Sophia Delgado
A bruised nail, also known as a subungual haematoma, occurs when blood collects under the nail due to broken blood vessels. This can be caused by an injury, such as stubbing your toe or finger, or by wearing ill-fitting shoes. While some subungual haematomas heal on their own within a few weeks, others may require medical treatment, especially if there is severe pain or infection. In some cases, the affected nail may fall off on its own after several weeks, and a new nail can take anywhere from 2 to 6 months to fully regrow.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Subungual haematoma is the medical term for bleeding and bruising under the nail. |
| Cause | Trauma or injury to the nail unit, such as stubbing a toe or finger, or something heavy crushing the toes or fingers. |
| Symptoms | Intense pain, throbbing, discolouration (red, brown, blue, purple, black), and a large bruise under the nail may indicate a broken bone. |
| Treatment | Home remedies such as rest, ice, compression, elevation, and pain medication can help minor subungual haematomas heal within a few months. For more severe cases, medical treatments may be necessary, such as draining the blood, stitches, or removing the nail. |
| Prevention | Keep nails trimmed and avoid ill-fitting shoes. |
| Complications | Nail loss, disfigured nail growth, infection, and melanoma or skin cancer. |
| Healing Time | A new fingernail can regrow in as little as 8 weeks. A toenail may take up to 6-12 months to fully regrow. |
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What You'll Learn
- Bruised nails are often the result of accidents, like stubbing your toe
- A bruised nail is painful and can take months to look normal
- Bruised nails can lead to infections if not treated properly
- Large bruises under the nail may indicate a broken bone
- A bruised nail may require a doctor's visit for decompression
Bruised nails are often the result of accidents, like stubbing your toe
If you have a subungual hematoma, it is important to seek medical care soon, preferably within two days. While most cases will heal on their own within a few months, severe damage to the nail bed or unbearable pain may require medical treatment. Home remedies, such as resting, icing, applying compression, and elevation, can encourage healing and provide pain relief. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help reduce discomfort and swelling.
In some cases, the affected nail may fall off on its own, right away or several weeks later, as the pooled blood separates it from its bed. A new fingernail can regrow in as little as 8 weeks, while a new toenail may take up to 6 months to fully regrow. However, if there is serious nail matrix damage, the nail may not grow back at all or may grow back disfigured.
It is important to keep an eye out for signs of infection, such as fever, redness, swelling, or pain, as nail injuries can lead to infection if germs enter through the break in the nail or skin. Additionally, a large bruise under the nail could indicate a broken bone, and X-rays are important to diagnose any underlying fractures. Therefore, it is recommended to seek medical attention if you experience severe pain, bleeding that does not stop, or any other concerning symptoms.
Overall, bruised nails from accidents like stubbing your toe can take time to heal and may require medical attention, especially if the nail falls off or there are signs of infection or other complications.
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A bruised nail is painful and can take months to look normal
A bruised nail, or subungual haematoma, occurs when blood collects under the nail, often due to trauma or injury. This can be the result of a single major incident, such as dropping a weight on the toe, or multiple minor traumas, such as wearing ill-fitting shoes. The blood causes pressure to build up under the nail, resulting in intense pain and throbbing.
Subungual haematomas can be extremely painful, but they usually aren't dangerous and can be treated at home with rest, ice, and over-the-counter pain medication. However, if the pain is severe or lasts for more than a few days, it is recommended to seek medical care for drainage and additional treatment. In some cases, a doctor may need to remove the nail or use stitches to repair the nail bed.
While a bruised nail can be very painful, it's important to note that it is usually the tissue under the nail that is bruised, not the nail itself. The nail may fall off immediately or weeks after the injury, and a new fingernail can regrow in as little as 8 weeks. However, toenails may take longer to regrow, sometimes taking up to 6 months or more for the nail to fully grow out.
During the healing process, it is crucial to keep an eye out for signs of infection, such as fever, redness, swelling, or pain. If any of these symptoms occur, it is important to seek medical attention. Additionally, if there is no visible injury but there is discoloration under the nail, it is still important to consult a healthcare provider as it could indicate a separate health condition that requires treatment.
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Bruised nails can lead to infections if not treated properly
A bruised nail, also known as a subungual hematoma, occurs when blood collects and becomes trapped under the nail. This is usually caused by trauma or injury to the nail, such as slamming your finger in a door or dropping a heavy object on your toe. While subungual hematomas typically heal without treatment, they can lead to infections if not treated properly.
