a vascular surgeon - as early as possible. It is possible that surgical treatment will be prescribed, but in parallel it is necessary to weed out such diagnoses as diabetes mellitus, vein thrombosis and other vascular diseases.
Peeling of the nail is the main symptom, so it is not difficult to recognize. If in a healthy state it was pale pink, then in the initial stages of onycholysis the color becomes yellow or dirty gray.
If a toenail falls off due to a fungus, at the initial stage there is itching, redness and splitting of the nails. Then there is a gradual detachment of the nail plate. It becomes noticeable that an empty space has formed under the nail, and it is no longer fused to the skin. Eventually the nail falls off completely or partially.
It is advisable to consult a doctor at the first signs of detachment; if the cause of the pathology was a fungus or an infection, he will prescribe appropriate treatment. Timely initiation of therapy can save healthy areas from infection and at the same time cure already infected ones.
What should you do to save a peeling nail and avoid infection and inflammation after a finger injury? In addition, it is very important to prevent this condition on healthy phalanges.
If a nail bruise occurs, it is first of all important to eliminate complications such as a broken finger, cracks and similar serious injuries. If you have any suspicions, you should immediately go to the emergency room and take a photo. In uncomplicated cases, the nail can be treated at home.
If a bruise occurs, the nail may not come off immediately, but may take several weeks or even a month. A strong blow damages the small vessels that feed the nail, causing it to slowly peel off from the bed. In this case, “Diclofenac gel” helps well; it is intended for external use and has analgesic, anti-inflammatory and disinfecting properties. To reduce the risk of nail infection, it should be treated with gel for 1-1.5 weeks. In the first few days of treatment, blood clots may accumulate under the nail, and there may also be noticeable pain.
To speed up regeneration processes and improve metabolism in soft tissues, use Solcoseryl ointment. It can be used on open wounds if the nail has fallen off immediately after injury. In this case, it must be treated and fixed with an elastic bandage. The total treatment time takes from one to one and a half months. During this time, wound healing occurs, if any, tissue regeneration and hematoma resorption. Over time, the nail plate restores its structure, and the nail grows back. After an injury, in most cases it takes on a deformed shape for a long time.
A humid environment, constrictive shoes and lack of proper hygiene lead to fungal infection. The manifestation of the disease is as follows: fungal spores affect the skin of the legs, feet, interdigital spaces and nails. Itching, discomfort and severe peeling occur.
The fungus is characterized by:
Nail loss is most likely if the lesion extends from the socket. It comes off gradually, in small areas, so it is almost impossible to prevent complete loss of the nail plate. To avoid relapse, the nail form of fungus is treated for at least three months and the first principle of treatment is taking antifungal drugs in the form of tablets.
The substances contained in them accumulate in tissue cells and in nails, poisoning the environment that feeds the fungus. The second principle is the local application of creams, ointments or varnishes that have a powerful antifungal effect. What to do to avoid re-infection? Shoes that were used before treatment must either be disposed of or treated with special disinfecting solutions.