The nail on my thumb turned black. The nail has turned black - what to do?

Blackening of the nail often occurs to a person, regardless of what lifestyle he follows and what hygiene standards he observes. A black nail may be a consequence of a finger injury, or may indicate the presence fungal disease. In any case, such a problem requires attention and treatment.

Such a phenomenon as black spot, which can appear under transparent nail plate- a fairly common occurrence. Moreover, almost every person with different hygiene habits and lifestyle can encounter it at least once in their life.

The reasons for this may be different cases: illnesses, injuries. Such a spot can appear on both the fingers and toes. Of course, most often, this is how the fungus manifests itself, but you shouldn’t make hasty conclusions, because it can also appear in completely healthy people who have no complaints.

There are four main reasons that contribute to the appearance of an unpleasant stain on the nail:

• Presence of any fungus (disease)
• Predisposition or increased pigmentation
• Trauma to a finger or nail plate, resulting in a hematoma
• Liver problems and diseases in humans

Each individual case should be considered:

• Hematomas. This is probably the most common cause of stains on the nail. A hematoma is a bruise, simply put. At the site of the impact, blood accumulates, which is located in the soft tissues; it darkens over time and appears under the nail plate itself. This is easy to understand if you know how the nail itself is built. After all, under the plate itself there is quite soft tissue - the nail bed. These two tissues (skin and nail) are very closely related to each other. Upon impact, the capillary network of soft tissue is damaged. The vessels burst and hemorrhage occurs in the tissue. Such a spot does not have clear boundaries and its size depends only on the force of the impact. The blood darkens, acquiring a bluish, purple and black tint. Such a stain can disappear over time. Often it is quite painful and responds unpleasant sensations when you press
• Increased pigmentation. This is not a common predisposition, but it does occur in some people. The reasons for this tendency to stains may be the use of poor quality water and food, direct ultra-violet rays and even regular human work in hazardous conditions. A characteristic feature of this predisposition is the periodic appearance and disappearance of dots. This happens because the blood pigment changes regularly. There is absolutely nothing scary about this, so you shouldn’t scare yourself about it. It is necessary to adjust your diet and lead a healthy lifestyle.

You should pay attention to such points only if they appear very often, do not disappear and have a very large-scale localization, that is, there are a lot of them. Such points may well have an oncological basis and be a symptom of cancer. If you have such concerns, consult your doctor for advice.

suspicious black dots on the nails may indicate the presence of cancer in the human body

• Liver problems and diseases. Such darkening of the nail plate can often indicate liver dysfunction. This happens because the organ ceases to cope with its duties, that is, it cannot cope with the processing of toxins. This is why dark and black spots appear on the nail plate in places. As a rule, such spots are usually blurry and do not have clear boundaries and sizes. They may appear and disappear periodically. In this case, you should seek help from a therapist who will prescribe tests for you. Under no circumstances should you postpone a visit to the doctor if, in addition to spots, you also notice painful sensations in the liver area
• Fungus. The fungus often affects the nail plate of both the hands and feet. In this case, the nail can not only have black spots, but also completely change the color of its plate and become yellow, orange and even brown. Another characteristic sign of fungus is thickening of the nail plate and the appearance of unusual vertical stripes on the nail. It is important to know that after the nail suffers, the soft fabrics. In this case, treatment should be started immediately as quickly as possible. Before choosing a medicine, consult a dermatologist if possible. He can order you an important series of tests, the results of which will determine your problems and help you choose effective treatment.

Thus, two main reasons can be distinguished for the appearance of black spots on the nail - external (impacts and tissue damage) and internal (diseases of organs and tissues).

black spots on the nail plate, on the toe

Blackened nails on the big toes and hands in men and women, reasons

The most common cause of blackening of the nail is hemorrhage under the nail plate, which occurs as a result of a finger injury.

The most common injury is the big toe. It is quite active and differs from others in its size. In this case, if there is a bruise and hemorrhage, pain may be observed over the next two weeks when walking, putting on shoes, or pressing on a finger. Pain may accompany the finger until the damaged nerve endings reach complete death.

Pay attention to the nail after two weeks. If the pain does not go away, and the finger has increased in size (swelling), you should immediately consult a doctor.

