Toenails Hematoma & Fingernails Hematoma - Main Reasons and How to Deal With It
Blood under the toe or bleeding under the toenail causing a hematoma are common problems and can have various reasons. Most of the time, this condition is not dangerous to the sufferer. However, purple toenails due to hematoma can be a sign of health problems in the body and require medical treatment.
What Is Black Spot On Big Toenails?
A black spot on the toenail is an injury to the blood vessels under the nail, causing damage that leads to bleeding into the space between the nail and the underlying cuticle. This causes a hematoma and color change in nails.
Hematoma toenails are not life-threatening. However, prompt medical treatment will be necessary if the toenail is bruised or broken or the tissue foundation is damaged. Learn more about other symptoms like Gel Nail Polish Allergy, here.Toenails Hematoma Symptoms
A black toenail is caused by blood pressure due to a sharp pain between the nail and the nail bed. It can also be recognized by a black spot on a big toenail. Initially, the pin will be red and purple under the nail, the longer the color will darken and turn to dark brown or black because the blood has coagulated underneath.
However, you should also consider whether the nail color is caused by a hematoma. Because if the nail changes color and is not caused by a hematoma, it could be a symptom of another condition.When blood is under the toe, you will feel pain for the first few days. Besides, you may have to undergo a nail change depending on the extent of damage to the nail. In case the nail is severely damaged or the nail has popped out of the foundation, then you will have to remove the old nail and wait for the replacement nail to grow from the foundation. Toenails dislodged from the foundation will take up to 12 months to fully heal, and fingernails need about 4 to 6 months.Melanoma
This is a sporadic and dangerous skin cancer (including the skin under the fingernails), occurring in only about 1 in 1,000,000 people. Symptoms include bleeding under the fingernails and discolored nails. The symptoms are similar to bleeding under the nail, which is why you should be concerned about a sudden change in color. The difference between toenail hematoma and melanoma is that hematoma often occurs due to collision or sports activities.
Black Toenails Causes
The leading cause of this condition is an external force exerting pressure on the tips of the fingers and toes. Some of the daily activities that lead to bruised fingers and toes are:
- Falling heavy objects on the tips of fingers and toes
- Fingers or toes getting stuck or hit the edges of objects
- Accidents while practicing sports
- Wearing shoes with bruised toenails due to size, style
Black Toenail Treatment
The information is the primary method to help you deal with hematoma at home. However, this information cannot replace the advice of medical professionals. Remember to consult medical professionals.
You can use over-the-counter pain relievers to minimize pain, swelling, and discomfort at the hematoma site. On the other hand, you can apply the RICE approach to self-care at home:
Figure 01. R.I.C.E approach for Self-care & treatment.
- Rest: Try not to move if you have a hematoma in your toenail. Limit hand movement if you have a hematoma in the nail.
- Ice: Apply ice to the injured and hematoma nail. Ice helps reduce swelling and pain and avoid inflammation caused by secretions.
- Compression: Apply pressure to the injured area immediately to stop bleeding.
- Elevation: Place the injured arm or leg higher than the heart when lying down to prevent blood circulation, slowing down the process of blood leakage and reducing swelling and pain.
Another faster treatment for hematoma is to drill or punch the nail. This procedure will be performed by medical professionals, helping you to drain the hematoma, promote healing and significantly reduce pain. However, you should not cut your nails yourself at home, or you will put your nails at a higher risk of infection and further damage to the nail or foundation.
When You Need To See A Doctor
For some severe conditions, you need to see a doctor right away to get the problem resolved before they get worse:
- Unbearable pain
- Injury happens to children
- Constantly bleeding
- Badly damaged foundation
- Blood discoloration but not due to any external influences
Some of the following signs of an underlying infection also require medical professional intervention:
- Presence of pus under the nail
- Negative pain and swelling
- Large and edematous swelling area
Recovery Time
How long does it take for bleeding under the nail to heal?
This is a fairly common question when you encounter this situation. If you have a complete dislocation, it will take 12 months to recover your toenails and 4 to 6 months for your fingernails. If you only have a common subungual hematoma, it will take several months for the nail to grow out and push the hematoma out.
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