Will the black under my toenail go away?

Black toenails will typically go away on their own, but it can take several months. The condition will diminish once new tissue grows completely under the toenail itself. There are several ways to prevent a black toenail from happening in the first place.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on gwapodiatry.com

How long does it take for black under toenail to go away?

A minor subungual hematoma usually heals over time without treatment. The trapped blood will eventually be reabsorbed, and the dark mark will disappear. This can take 2–3 months for a fingernail, and up to 9 months for a toenail.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com

Will black toenail go back to normal?

In mild cases, the black toenail will grow out naturally over time without treatment. In severe cases, such as when the nail begins to detach from the nail bed, a person should seek medical treatment.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on medicalnewstoday.com

Are black nails permanent?

If the black toenail is not causing you pain and less than half of the nail is black, there is no need to treat it. Over time, the nail will grow out and the discoloration will no longer be present.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on verywellhealth.com

Does a black nail ever heal?

Black toenails will typically go away on their own, but it can take several months. The condition will diminish once new tissue grows completely under the toenail itself. There are several ways to prevent a black toenail from happening in the first place.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on gwapodiatry.com

What to Do About Toenail Trauma and How to Easily Fix Their Appearance

41 related questions found

Why is part of under my toenail black?

If your toenail turns black, it's most likely a bruise under the nail, technically called a subungual hematoma. You can get it from stubbing a toe or from footwear that cram your feet into the front of the shoe.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com

Can a black toenail be saved?

In mild cases, no treatment is needed, and the black nail will simply grow out. But if you're in a lot of pain, your doctor can drain the blood from your nail, which relieves the pressure.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on runnersworld.com

What are the stages of a bruise under your toenail?

Trauma to your toenails will, in most cases, cause pain that can last a few days. Color. When the blood vessels break, they bleed out under your toenails. You will notice areas that start a reddish color, turn purple, become dark brown, and finally turn black.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on canyonoaksfootankle.com

Is it bad to leave blood under toenail?

It usually happens if the nail gets crushed in an injury. It can cause symptoms such as intense pain and throbbing as blood collects under the nail. Unless you also have broken bones or damage to the nail bed and/or surrounding tissues, this injury usually isn't worrisome.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on webmd.com

When is it too late to drain a subungual hematoma?

The key is to ensure that the hematoma is not older than 48 hours. In most cases, the hematoma can be drained with a large needle without any complications. Follow up of patients is recommended to ensure that there is no infection and the hematoma has resolved.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Will blood under nail grow out?

Regardless of treatment the hematoma will eventually be resorbed by the body and a new nail will grow out. On average the nail takes 6 to 9 months to grow completely out. A complication to be aware of is damaging the cells that re-grows the nail (the nail matrix).

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on aocd.org

Why is my toenail black but hasn't fallen off?

The most common culprit for a black toenail is blood under the hard tissue. Damage to the end of the toe causes blood to leak through the nail bed and stain the keratin a dark color. This is also known as a subungual hematoma, or a bruise under the nail.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on sierrafootankle.com

Are bruised toenails permanent?

Minor bruised toenails may often heal on their own, with the discolored part of the nail slowly growing out. In more serious cases the nail may fall off. In general, we recommend giving our office a call so we can evaluate your condition and determine the best approach to heal the injury.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on sierrafootankle.com

What does a dead toenail look like?

How Can You Tell If Your Toenail Is Dead? Some indications that your toenail is dead can include: changes in nail color from pink to black. The affected nail may at first appear to look reddish, purple or brown before it finally turns black.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on jawspodiatry.com

Are black toenails bad?

Although it is very rare, a more serious cause of black toenails is malignant melanoma. Since early diagnosis and treatment of melanoma improves the chances for a good outcome, it is important that all black toenails be evaluated by a qualified foot and ankle surgeon to rule out this cause.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on foothealthfacts.org

How do I know if my toenail is black or melanoma?

When checking your nails for melanoma, dermatologists recommend looking for the following changes: A dark streak. This may look like a brown or black band in the nail — often on the thumb or big toe of your dominant hand or foot. However, this dark streak can show up on any nail.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on aad.org

How can I remove black toenail at home?

Vinegar has acetic acid proven to have antifungal properties. Diluted in water vinegar can be used as a foot soak. Soaking your feet in a vinegar foot soak daily can treat black toenail fungus. The ratio can be one part vinegar and two parts of water.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on skymd.com

Will I lose a black nail?

Mild cases of black toenail will simply grow out. If it is a more severe case where the toenail is raised, it is likely you will “lose” the toenail. That is the nail loosened by the pressure of the fluid will eventually shed over the next weeks or months.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on footfriend.co.uk

How do I know if I'm going to lose my toenail?

One of the first signs that you may lose your toenail is the darkening of the toenail due to blood collecting underneath. Eventually, the toenail may separate from the nail bed and become uncomfortable before it finally falls off. Do not rip off the toenail or tear off the piece that is detaching.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on gwapodiatry.com

What to do if blood is stuck under nail?

Get a paper clip, not a needle, and straighten it. Hold one end of the paper clip with a cloth so you don't burn your fingers, and heat the other end in a flame until it's red-hot. Now touch that hot tip to your nail, right where the blood is, to melt a hole. Don't push it, just touch it.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on nyp.org

When should I worry about a bruised toenail?

If blood under your toenail covers more than half of the nail area, you should go to your health care provider, urgent care or emergency room to drain the blood and relieve pressure under the nail. You should not try to drill or reduce pressure under your toenail on your own.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on bannerhealth.com

Will my nail fall off if it is bruised?

A bruised nail is painful and can take months before it looks normal again. In some cases, your nail may fall off — right away or weeks later.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on health.clevelandclinic.org

Does blood under nail need to be drained?

You may be able to relieve severe, throbbing pain by draining blood from under your nail. This procedure is not necessary and is not recommended if you are not having pain.

Takedown request   |   View complete answer on myhealth.alberta.ca