Injured Toenails

Injured Toenails

Whether it’s from stubbing your toe on something while walking around the house late at night, or dropping a heavy object on the foot, we’ve all inadvertently injured our nails.injured toenails Fortunately, most nail injuries aren’t serious and can be treated at home. However, if you notice pain or bleeding under your nail, black, blue or purple discoloration of the nail, or a loose toenail that’s falling off the end of the nail bed, you should seek medical attention immediately.

A hematoma under the toenail, known as subungual hematoma, happens when blood vessels break open under the nail and cause pooling of blood.injured toenails This can look like a dark blue, black or purple bruise under the toenail and is usually painful. Hematomas that cover more than a quarter of the toenail should be drained by a doctor to relieve pressure and prevent infection.

Injuries to the toenails can be caused by a variety of things, including chronic activities, a repetitive stress injury, or poor-fitting shoes that rub and snag the toenails.injured toenails Nail injuries can also be the result of a chronic condition, such as psoriasis (an autoimmune disease that causes scaly, red patches to appear on the skin and nails), or by biting the nails (a habit that can lead to long-term damage).

Most nail injuries are mild and don’t require immediate medical care, but any significant cut, tear or torn nail should be seen by a podiatrist. Your doctor may take a sample of the affected toenail, do a nail biopsy or x-rays to determine if there are any infections under the toenails, and/or recommend treatment for other conditions that could be contributing to your injury.

Toenails grow slowly, so if your injury is severe, it can take months to a year for the toenail to fully regrow. Injured toenails may also be crooked or misshapen as they grow. For the best results, trim your toenails regularly and wear well-fitting shoes that don’t rub or snag on the toenails. For more information about toenail care, and how to keep your toenails healthy and looking their best, contact a BioPed podiatrist near you. They can answer any questions you have, and help you stay happy and healthy!