In ancient times, and even today, this method is also used by specialists; people used the tongue and nails to determine the state of a person’s health. If everything is fine with it, then the nail plates are smooth, identical, and pink. But a change in the natural color of nails is an alarm signal. This should be a reason to seek advice from a specialist. What can blue nails on the lower and upper extremities indicate? What should be done in such an alarming situation?
In most cases, fingernails change their natural color due to the cold. They become bluish because the blood vessels and capillaries narrow greatly under the influence of frost. Blood circulation slows down.
But the degree of blueness can manifest itself in different ways. If the cold and frost are not severe, and the cyanosis is quite pronounced, then this may be evidence of problems with the cardiovascular system, the first sign of trouble. It would be useful to go to an appointment with an experienced cardiologist, get a cardiogram and, at best, dispel your doubts.
The color of the nail plate can turn blue, and sometimes even black, after a bruise or pinched finger. In such a situation, you need to be patient and be prepared for the fact that the nail may fall off. At best, you will need to wait until it grows completely. Severe bruises are accompanied by pain as blood accumulates under the injured nail bed. The finger may pulsate, swell, or go numb. In this case, you should contact a surgeon to drain the blood. Before that, apply cold to the injury area.
And it is not recommended to mask an injured nail plate with varnish or enamel. She must breathe. When you can’t do without a manicure at an important event, remove the polish immediately after it. And to speed up healing, it would be useful to take a course of Aevita for two weeks. An oil solution of beauty vitamins will speed up the process of regeneration and healing.
Sometimes the factor that leads to blueness of the nail plates on the upper extremities may be the systematic use of cheap enamels or dark-colored varnishes. Young women often prefer black colors. At the same time, they do not even allow the nails to rest for several days without varnish. As a result, the nail plates darken, become blue or brown. Or the situation could be worse. Under the influence of low-quality coatings, nails begin to crack, thin, and flake.
Another fairly common cause of blue discoloration is the action of chemicals, in particular aggressive household chemicals.
Sometimes a person notices that along with his nail, his finger also turns blue. This happens when blood circulation is impaired and there is a deficiency of oxygen in the tissues. In this case, you should definitely consult a doctor to avoid the development of gangrene.
Not often, but sometimes blue discoloration appears as a result of infection with a fungus - the disease onychomycosis. In most cases, the nails turn brown or yellow. Onychomycosis can be recognized by its characteristic symptoms: itching, burning, deformation and thickening of the nail plate. If the diagnosis is confirmed, then a long course of antifungal drugs will be used.
It would be useful to know that in Eastern medicine, each finger of the hand is responsible for the functioning of certain organs. For example, evidence of heart disease may be a blue arc on the little finger. On other fingers, blue discoloration may be the result of liver problems. Blueness on the thumb is a consequence of physical fatigue, chronic fatigue.
It should be taken into account that the nail plate on a person’s hand completely grows and changes in six months. On the legs this process occurs more slowly.
The reasons may be the same as those related to the hands. But, for example, feet are more sensitive to cold, so their nails can turn blue much faster under this influence. If you have frostbite, turning blue is inevitable.
Limb injuries with all the ensuing consequences occur more often among athletes. But women doom themselves to change the color of their nails as a result of wearing tight shoes, torturing their feet for the sake of fashion and beauty. The problem often arises for them as a consequence of an unsuccessful pedicure - injury to the nail fold.
The phenomenon of blue toenails is often caused by foot injuries or because a person has crushed a toe with tight shoes. In this case, the blueness of the finger is an ordinary bruise. A heavy object falling on a finger, or even tight shoes can provoke the appearance of such a painful and completely unaesthetic phenomenon as a bruise under the nail. Within six months, the nail grows completely, gradually displacing the damaged plate. In addition to injuries, blue toenails can have causes such as various vascular diseases.
Due to injury and rupture of the vessel, the blood does not find an outflow and puts pressure on the nerve endings. This causes the finger to hurt a lot (especially when pressed). Dried blood is the main reason why a bruise appears. At first, the nail may turn bright purple or crimson, then gradually turns blue. Over time, the bruise may turn black. Over time, the pain also goes away.
Besides injury, other factors can also cause your nails to turn blue.
If the problem is not caused by a mechanical injury and has no apparent cause, you should consult a doctor. The doctor will find out the real reason for the blueness and tell you what to do next.
If the blue toe is due to an injury, then first of all apply a cold compress to the foot. This narrows the blood vessels and reduces blood flow. Protect the damaged area from repeated injury and pressure. For speedy healing, apply castor oil to your finger daily.
