How to Treat a Bruised Toenail
You know what a bruised toenail looks like – but you may not realize that it’s not the nail that’s bruised at all.
When you drop something on your toe or have some other type of incident that puts a massive force on your toenail, the nail may turn black, or black and blue, perhaps some red or purple in there. These colors indicate that blood has accumulated under the nail. Certainly, the nail itself may be cracked or torn as well, but it looks bruised because you’ve damaged the tissue underneath the nail.
What do you do when you bruise your toenail? Most people simply wait it out, which may be okay. Keep the nail clean and dry, bandaging it to prevent further damage.
However, there are some instances when you’ll want to see a podiatrist:
- It hurts: blood accumulating under the nail can become quite painful. Our board-certified podiatrist, Dr. Kenneth R. Wilhelm, can safely drain the blood to relieve the pressure it’s causing.
- There’s swelling: trauma to the nail may have injured your bones. Dr. Wilhelm can check you for a broken toe.
- It tingles or feels numb: nerve damage is another possibility, which can be permanent if you don’t treat it with proper splinting and rest.
- You’re concerned about nail deformity: damage to your nail bed may mean that when the new nail grows back, it may be crooked or otherwise deformed. A doctor’s assessment and treatment of your bruised toenail may prevent future deformities.
- You see signs of infection: you have a fever, the toe feels warm to the touch, your toe develops red streaks, or the pain just won’t quit.
- There’s no sign of healing: a dark spot under your toenail that doesn’t go away could indicate another medical issue not related to trauma.
Many bruised toenails will heal well on their own, although it can take several months. But make an appointment with us at Clifton Foot & Ankle Center if you have severe pain or any of the other concerning symptoms above. To make an appointment with Dr. Wilhelm, call our office in Centreville (Fairfax County), Virginia at (703) 996-3000. Or, click here to schedule an appointment online.
