When should you see a doctor for a black toenail?

A person should see a doctor if they experience a sudden, unexplainable black toenail, or if it does not heal with time and at-home treatments. In cases of trauma or injury, the discolored part of the nail will disappear as the nail grows out.

Should I go to the doctor for a black toenail?

A dermatologist can also help diagnose and treat black toenail. You'll need to see a dermatologist if you suspect melanoma. However, if your black toenail is caused by another underlying health issue, such as diabetes, then you'll also need to see your primary doctor to treat the cause.

When should I go to the doctor for a bruised toenail?

After a hard impact to your finger or toe, your nail may look bruised. But it's the tissue under your nail that's bruised — not your nail itself. Blood or bruising under your nail is known as a subungual hematoma. If you see blood or a bruise under your nail after an injury, seek medical care soon — within two days.

How do you know if your black toenail is infected?

Signs of a toenail fungal infection

Usually a small area changes color at first and it slowly spreads. Thickened toenails. Over time, the nail becomes thick, material builds up under the nail, and the nail can develop an irregular shape, grooves, or a crumbling appearance. Affects one or more toenails.

How long can a black toenail last?

Black Toenail: Common Causes

The bruise usually starts out red, then becomes purple, dark brown, and finally black when blood beneath the nail pools and clots. Expect your black toenail to grow out in about 6 to 9 months or longer.

How to Prevent & Treat Black Toenail | Foot Care

Should I be worried if my toenail is black?

A person should see a doctor if they experience a sudden, unexplainable black toenail, or if it does not heal with time and at-home treatments. In cases of trauma or injury, the discolored part of the nail will disappear as the nail grows out.

Will my toenail fall off if it's black?

When injured, the toenail will often appear black or purple as blood collects under the nail, which is called subungual hematoma. The blood puts pressure on the nail, which may fall off after several weeks.

Should I go to doctor for infected toenail?

If you detect any signs of an ingrown toenail infection like pain, swelling, irritation, abscess, redness, you should immediately go to see a foot doctor or podiatrist.

How can you tell the difference between a melanoma and a bruised toenail?

But unlike a bruise, it won't go away as the nail grows. “A trauma blood blister grows and moves, whereas with melanoma, it doesn't move because the discoloration isn't in the nail, it's in the skin under the nail,” Sharkey says. “Trauma grows out, but melanoma wouldn't change.”

Can a black toe nail be saved?

In most cases, you don't need to do anything for a black toenail. Treatment for black toenails caused by running simply depends on how much pain they're causing you. “In mild cases, no treatment is needed at all, and the black nail will simply grow out,” Dr. Lepow explains.

Can a doctor do anything for a bruised toenail?

But the pressure generated by pooled blood under the nail can be extremely painful. To relieve it, your doctor may perform decompression, also called trephination, which allows the underlying blood to drain, relieving pressure and pain to the area.

Should I worry about bruised toenail?

This depends on the cause and severity of the bruise or laceration. Minor bruised toenails may often heal on their own, with the discolored part of the nail slowly growing out. In more serious cases the nail may fall off.

Will my nail fall off if it is bruised?

This bruising is called a subungual hematoma. It's usually caused by a crushing or stubbing injury. Over time, the blood may turn dark, and the pressure of the hematoma may cause your nail to come off completely (avulsion).

What do you do if your toenail is black from injury?

If blood under your toenail covers more than half of the nail area, you should go to your health care provider, urgent care or emergency room to drain the blood and relieve pressure under the nail. You should not try to drill or reduce pressure under your toenail on your own.

What does melanoma look like under a toenail?

This may look like a brown or black band in the nail — often on the thumb or big toe of your dominant hand or foot. However, this dark streak can show up on any nail. Dark skin next to your nail. Nail lifting from your fingers or toes.

How do you treat a black toenail at home?

Vinegar has acetic acid proven to have antifungal properties. Diluted in water vinegar can be used as a foot soak. Soaking your feet in a vinegar foot soak daily can treat black toenail fungus. The ratio can be one part vinegar and two parts of water.

What does a cancerous toenail look like?

Symptoms of a cancerous toenail may include brown-black discolorations of the nail bed, dark skin next to the nail, nail thickening, splitting nails, nail separating from the nail bed, bump or nodule under the nail, and destruction of the nail with pain and inflammation.

What does Stage 1 subungual melanoma look like?

Subungual melanoma presents as brown-black discolorations of the nail bed. It can present as either a streak of pigment or irregular pigmentation. The discoloration can progress to thickening, splitting, or destruction of the nail with pain and inflammation.

Is black toenail melanoma?

Subungual melanoma often starts as a brown or black streak under a toenail or fingernail. A person may mistake it for a bruise. The main symptoms of subungual melanoma include: brown or black streaks in the nail without any known injury.

How do I know if my toe infection is serious?

You should seek immediate medical attention if you have a fever and notice red streaks on your skin that lead away from the infected area on your toe, as these symptoms indicate a more severe infection. An infected toenail can impact your daily life, but it doesn't have to.

When should I go to the hospital for an infected toenail?

When to see a doctor. The dividing line between relying on home care and seeking medical help for an ingrown toenail is if you see signs of infection. If the pain worsens considerably, or if you see pus or blood, increased redness, nail discoloration, or notice a bad odor, you need to seek professional care promptly.

How do doctors treat an infected toenail?

How Is a Toe Infection Treated? If bacteria caused the infection, an antibiotic cream or pill can clear up the problem. Fungal infections are treated with antifungal pills or cream. You can buy antifungal medicines over the counter or with a prescription from your doctor.

When is it too late to drain a subungual hematoma?

The key is to ensure that the hematoma is not older than 48 hours. In most cases, the hematoma can be drained with a large needle without any complications. Follow up of patients is recommended to ensure that there is no infection and the hematoma has resolved.

Does toenail fungus turn black when it dies?

A toenail can also become discolored from fungal infections in the skin under and around the nail. Toes can turn black from a lack of circulation causing gangrene, which is death of body tissue. If there is any doubt what is causing your black toenail, see your doctor or podiatrist.

How long does a bruised nail stay black?

The trapped blood will eventually be reabsorbed, and the dark mark will disappear. This can take 2–3 months for a fingernail, and up to 9 months for a toenail. If there is severe damage to the nail bed, the nail may be malformed or cracked when it grows back. Or, it may fail to regrow.