When a bruised nail occurs, the blood vessels under the nail break open and leak, causing blood to collect and put pressure on the nail plate. This can result in intense pain and throbbing, as well as discoloration of the nail. In most cases, the trapped blood will eventually be reabsorbed, and the nail will return to normal within a few months.
However, if the injury is severe or left untreated, there is a risk of developing a bacterial infection. Complications are more likely if the injury damages the bone or nail bed. Symptoms of an infection may include fever, redness, warmth, swelling, and significant pain. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
To prevent infections and promote healing, it is recommended to rest the affected digit, use a cool pack, keep the hand or foot elevated, and apply compression. Over-the-counter pain relievers can also help reduce discomfort and swelling. In more severe cases, medical treatment may be necessary. For example, a doctor may need to remove a severely injured nail or use stitches for deep cuts.
It is important to note that a bruised nail may fall off right away or weeks after the injury. If your nail comes off, there is an increased risk of infection as there is now an opening on your finger or toe. Therefore, it is crucial to keep the area clean and free of germs to prevent any potential infections.
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Large bruises under the nail may indicate a broken bone
A bruised nail, or subungual haematoma, is usually the result of an injury caused by stubbing a toe or finger. It is the blood vessels under the nail that get bruised, not the nail itself. The injury causes blood to collect and become trapped under the nail, resulting in intense pain and throbbing.
If the bruise under the nail is large, it could indicate a broken bone. A small bone break in the finger or toe can be hard to spot without medical tests, and an X-ray is often required to check for fractures. Dr Capin states that "many people don't realise their injury could result in a broken finger or toe as well. X-rays are, therefore, important. If you have a large bruise under your nail, there's a good chance you have a broken bone, also." Untreated fractures can heal incorrectly, causing long-term pain and interfering with the natural function of the finger or toe.
If the bone is broken, a doctor may need to remove the nail plate to repair the tissues underneath and support proper healing. This can involve a procedure called nail trephination, where a small hole is made in the nail to drain the blood and relieve pain and pressure. The area may then be wrapped with a bandage and will continue to drain for a few days. In some cases, a wire may need to be placed in the finger to keep the bone in place.
It is important to seek medical attention for a bruised nail, especially if there is severe pain or bleeding that does not stop. Home remedies such as resting, icing, compression, and elevation can encourage healing, but severe cases may require medical treatment.
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A bruised nail may require a doctor's visit for decompression
A bruised nail, also known as a subungual haematoma, occurs when blood collects and becomes trapped under the nail. This is usually the result of trauma or injury to the nail, such as stubbing your toe or finger, or something heavy crushing your toe or finger. The blood trapped under the nail can cause intense pain and throbbing due to the pressure exerted on the finger or toe nerves.
While minor subungual haematomas can be managed with home remedies such as rest, ice, compression, and elevation, more severe cases may require medical treatment. One such medical treatment is decompression, also known as trephination. Decompression is performed by a doctor and involves draining the blood from under the nail to relieve the pressure and pain. This procedure should be done within the first 48 hours of the injury, as blood that is not drained within this time frame will clot, leading to unnecessary prolonged pain.
There are two main methods of performing decompression: cautery and needle. In cautery, a doctor uses a heated wire (electrocautery device) or carbon laser to burn a hole in the nail. The heated tip of the wire is cooled by contact with the haematoma to prevent injury to the nail bed. In the needle method, a doctor uses a needle to make a hole in the nail, after which the area is bandaged and may continue to drain for up to three days.
While decompression is generally a safe procedure, there is a small risk of infection in the residual haematoma. If there is bleeding under a large area of the nail surface, the nail bed may be injured, and the doctor may need to remove the entire nail and use stitches to repair the nail bed. Therefore, it is important to seek medical attention for a bruised nail, especially if there is severe pain, bleeding that does not stop, signs of infection, or if the injury affects a baby or child.
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Frequently asked questions
A bruised nail is usually the result of an accident or trauma, like stubbing your toe or finger. It is often very painful and can take months to heal. The medical term for a bruised nail is a subungual haematoma, which occurs when blood collects and becomes trapped under the nail.
If you have a small bruise and the pain is mild, it will usually heal without treatment. You can try home remedies such as resting, icing, applying compression, and elevation to encourage healing. If you have a large bruise, severe pain, or additional injuries, you should seek medical care for drainage and additional treatment.
In some cases, a bruised nail may fall off right away or several weeks after the injury. A new fingernail can regrow in as little as 8 weeks, while a new toenail may take about 6 months to fully regrow.