Cause of blackening big nail(like anyone else) maybe microz. Microsis is a disease that can be easily caught in in public places, where you have bare hands contact with the floor, handrails, benches. For example: bathhouse, sauna, public shower, toilet, locker room, and so on. In such places, a person with a disease leaves it on the surface, where it is picked up by a healthy person. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to cure microsis on your own, because in order to determine the cause of the fungus, you need to undergo many tests.

Myrosis of the nail plate thumb legs

Other reasons for changes in the color of the nail plate:

• A black nail that has a slightly greenish tint is often a symptom of an abnormal and unhealthy gastrointestinal tract.
• A black nail with a slight bluish tint indicates that a person has problems with blood circulation
• A black nail with brown and burgundy shades may indicate disorders of the central nervous system and problems with the brain.

Another common cause of blackened nails on both the fingers and toes is hemangioma.

Hemangioma is a disease that causes the growth and subsequent darkening of blood vessels in the soft tissues under the nail plate. In addition, it causes unbearable and very noticeable pain. In some cases, it appears even before the nail turns black. Hemangioma is a kind of tumor under the nail, which can also be felt by pressing. If dark color The nail plate has turned white - this is a clear symptom of the presence of a neoplasm.

nail hemangioma: A - dark stripe, B - dark spot

Pay attention to how you feel. If, in addition to pain, you regularly feel discomfort, this is a signal that there is strong pressure under the nail. In such situations, you cannot do without the help of doctors. The doctor will recommend removing the nail plate and only then performing a series of treatment procedures. If the nail is removed, you can perform all the necessary manipulations, get rid of the tumor and eliminate the pain. As a result, the dead nail is replaced by a new healthy one.

Not only will it help speed up the healing process drug treatment, but also healthy eating, as well as regular salt baths.

Why did tight shoes turn my toe black?

If the nail turns black not from internal reasons, that is, health problems internal organs, then from external ones. The nail can also turn black due to impaired blood circulation. This can happen when a person wears shoes that are too tight or uncomfortable. As a result, the finger is slightly injured and turns blue due to hemorrhage.

After the cyanosis goes away, the blood coagulates and it is for this reason that blackness appears under the nails. If the resulting hematoma is not too large in size, then it does not require any intervention and can resolve on its own over time. If the spot is large enough and occupies the entire nail plate, this means that blood circulation in the damaged vessels on the finger is completely disrupted.

Most often, this process ends with the rejection of the broken, damaged nail. After the diseased nail is rejected, a whole healthy plate should grow back.

black nail due to wearing tight shoes

To alleviate your condition and allow your nail to recover, you need to provide comfort to your finger. Avoid being too narrow and not comfortable shoes. Shoes should not be narrow, not tight, and should not rub. It is advisable that shoes be made from natural and high-quality materials.

You should also be careful about your lifestyle: avoid traumatic situations, do not engage in active sports during the healing period of the finger, eat healthy foods that contain a sufficient amount of calcium.

Why does the nail turn black in diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that can affect the integrity and health of nails, both on the hands and feet. Why is this happening? Most often, the plates on the lower extremities are damaged due to the fact that blood circulation in the body and in the legs, in particular, is impaired. This can also happen when infected with a fungus. The fungus, which can be present on the nails of a healthy person for any reason, does not spread as quickly as on the nails of a person with any form of diabetes. Also, microbes, which are the main causes of fungal disease, can very actively spread throughout the entire foot of a diabetic and to soft tissues in particular.

It is not difficult to recognize and distinguish the fungus - the nail plate not only changes its color and turns black, the nail becomes thicker and denser. Often it starts to flake.

The fungus often affects the nails of people with diabetes because their metabolism is impaired. Diabetics are also distinguished by the fact that, along with the fluid, their sweat glands secrete glucose, which is very favorable for the development of fungus.

how diabetes can affect diseases associated with blackening of the nail plates

Another problem for people with diabetes is frequent ingrowth of nail plates into soft skin tissue. Such a nuisance occurs for the same reason - impaired circulation in the body and outflow of blood in the legs. Inconvenient, non-compliant shoes significantly aggravate the situation, allowing this process to happen faster. As a result, the finger swells, turns red and a hematoma forms.

In this case, you should definitely seek help from a doctor. If ignored and left untreated, the ingrown toenail will cause soft tissue infection and allow the toe to fester. In the worst case scenario, the plate or even the affected finger will need to be removed. This phenomenon is called “diabetic foot” syndrome.