To eliminate pain and reduce bruising, you can do a procedure such as nail piercing yourself. To do this, a needle or paperclip is heated over a fire, and then the pre-disinfected nail is pierced with it. This way the blood can find its way out and the bruising will be minimal. But this method is too radical, and such a procedure will leave a burnt hole. Therefore, it is better not to interfere with the natural healing process, and the injured area can be lubricated with heparin ointment. The ointment has excellent antimicrobial properties and promotes the resorption of hematomas. It is applied to the damaged area three times a day until the hematoma disappears.
Over time, the nail will peel off and fall off in sections. Do not tear it off with force or touch it at all. If it bothers you, then you can make applications with special ointments to remove the nail (for example, “Nailtivit”) or contact a surgeon. Once the rejection process begins, pay special attention to personal hygiene to prevent the emergence of a pathogenic environment. Trim the loose areas and carefully file with a soft file. Care must be taken not to touch living tissue and cause further problems.
To prevent such an unpleasant phenomenon as a blue nail, follow these rules.
As you know, nails reflect the state of a person’s health, so any changes in them should be taken as a reason to consult a doctor and examine the body. Normally, nails have a smooth surface, regular shape and pale pink color. Let's try to figure out what a change in nail color could mean, namely, if the nails are blue.
The reasons for this phenomenon are very diverse.
This is one of the most common causes of blue nails. If the injury is severe, the nail plate may change color completely. This is an extensive hematoma located under the nail. After a minor blow, a blue spot may form on the nail.
Incorrect manicure or pedicure
If you cut the cuticle or hangnails unsuccessfully, you can injure the nail plate, which sometimes also causes blue discoloration, as well as grooves on the nails.
Poor quality nail products
The use of expired nail polish or containing many harmful components, as well as nail polish remover, can not only lead to a change in the shade of the nail (blue, yellowing), but also to delamination and destruction of the nail plate.
Wearing tight shoes
Uncomfortable shoes that squeeze your toes are also often the cause of blue nails.
Taking certain medications
It has been established that treatment with certain medications can affect the color of the nail plates and cause them to turn blue. This applies to antimalarials, minocycline, silver nitrate.
Liver disorders
If the nails are blue at the base (near the hole), this may indicate pathological processes in the liver (for example, it may be hemochromatosis).
Blue nails may be a symptom of a congenital disorder of copper metabolism (Wilson's disease), leading to disorders of the central nervous system and internal organs.
If the nail first turns blue, and then the finger begins to turn blue, this may be a sign of an acutely developing circulatory disorder. As a result, the tissues suffer from a lack of oxygen, which can be very dangerous.
Congestive heart failure
With this pathology, blood stagnates in the veins, which leads to blue discoloration of both nails and skin.
Another reason for the appearance of blue color on nails is the presence of a fungal infection. With nail fungus, deformation and thickening of the nail plate, itching, and an unpleasant odor are also observed.
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Nails are an indicator of the condition of the body. All changes in the nail plate are provoked by pathological processes in other organs. Normally, the nail plate is smooth, has regular outlines and a pale pink tint. If a person has blue nails, then it is worth consulting a doctor in order to exclude or confirm the presence of any disease.
It is very difficult to determine why nails turn blue, since there can be many reasons for this. Most often, discoloration is associated with injury, but if a person knows that there was no damage to the nail plate or finger, then he should undergo a medical diagnosis.
Blue discoloration of the nail plate can occur on the hands and feet. There are a number of reasons why a nail changes color. The peculiarity of the process is that initially the plate may be yellow, and after a few days it will turn blue.
After the nail has been severely injured, blood accumulates under it and has nowhere to escape. Thus, a hematoma is formed. It initially protrudes at the base, gradually increasing in size. Blue discoloration of the nail plate, if the cause is injury, is accompanied by painful sensations that are pulsating in nature. If the pain is very severe, and the nail begins to turn black and changes shape, then it is advisable to consult a medical specialist to eliminate the risk of gangrene.
Blueness of the nail plates can be caused by a fungus. The infection can multiply in both adults and children. The fungus is most dangerous during pregnancy, since the infection can be transmitted to the fetus. Then the newborn has blue stripes that cover the plate. Nail plates affected by a fungal infection not only appear blue, but also break. The disease must be treated only with medication.
Uncomfortable shoes can also affect the change in nail color. Tight shoes or boots lead to poor circulation, as a result of which stripes appear on the plates. Such violations are not so terrible if pathological formations are replaced in time and shoes are changed. However, if a person does not eliminate the cause, the nail can suffer greatly.
