A black toenail is caused by blood. This is a sign that there has been a significant injury to the nail bed. The initial discoloration will be more reddish. As the blood dries out, it turns darker black.Toenail blister ,Causes and Treatment .
Pages of Contents
How long does it take for black toenails to vanish?
It’s basically a blood blister underneath your toenail. Some of the blood will eventually reabsorb. However, some blood will resorb slowly. You will need to wait for the nail to grow. This can take a while. It could take up to 3-6 months for your discolored nail to grow out if it is not right back at you.
What happens to my toenail?
It is not common, but it all depends on how severe the injury occurred and how much blood has accumulated underneath the nail.
The black nail (below), is 10 weeks old. Since the original injury, it has remained attached. The new, uninjured nail can be seen growing up behind it, pushing the old blackened nail forward. It was still attached when I went to trim it. As I cut it, it “snapped”, painlessly. It was all perfectly normal. Compare the before and afterwards.
What causes toenail blister
We are a website that focuses on foot blisters. Therefore, we will focus our attention on black toenails which are closely related to toenail ulcers. Microtrauma is what causes them to develop slowly. You may experience multiple episodes where your toe hits the end of your shoe. This could be caused by running too loosely or walking downhill. Although it isn’t painful initially, the repeated trauma of the injury, one after another, can cause a rupture in a blood vessel. Subungual hemorhage can also occur from an acute injury like a stubbing, a fall, or someone jumping on your foot.
It is important to remember that black nails can also be caused by fungal infections, melanoma, other types of cancer, gangrene and complications of diabetes. These can be hard to tell apart. Your doctor should be consulted if your black nail suddenly appears without injury or if your toenail is discoloured. Your doctor will ask you the right questions to determine the cause and review your medical history.
Painful black toenail
Bleeding under the toenail can be difficult because the skin is too hard for it to bubble up like a blister. The injured area is flooded with blood and it can’t go anywhere else. It is stuck between the toenail bone and the toe bone, which makes it very difficult to move. This results in a lot pressure, and therefore, a lot pain.
Painless black toenail
Some black toenails can be completely painless. Although there was some bleeding, it wasn’t enough to pressurize nerve endings. They look more like a bruise beneath the toenail. These are not serious and do not require treatment. You can leave them alone and the black will grow slowly and steadily. Eventually, you’ll be able to trim off the last of the black nail.
Noting that black toenails can become more painful and even less painful over time is important. Because the body absorbs some of the blood through natural healing processes, there is less pressure to cause discomfort. This may take several days. Sometimes, releasing the fluid is necessary to relieve the pain caused by a black nail.
Black toenail treatment, especially the painful
It is easiest to relieve the pressure by drilling the nail using a hypodrermic needle. This is something you can do yourself. It’s not difficult and it’s not painful. This video shows how to create a black thumbnail.
Simply place the needle on the black nail, and then twist gently. The needles are very sharp, so even with light pressure, the twisting motion will cut through the nail in less than a minute. Don’t worry if the needle cuts your toe. You’ll feel the needle start to release when you press gently. After you feel the first drop of blood, continue to twist the needle a few times to make the hole large enough for the blood to escape. The relief you feel when the first drop of blood is released will be overwhelming.
If you feel the hole needs to be made, you can create another one. To get the majority of blood out, press lightly on the nail and toe. This is not a race. You don’t have to remove all of the blood. Apply some antiseptic cream and a bandage to your toe once it feels better. More blood will leak out as you move around. If your bandaid starts to get soiled, change it immediately.
You don’t need to do it if you have the stomach.
You’ll be so happy you did it!
It’s also not a good idea to drill a nail more than one week after an injury has occurred. The blood is too thick (not enough liquid) at this point to be easily expelled. The best time to do this nail drilling is within 3-4 days. It is best to visit a podiatrist if the problem persists for more than a week. They will be able thin the nail and remove any blood.
How to prevent black toenails
- Shoes that are too small should be avoided. Your thumb should be the same width as your thumb, between your longest toe (which is usually the second toe), and the end your shoe’s top.
- Shoes that are too loose will cause your foot to slip forward, causing your toes to touch the end. Your heel should be held securely by your laces.
- Don’t let your toenails get too long. You can trim them. You can trim them if they are too thick.
- Do not leave your toenails unattended. These should be filed
- Do not let others jump on your toes or drop things on to your toes.
- Make sure your toebox is deep enough for your big toe. You may feel that there is not enough room. There are situations when your toenails can angle upwards. This can be discussed with a podiatrist.
- Toeprops can be used to straighten your toes, especially if they are smaller. These can be purchased at the chemist, or you can have one made by a podiatrist.