Why did the nail turn black after being hit on the arm and leg or if it was pinched?

Household nail injury - common problem. This can easily happen to both fingers and toes. Toes most often suffer from impacts with furniture, and fingers can be pinched in doorways, windows, or simply hit with a heavy object.

Most often, the first pain from such an injury is very strong and sometimes unbearable. It is sharp, bursting and can even put a person in a state of shock. The pain occurs because the blood vessels of the soft tissues burst and hemorrhage occurs directly under the plate, the blood coagulates and turns black.

Such an injury should not be ignored, but should be treated immediately to reduce the hematoma and reduce pain.

How to reduce pain when a finger is injured and reduce a hematoma:

• First of all, quickly applying cold to it will help to weaken the hematoma in the first couple of days: ice, a cold bottle, dipping in cold water, snow
• You should keep an injured finger in the cold for no longer than fifteen minutes, so as not to make it worse
• This application of cold will constrict the blood vessels and thereby reduce hemorrhage, as well as at the same time reduce pain

A severe hematoma under the nail plate with profuse bleeding can burst the nail from below, lifting it. This rejection of the nail plate is quite painful. Only a surgeon can help in such a situation, who, using a sterile instrument, makes a hole in the nail and releases blood through it before it has a chance to clot.

This surgical intervention will help to avoid the death of the nail; in no case should such manipulation be done using improvised means or on your own in order to avoid unpleasant consequences and blood poisoning.

finger injury, blackened nail

Why does my toenail turn black and hurt?

A sore toenail or fingernail has several causes:

• Traumatic nature. Depending on the bruise, you should choose the right effective treatment to get rid of unpleasant symptoms and eliminate pain
• Fungal nature - requires mandatory treatment with antifungal and antiseptic agents
• As a consequence of disruption of the internal organs, a full examination should be carried out to determine the presence of problems and diseases in the body

If the blackness of the nail is accompanied by unpleasant pain, this indicates that the integrity of the soft tissues has been compromised. In such cases, it is impossible to do without the intervention of doctors. If you do not intervene, the situation may worsen and lead to tissue suppuration.

the nail hurts, problems with nails due to bruises and fungus

Why does my toenail turn black and come away from my finger?

If you have a finger ear injury, it is quite possible to expect hemorrhage due to rupture of blood vessels. This blood enters the soft tissue, where it coagulates and forms a dark spot. Often the bruise is so severe that it provokes the appearance of a tumor.

This tumor bursts the nail plate and causes it to rise, while “giving” the person very unpleasant painful sensations. The finger tries to tear off the affected nail, which by this time may become rough and flake. It should not be pulled out under any circumstances.

The nail that grows over time should be carefully cut off with nail scissors, avoiding pain. Over time, the damaged nail will be replaced by a whole new layer and the finger will recover; this is a completely natural process.

nail plate rejection

Why does the nail turn black and not hurt?

Quite often it happens that the fingernail turns black, but does not give the person any painful sensations. Most often, this phenomenon is observed on the big toes of the lower extremities. And it often happens that this problem people simply ignore: men wear closed shoes, and women cover them with a layer of varnish. But this is far from a way out of the situation.

Several factors can affect the darkening of the nail:

• External influence: uncomfortable shoes, mechanical damage, trauma or bruise
• Internal effects: fungal infection, the presence of a benign tumor, disruption of the functioning of internal organs

If the nail turns black as a result of an injury, it’s not a big deal. As a rule, such a bruise does not cause any harm to the body. If the nail turns black as a result of a serious illness, you cannot do without the help of doctors.

What to do if the toenail turns black, how to treat it?

Most often, after an injury, the fingernail or toenail turns black. It is not always possible to see a doctor on time. For this reason, you should definitely know the therapy that you can do for yourself:

• If your finger is injured, give it rest, stop moving it or walking if it is on your leg
• Raise your leg above your head to ensure normal blood circulation
• Until the finger gets rid of blackness and pain, you should provide it with loose shoes
• Apply a soft bandage to your finger to protect it from repeated injury. Use a bandage or adhesive tape
• Try not to work with your hands on the affected finger, especially if your household activities involve water or chemicals(wear gloves)
• Immediately after you receive a bruise, it is recommended to treat the nail and apply ricinol emulsion to it, which can stop bleeding and slow down the inflammatory process, accelerating the regeneration of soft tissues
• A few days after the injury, select an anti-inflammatory ointment for your nail and finger for faster healing(arnica or heparin ointment). The medicine should be applied three times a day
• In order to relieve swelling of the finger and eliminate severe pain, you should apply a compress with dimexide to the bruised nail and finger. The compress should be done daily, preferably before bed, leaving the soaked gauze on the sore spot for at least half an hour