The reason why the nails have acquired a blue tint may be due to the impact of aggressive chemicals on them:
As a result of their exposure, not only the nail, but also the cuticle is injured. It is very difficult to eliminate such consequences; most often everything goes away as the tissues are renewed.
Very often, blue nails are the result of an incorrectly performed manicure. Injury to the cuticle and improper treatment of the plates can provoke the onset of an inflammatory process, which leads to stripes appearing on the nails. A change in color indicates that a person should consult a doctor. Inflammation can develop into an infectious disease, which will be much more difficult to cure.
The greatest danger is a change in the color of nails in a newborn. The causes of this pathology may indicate a serious illness.
If your newborn has blue stripes or the entire nail turns blue, he or she should be seen by a doctor immediately.
In most cases, blue nails in a newborn indicate problems with the cardiovascular system, which poses a risk to the baby’s life. Also, blue marigolds in a newborn may be the result of a mother's infection with a fungal infection during gestation.
Quite often the cause of such a pathological process is circulatory disorders. In this case, the blue spot spreads over the entire plate. But the person does not experience any painful sensations. The structure of the nails also does not change.
Improper functioning of the circulatory system leads to the formation of hematomas in the nail area, since the thin capillaries in this area react strongly to inadequate blood flow.
To prevent nails from changing color, it is necessary to follow preventive measures. Prevention consists of eliminating the causes that lead to the anomaly. This will reduce the risk of injury and infection.
If the nail has turned blue as a result of injury, then it is recommended to apply something cold to this place, so the hematoma will go away faster. If the injury is severe, you should seek help from a traumatologist.
But do not forget that the color of the plate can change due to a disruption in the functioning of the organs, so it is best to protect yourself and contact a medical institution to diagnose the body and prescribe appropriate treatment.
The condition of nails often does not depend on how a person cares for them. After all, there are situations when, even with regular manicures and pedicures, nails acquire an unnatural color, which may be a signal that serious pathological processes are occurring in the body. This can be indicated by the bluish color of the nail plates, both on the hands and feet. What do blue nails mean and is there a reason to visit a doctor?
If the blueness of the nail plates occurs only after exposure to cold temperatures on the hands or feet, then there is no need to worry. In this case, a narrowing of blood vessels occurs, which leads to the appearance of a bluish color of the nail plates. This phenomenon is temporary and disappears as soon as the body temperature returns to normal.
But if the blue color of the nails does not disappear over the course of several days or weeks, then this is a serious reason to consult a cardiologist. Since in this case such a symptom may indicate a dysfunction of the cardiovascular system. You will need to have an ECG done to determine whether you have heart problems or not.
It is worth noting that dark blue color of nails can also occur as a result of a bruise. Several nails that are located next to each other may turn blue at once. In this case, the remaining nail plates retain their natural healthy shade.
Removing the nail plate after a bruise surgically is only a drastic measure. Most often, experts recommend that their patients wait until a healthy nail grows. At the same time, it should not be masked with varnish, as this slows down the growth process of the nail plate and disrupts metabolic processes in it, because the varnish coating interferes with the normal access of oxygen. Also, the use of low-quality varnish in dark shades can contribute to blueing of the nail plate.
If you experience a change in color not only of your nails, but also of your fingers, then this indicates a circulatory disorder. The consequences of such violations can be tragic, and therefore you should immediately consult a doctor.
Blue colored nails may also indicate the development of fungal infections. In this case, in addition to changes in the color of the nail plates, their deformation and destruction are observed. Itching and burning may also occur. Treatment of the infection should be carried out with the help of special medications, which will be prescribed by the doctor after confirming the diagnosis.
Oriental medicine gives us the most extensive information about changing the color of fingernails and toenails. According to it, each finger is responsible for the functioning of a specific organ. So, the appearance of a blue arc on the little finger indicates the development of cardiac pathologies. And the appearance of blue discoloration on other fingers may indicate a malfunction of the liver. If blue holes are observed on the nail plates, this may be a consequence of severe physical stress.
It is also worth noting that blue discoloration of the nail plates can be observed after taking certain medications that affect the blood circulation in the body. On the feet, blueness of the nail plates may be a consequence of wearing uncomfortable and tight shoes.
Of course, it is possible to remove blue stains from nails. But to do this, you must first determine the cause of this disease. And you won’t be able to do this without the help of a doctor. Therefore, the first thing you should do is visit a specialist and undergo a thorough examination to identify pathologies. And if they are found in you, you need to undergo a course of treatment.
