Why is my toenail turning black underneath?
Black Toenail: Common Causes 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.
What do your toenails look like when you have cancer?
Dark areas near the cuticle of the nail (subungual lesions): These look like bruises under the nails, and are usually along the bottom edge of the nail, near the cuticle. These kinds of color changes can be seen in nail cancer (called melanoma) and can also be a side effect of some types of drugs used to treat cancer.
Can toenails indicate cancer?
Toenail melanoma is another name for subungual melanoma. It’s an uncommon form of skin cancer that develops underneath the fingernail or toenail. Subungual means “under the nail.”
What does melanoma look like under the toenail?
Subungual melanoma often starts as a brown or black streak under a toenail or fingernail. A person may mistake it for a bruise. Share on Pinterest A bruised nail, and dark streaks or stains on the nail with no known cause, may be signs of subungual melanoma.
Can toenail fungus black?
Fungal infections Fungal infections are another common problem that can cause black toenails to form. Typically, a fungal infection causes a white or yellowish discoloration. However, debris can build up near the infection, causing the nail to appear black.
Do black toenails go away?
If a black toenail is caused by an injury, the resulting spot from broken blood vessels will disappear once your nail grows out. Black toenail caused by trauma from an injury usually resolves on its own without treatment.
Does a black line on your nail mean cancer?
More seriously, a black line or lines on the nails can indicate the presence of melanoma, a dangerous form of skin cancer. Melanoma under a fingernail is known as subungual melanoma. One of the melanoma types is known as acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM).
Does toenail fungus turn black after death?
Melanomas need immediate, urgent evaluation. A toenail can also become discolored from fungal infections in the skin under and around the nail. Toes can turn black from a lack of circulation causing gangrene, which is death of body tissue.
What happens when your nail turned black?
It is common for a nail to turn black after an injury. The black or purple-black color is caused by blood under the nail and will go away as the injury heals. Black, brown, or purple discoloration under a nail that has not been injured may be caused by melanoma.
How do you cure a black toenail?
Over-the-counter ointments, creams, and polishes are usually effective. Severe cases may require a prescription antifungal treatment. If a black toenail is caused by an injury, the resulting spot from broken blood vessels will disappear once your nail grows out.
Is my black toenail caused by fungus?
Black toenails can be caused by a fungal infection, which is common in immuno-compromised patients, or they may indicate underlying melanoma (a malignant tumor consisting of dark-pigmented cells called melanocytes ).
What to do about your black toenails?
What you can do to cure your black toenail. Leave it alone. As long as your nail is not leaking blood around the edges, causing you pain or is suffering from an infection, one of the best options Have a Podiatrist drill your nail. Treating your ” subungual haematoma ” involves a Podiatrist or doctor drilling a small hole into the nail to relieve any pressure and See a doctor.
Can I still run with a black toenail?
Many runners are familiar with black toenails. While they can look alarming, most often they are not too painful and resolve on their own. It is usually okay to run with a black toenail, as long as you are wearing proper fitting shoes with adequate room in the toe box and thin,…
Why is there a black spot on my toe?
That unsightly black spot can be a small or large dot that appears on the nail bed of the toe or under the toenail. It could be a black toenail fungus or a collection of dried blood from a recent injury to the toe.