The most common thing - badyaga - will help you cope with the blackness under the nail and eliminate the pain. You can buy it at a pharmacy for a reasonable price. It is sold in powder form, which is diluted with water. The resulting mass is applied to sore spot. If you do not have the opportunity to see a doctor, regularly lubricate the nail with bodyagu and gradually cut off the affected nail with scissors as it grows back.

You should understand that you should never tear off your nail - this can disrupt the natural rejection process and lead to infection. Tearing off part of the nail prevents the renewal of the entire nail plate.

Pay attention to how your finger perceives the treatment. If the inflammation does not decrease, but on the contrary becomes larger, the finger and the area around the nail turns red - the situation may worsen. It is quite possible to get purulent inflammation. In this case, you should stop any treatment and seek help from a specialist in the hospital.

Video: “Blackened toenail, treatment”

Not every person will be able to figure out why their fingernails darken, because this problem can affect even those people who adhere to all the rules of hygiene. A black nail can acquire this appearance due to a banal injury, but in some cases it is related to a fungal disease.

The darkening process itself occurs due to hemorrhage, after which the damage dries out. If the nail has not been severely bruised before, you should visit a doctor, as there may be several reasons for this, and most of them require immediate treatment.

There may be several reasons why fingernails turn black.

Almost every person has encountered such a phenomenon as frozen blood under the nail plate. These can be people who carefully look after themselves, and those who do not adhere to these rules at all. This is not the main reason.

When thinking about the question of why a fingernail may darken, it is worth understanding that the reasons can be not only blows, but also serious illnesses. This will allow you to diagnose the problem in time and quickly get rid of it. Experts identify 4 main reasons for deviation:

1. Hematoma due to trauma.
2. Increased pigmentation.
3. Liver pathologies.
4. The presence of any type of fungal disease.

Treatment for a blackened fingernail

The first thing to do before treatment is to determine the exact reason why your fingernails turn black. If this happened due to injury, the person will be asked to monitor the therapy independently, using traditional methods. One of them is to use a salt bath.

For this you can use both sea and regular salt. The damaged plate must be placed in the solution for half an hour. As a result, the liquid will draw out the blood within 5-6 days, and its remains can be removed using a disinfected thin needle.

Now a little about the secrets of fighting fungus

Fungal infection is one of the most common causes of blackened nails. Curing a patient in such a situation is not easy, it is a long process, so you need to see a doctor as quickly as possible.

Treatment is usually accompanied by taking antifungal ointments, gels or tablets, for example:

• Mikozan;
• Nizoral;
• Lamisml;
• Clotrimazole;
• Batrafen;
• Irunin.

During therapy, the patient must carefully monitor and care for the damaged nail. Also, do not forget about personal hygiene and control the situation so that the fungus does not spread to other parts of the finger or hand.

Traditional methods of treating darkened nails

You can resort to treatment with folk remedies only after the cause of the darkening of the finger is known, and such therapy was recommended by the doctor himself. There are 5 most popular self-treatment methods:

1. A mixture of mint and salt is applied to problem area for 1 hour.
2. A solution of soda and salt (1 tablespoon each). The water for the mixture should be warm.
3. Compress from grated potatoes (for 35-40 minutes).
4. A bath of strong, uncooled coffee. The procedure is repeated 5-7 times, every evening.
5. An ointment made from 10 grams of calendula inflorescences, 20 grams of burdock and the same number of grams of hop cones. The mass must be boiled in a water bath and then add Vaseline, mixing in a ratio of 1 to 2. Apply a thin layer 3-4 times a day.

Preventive actions

To reduce the likelihood of a black nail to 0, you must adhere to the following rules:

• when going to the pool or sauna, you must take rubber slippers with you;
• if the work involves chemicals, you should not start it without first wearing special gloves;
• personal hygiene is mandatory;
• You cannot wear someone else’s shoes or gloves, as there is a risk of fungal infection;
• The apartment must be disinfected periodically. Special attention allocated to the toilet, washbasins and bathtub.