If no serious illnesses were detected in you, then most likely the blue discoloration of the nail plates is associated with poor circulation. And to eliminate this problem, you can take some measures to improve blood flow yourself at home.
To do this, you must first eliminate all possible negative factors that can lead to blue nails. Namely:
To improve blood circulation in the nails, you should regularly massage with essential oils, which help accelerate the growth of nail plates. These are lavender, orange, lemon and tea tree oils. They are applied in small quantities to each nail and begin to rub until the oil is completely absorbed.
In addition, various medicinal baths have a beneficial effect on blood circulation. A wide variety of ingredients can be used to prepare them. For example, you can use sea salt. It is in the amount of 1 tbsp. diluted in a liter of warm water, into which the upper or lower limbs are then immersed for 30 minutes.
You can also do a contrast shower at home, which will strengthen the walls of the capillaries and normalize blood circulation in them. To do this, you need to direct a stream of water onto your nails, first cold, then hot. The change in water temperature should occur abruptly. Moreover, the impact of each of them should not occur for less than 1 minute. Hot and cold water should be alternated for 10-15 minutes.
The bluish tint of the nail plates can be eliminated with the help of regular lemon, which has whitening properties. To do this, you just need to cut the fruit in half and treat all the nail plates with it. After 20-30 minutes, hands or feet should be rinsed in warm water and lubricated with nourishing cream, as lemon juice can get on the skin, which will lead to dryness and flaking.
If the cause of your blue nail is an injury, apply a cold compress to your finger immediately after applying it. If the nail plate still has a bluish tint, then you need to consult a surgeon. Using special tools, he will remove the blued nail plate, and a new healthy nail will soon grow in its place.
Remember that nails are a “mirror” of your health. Any manifestations on them (lines, dimples, color changes, etc.) may indicate health problems. Therefore, carefully examine your nail plates on your hands and feet.
If you notice any signs of pathology, do not hesitate to visit a doctor. After all, this can lead to various complications that will negatively affect your well-being.
At a time when medicine did not yet have such advanced diagnostic capabilities as it does today, many diseases were identified by the condition of the nail plates. A symptom such as blue nails should be taken seriously. Find out the causes of discoloration, ways to eliminate and prevent discoloration of nails.
A healthy nail plate has a smooth surface and a pale pink color without any inclusions. The appearance of deviations in the form of dots or color changes indicates disturbances in the body . Before taking action, it is necessary to understand the reasons for the changes. Thus, blueing of the nail plate can be the result of a blow or severe hypothermia. These reasons are not due to serious pathologies. You need to warm up and wait until the hematoma subsides naturally.
Cold temperatures cause blood vessels in the hands to constrict, resulting in a blue tint to the nails. There are several other reasons that are symptoms of dangerous diseases:
The most common cause of blue toenails is mechanical damage caused by a person wearing tight shoes, playing sports, or a foot injury. As a result, blood vessels burst under the nail plate and a hematoma forms. The little toe and big toe are most at risk of injury due to their location.
The second reason is a poor-quality pedicure, when the nail may turn blue from injury or from penetration of the coloring pigment into the nail plate itself. More serious reasons include the following:
Conditions that cause blue toenails also cause blue big toes. A change in nail color can be a consequence of diabetes mellitus, which affects the entire body and especially the vascular system of the lower extremities. The following reasons may lead to the problem:
If a patient’s nails are blue due to something other than simple pinching of the arms or legs, then you should see a doctor. He will assess the patient’s condition and prescribe treatment. If the blueness of the fingernails is associated with injury, congestion or chemical exposure, you can simply apply ice to the hematoma or bruise. This will reduce the pain and make the patient feel much better. If the blue color on the nails is caused by incompletely removed varnish (corrosive pigment), then you can restore the shade of the plate using the following methods:
Hand massage will help to cope with the blue color of the plates, it improves the functioning of blood vessels and stimulates healthy nail growth. Blue feet are often the reason for wearing tight, uncomfortable shoes . You can change it to the appropriate size to get rid of the problem and normalize the functioning of blood microflow in the extremities. You can eliminate other causes of blue color using the following methods:
If the blue color or cyanosis of the nails is caused by heart failure, you need to take a course of medications that support heart function. When the bruise is caused by a hematoma and it does not go away on its own, the doctor may prescribe nail removal or tissue puncture:
If the cause of cyanosis is a fungus, then you should undergo antifungal treatment. It includes daily steaming of nails in a warm soap or salt bath, scraping off dead cells and applying antimycotic agents (drops, sprays, thick ointments or solutions, under an occlusive dressing).
