Toenails are meant to be clear and neutral-colored. The most common culprit for black toenails is actually blood under your nail. This happens when you stub your digit too hard or you drop something heavy on your foot. The damage creates mild bleeding that stains the underside of the keratin a dark color. This is particularly common with athletes and runners, since they can repeatedly bump their toes against the inside of their shoes and cause damage. In most cases, this is a mild issue and there aren’t any treatments for it.
Sometimes it is an uncomfortable issue because the blood pools under the nail and creates pressure. The only way to deal with this is to have an expert, like our team of specialists at Podiatry Associates, P.C., safely drain the fluid from under your nail. Whether the blood pools or not, though, the stain will stay dark until the keratin completely grows out. If you don’t remember injuring your toe, or the pain is intense, make an appointment to take care of the problem right away. Just call (303) 805-5156 to reach our Castle Pines, Parker, and Cherry Creek locations.