A partially or completely blackened nail on the big toe or toe can signal the development of various diseases in the human body. This happens both after an injury and when wearing uncomfortable shoes. In any case, you need to pay attention to the problem, identify the causes of its occurrence and, if necessary, carry out treatment.

Reasons for appearance

A black spot in men or women under the nail plate is formed for a number of reasons. It can be caused by external influences:

• injuries or bruises;
• tight shoes;
• diseases of fungal etiology.

The stain may also be evidence of a violation of internal processes in the body:

• genetic predisposition to excessive pigmentation;
• undiagnosed kidney pathologies;
• hemangioma;
• melanoma;
• diabetes.

If you detect even minor stains on your nails, you should immediately seek help from a specialist.

Injuries

The nail plate is subject to injury at home, during sports or when falling. If the nail turns black, it means that the integrity of the blood vessels was damaged due to the bruise: the capillary burst, and a hematoma appeared under the nail plate. Blood cannot fully circulate for some time, so the spot gradually grows.

In most cases, if the nail has already darkened, the process is irreversible: the damaged plate gradually dies, turns black, peels off and falls off.

To prevent death, you need to provide assistance to the victim as soon as possible, which includes the following measures:

• cooling - in the first few minutes after hitting or pinching a finger, it is necessary to apply ice to the damaged area;
• disinfection - if the injury is accompanied by a rupture of the skin, it is imperative to treat the wound with iodine or another antiseptic (for example, Miramistin).

It is impossible to get rid of dark spots caused by injury in a short period of time due to the low rate of nail growth.

Tight shoes

When wearing uncomfortable shoes, the big toe is most often injured. In tight shoes, the toes are pressed tightly against each other, so the natural blood circulation process is disrupted. The person feels that the limbs are going numb and a tingling sensation begins in them. This means that the capillaries, unable to withstand the pressure, burst. A hematoma (bruise) forms under the nail plate.

When blood vessels are deformed, the finger may acquire a bluish tint. The cyanosis gradually disappears, leaving blood clots under the nail. Therapeutic measures directly depend on the area of ​​damage. A small bruise can resolve on its own; a large stain indicates that blood has not stopped getting under the plate and the damage to the blood vessels is quite serious. When a toe is severely pinched by a shoe, the nail dies and falls off. After rejection, a healthy plate grows back.

To avoid such unpleasant consequences, you need to ensure that your shoes are comfortable and of the right size.

Fungus

With onychomycosis, the nail turns black when the infection is in an advanced stage. The dermatophyte that has penetrated under the plate actively multiplies in the soft tissues and spreads to the nail itself. Skin covering, affected by a fungal colony, peels off and dies over time. During the initial stage of infection, small whitish or yellow spots, which eventually turn black.

Darkening of a toenail or fingernail can be caused by blood clots collecting under the plate. If left untreated, the nail will crumble under the influence of the fungus and eventually fall off completely. Onychomycosis affects older people, whose circulatory system function decreases due to their age.

Therapy is based on regular oral administration of antifungal drugs and the use of external antifungal ointments and creams. Comprehensive treatment will help achieve the fastest possible results.

Pigmentation

Small black spots on the nail may indicate a person’s genetic predisposition to excessive pigmentation. The cause of spots in women and men may be a regular change in blood pigment, which occurs based on a number of factors:

Dark spots that appear due to excessive pigmentation go away on their own. To significantly reduce the risk of darkening, you must avoid bad habits and review your diet.

Renal pathologies

Blackened fingernails may indicate kidney disease. In this case, part of the plate becomes covered with a dark brown or black coating. Dysfunction of the urinary system organs in women and men contributes to the release into the blood large quantity skin pigment (melanin). According to this theory, with such a disease, the number of small blood vessels increases, which can burst and lead to darkening of the lower part of the nail.

Treatment should be prescribed by a doctor after a correct diagnosis.

Hemangioma

The disease is characterized by severe pain in the area of ​​the nail plate. Hemangioma causes the growth and significant darkening of blood vessels under the nails. The tumor formed as a result of the disease is palpated by palpation.

The disease can be diagnosed in time: when pressing on the upper part of the phalanx, pain appears long before the appearance of tumors. Under slight pressure, the existing dark spot under the nail becomes whitish.