In case of frostbite, you should immediately consult a doctor for help so that the damaged tissue does not die and the condition does not lead to purulent infection and sepsis. In the first stages of frostbite, restorative therapy and treatment of the skin and nail plate with antibiotics are indicated . In advanced cases, it is possible to remove the nail to prevent the development of gangrene and blood poisoning.
If the blueness under the fingernails or toenails is caused by wearing uncomfortable shoes, low-quality varnishes or cosmetics, or minor injuries, then traditional medicine can cope with it. Some recipes to solve the problem:
To prevent you from being bothered by blue toenails, you can follow simple but effective preventive measures. Recommendations for preventing the appearance of blue tints on plates:
It has long been known in medicine that the condition of nails is an indicator of human health. Various diseases leave their mark on the condition of the nail plate, as well as on the color of the nails. If there are any changes in the appearance of the nails for the worse, you should consult a doctor to identify the cause of this phenomenon.
The most common opinion among people is that nails turn blue when we are cold. Yes, indeed, this may be so, but why doesn’t even severe frost cause a similar reaction in some people, and why do some people’ nails immediately turn blue at the slightest cold snap? The change in color of the nail plate in this case is due to the fact that when exposed to cold, blood vessels narrow and blood circulation slows down. That is, if your nails turn blue at the slightest breath of wind, this is a good reason to consult a doctor about the functioning of the cardiovascular system. When frostbite occurs, for example, everyone's nails turn blue, and this is absolutely normal.
Nails can turn blue or even black after a severe injury. There is nothing you can do about this - you need to wait until the damaged nail grows back.
But what could cause one nail to suddenly turn completely or partially blue?
If it is the big toe or little toe, then the cause may be hidden in tight and uncomfortable shoes. Often this misfortune haunts athletes: skiers, track and field athletes, football players or just tourists. Women torture themselves with uncomfortable high-heeled shoes for the sake of beauty.
Another reason is an unsuccessful pedicure or manicure. Pushing back or cutting the cuticle too much damages the nail fold, resulting in bruising, or worse, the nail becomes wavy and stops growing properly.
Frequent use of low-quality nail polishes or acetone-based nail polish remover can lead to discoloration of the nail plate. In addition, the nails begin to break, peel, cracks and even bleeding appear.
Constant exposure to aggressive chemicals, as well as improper cutting of the cuticle, leads to the appearance of hangnails. And an infection develops along them, which, in turn, can change the color of the nails to blue.
If you notice that not only the nail, but also the finger turns blue. This is a sign of a serious circulatory disorder and lack of oxygen in the skin tissues. Consult a doctor immediately to avoid the development of gangrene.
Heart failure manifests itself in blueness of the nails and the skin around them. At the same time, small vessels swell and blood stagnates in them. Only a doctor can help you solve this problem.
A fungal infection may change the color to blue. Its progression is accompanied by irritation and itching of the skin between the fingers, the nail plate thickens and becomes deformed. To confirm the presence of infection, you will need to take a test, after which a dermatologist will be able to prescribe adequate treatment for you.
According to Eastern medicine, which is becoming more and more widespread throughout the world every year, each finger is responsible for the functioning of an internal organ. So, if a blue arc appears on the little finger, resembling a crescent in shape, this indicates
heart disease and the need to urgently contact a cardiologist. The presence of a blue moon on other fingers is a consequence of liver dysfunction.
Near the upper cuticle there are so-called “holes”. In normal human health, they are white and clearly visible on all fingers. Too thin holes with a bluish tint on the nails of the big toes may be the result of psychological or physical fatigue.
When answering this question, you should consider the reason why the nail or nails turned blue. If this happened due to injury, then you need to wait until the nail grows. On average, the nail plate on the hands completely changes in six months, and on the feet in a year.
Severe bruises are accompanied by severe pain: blood accumulates under the nail plate, the finger pulsates and it seems that it is about to come off. Under no circumstances should you take any action on your own to release the blood or tear off the exfoliated nail plate. If you cannot bear the pain, contact a surgeon who, under the influence of an anesthetic, will remove the nail plate and drain the fluid. If you don’t like going to doctors, endure it. Apply a cold compress to your finger, wrap it in a bandage and bandage, and wait patiently for a beautiful new nail to grow.
In all other cases, as mentioned above, you should definitely consult a doctor and treat the sore internal organs.