The plate may rise slightly under the nail bed. Treatment of a benign tumor is prescribed by a specialist.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a cancer. The spread of the disease is rapid characteristic symptoms are missing. It is possible to diagnose melanoma only in an advanced stage. Subungual melanoma appears on the big toes.

The small black spot begins to grow rapidly. Trauma can contribute to the development of pathology. With slight pressure, the patient feels severe pain, and in rare cases, blood may appear. Purulent ulcers form under the nail plate.

Therapeutic therapy is prescribed based on test results.

Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus affects appearance and the integrity of the nail plates on the feet and hands. With the disease, the natural wound-healing functions of the body are reduced: minor abrasions and bruises practically do not go away. Even a minor injury, bruise or blow can cause damage to the nail or its darkening. In diabetes mellitus, blood circulation in the body is impaired. Blood vessels become much thinner and the risk of rupture increases.

Diabetes often provokes the appearance of fungal diseases in the patient. The metabolism of patients is disrupted, and along with sweat, glucose is released, which creates an environment favorable for the life of the fungus.

Darkening of the nail in such patients can also be caused by its ingrowth into soft tissues that lack nutrients.

If such a problem occurs, you should definitely consult your doctor. For patients suffering from diabetes, these lesions can cause irreparable harm.

conclusions

The appearance of black spots on the nails of the feet and hands is caused by diseases of the internal organs and external damage. In case of sudden darkening of the nail plate, provided that blows or other injuries are excluded, it is necessary to as soon as possible consult a doctor.

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.

Causes

The big toe can turn black for a number of reasons that are not related to each other. Influenced 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:

• injury;
• fungal infection;
• benign tumor;
• diseases of internal organs.

Depending on the reasons, the patient is prescribed a specific treatment. Most often, to eliminate nail problems, it is enough therapeutic methods. Only a specialist can determine the correct treatment method after diagnosis.

Therapy methods

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.

Injury

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.

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 more quick recovery and relieve pain, you can use ointments against bruises - heparin ointment, arnica.

Fungal infection

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 proper care behind the damaged nail plate. The patient should also observe personal hygiene rules to prevent the fungus from spreading to healthy tissue.

Benign tumor

Most dangerous cause considered a 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.

Diseases of internal organs

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 for the plate. Until the disease is eliminated, no medications or hardware procedures will help restore healthy nails.

If symptoms such as plates appear, it is recommended to contact medical institution 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.

Many people experience darkening of their toenails. For effective treatment the cause must be eliminated. It can be caused by external factors: injury, frostbite, bruise. These situations are not critical and are safe. The blackened nail will grow back and will not bother the person.

But sometimes blackening is caused by internal factors: diseases or fungal infections. In these cases, the patient requires timely treatment.

Causes of blackening

Large toenails can turn black for two main reasons: external and internal.

External factors include the following circumstances:

• bruised toe - after a microtrauma, the vessels under the nail plate burst, resulting in a slight hemorrhage;
• wearing narrow and tight shoes - uncomfortable shoes or boots constantly put pressure on the toes, this damages the blood vessels and leads to the formation of spots on the big toes;
• external coloring of the nail - poor-quality shoes or bad varnishes can cause the nail to turn dark;
• exposure to aggressive chemicals on the nail;
• blue spots on the nails appear as a result of frostbite.

If your fingernail has darkened due to external factors, then these cases are not scary and safe for life. They will not harm the body.

If you are bruised, you should monitor the condition of your toe and nail to avoid complications. In the most serious situations, a bruise can lead to gangrene of the big toe.

Internal reasons say that this darkening is due to various diseases. Blackening of the nails is a symptom that there is something wrong with the body and you should consult a doctor. Internal factors include the following:

• a tumor of the big toe, which is benign in nature - blood vessels begin to grow under the nail plate, causing blackness to form. The tumor must be treated; perhaps the doctor will remove it. As the tissue grows, a person feels severe discomfort, turning into pain;
• fungal nail diseases - in these cases there are also additional signs. The nail crumbles and peels off, becoming brittle. The skin around the nail is red, constantly inflamed, sometimes painful cracks and wounds appear on it. Fungal infections typically affect multiple nails, not just the big toe. At the same time, the fingernails also suffer;
• Diseases of the cardiovascular or endocrine system. Often the nail on the big toe turns black with diabetes.

Photo of blackened nails:

Other reasons

Stains on nails can be of different shades.

1. Green color indicates problems with the gastrointestinal tract.
2. A brown spot under the toenail indicates a malfunction of the central nervous system; the main changes take place in the brain.
3. Blue shades appear due to the fact that the normal blood supply to the nail plate is disrupted.

If your nails have turned black due to fungus

Often the causes of blackening are related to. Pathogens of the genus Candida are localized on the nails. The plates change color, become thick, and black or brown spots appear under the nails. At the same time, nails crumble easily. The skin of the fingers also suffers from microorganisms. She turns red, which bleeds. In these situations, you should consult a dermatologist.

What to do if you are injured

One of the main causes of stains on toenails is a bruise. If you accidentally hit your toe or drop something heavy on your foot, you should provide first aid. This will help avoid bleeding under the nail plate.

The first thing you should do is apply a cold pack to your bruised finger. This can be an ice pack or any ice object. If there is no ice, then dip your foot in cold water or place your finger under the stream.

If blood oozes from under the nail, carefully remove it. But do not forget about antiseptic measures. Any item should be treated with an alcohol solution. If external pathogens enter, the infection will only intensify. Gradually the plate will grow back, the black spots on the toenails will disappear as they grow.

How to treat black nails

If the toenail turns black due to a bruise or is caused by other external factors, then the defect is easy to eliminate. A person can wait several months for the nail to grow back. If desired, you can seek help from a surgeon. The doctor will suggest going through the procedure and then removing the entire nail or piercing it to relieve pressure. The procedure involves piercing the nail plate with a sterile hot needle, and blood flows out of the indentation. Within a month, the toenail dies off and a new one grows in its place. Piercing is a painless and safe procedure.

The entire nail plate is removed under local anesthesia. If the nail is not removed, it can interfere with the growth of a new, whole plate. It is also possible for both nails to grow together, which will lead to complications. If necessary, the doctor will prescribe medications to relieve pain and promote healing. It is recommended to include a wide range of calcium-containing foods on your menu.

To effectively eliminate fungi, it is recommended to use antimycotic ointments or creams. These include "", "Nizoral". In addition, it is recommended to take antifungal drugs orally: “”, “Fluconazole” “” (basically, tablets of the azole group are prescribed).

On initial stages The appearance of fungus is helped by protective nail polishes: “”, “”, or you can use “Oflomil”. But these remedies are powerless when the fungus has affected most of the nail plate.

Traditional methods

If the nails on the big toes have darkened due to fungi, then the disease can be treated with complex treatment. But apply folk recipes worth after consultation with a doctor. They should be combined with traditional medicine without replacing it.

1. The most effective method– . The diseased nail is lubricated twice a day with iodine solution. After some time, the pain will go away.
2. Foot baths help in treatment. You can add vinegar, potassium permanganate or essential oils. Tea tree oil shows the best results.
3. Black spots on the nails should be lubricated with Kalanchoe juice or eucalyptus tincture.

Preventive measures

Black nails are just a symptom of the disease. It is impossible to protect yourself from all diseases that cause your fingernails to darken. The only way to reduce the risk of getting sick is to strengthen the immune system. It consists of maintaining healthy image life, giving up bad habits, regular sports training, proper diet nutrition.

Additional preventive measures that will protect against external factors are the following:

• you should not wear tight and uncomfortable shoes, they cause dark and brown spots on the nails;
• carefully choose a pedicurist, make sure that the instruments are treated with antiseptic agents:
• do not use low-quality cosmetics for your feet - it could be bad varnish or acetone. Their use may cause spots to appear under the toenails.

Often the nail on the big toe turns black due to the presence of Candida fungus. To avoid this disease, practice good personal hygiene. Do not wear other people's shoes, do not walk barefoot in public places. At the first symptoms of fungus, visit a dermatologist.

Pathogens live in humid environments. Be careful when visiting a bathhouse, sauna, or swimming pool (wear only personal shoes).

Conclusion

Black nails indicate that there is a hemorrhage under the nail plate. Brown spots on the nails may indicate not only a possible bruise or injury, but also serious disturbances in the functioning of the body. Don't ignore a black spot on your nail. Be sure to consult a doctor to find out the cause of the pathology.

If the blackness is caused by internal factors, the doctor will find out them and prescribe the necessary treatment. Timely therapy will help achieve a complete recovery.