Caleb Foster
If you notice a bruise under your nail, it's important to know that it's not your nail that's bruised, but the tissue underneath. This is known as a subungual hematoma and can be caused by a hard impact to your finger or toe. While it might not seem like a big deal, it's important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. This is because the blood trapped under your nail can put pressure on your finger or toe nerves, causing pain and potentially leading to a bacterial infection.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Medical term | Subungual hematoma |
| Cause | Hard impact to finger or toe |
| Symptoms | Pain, bleeding under the nail, nail discoloration, pressure under the nail bed, nail sensitivity, separation of nail plate from nail bed |
| Treatment | Seek medical care within two days, simple draining procedure, over-the-counter pain relievers, ice, elevation |
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What You'll Learn
Subungual hematoma
A bruised nail is known as a subungual hematoma. This occurs when blood becomes trapped underneath the nail as a result of trauma, such as dropping a heavy object on your toe or finger. The blood puts pressure on the nail plate, causing pain and discoloration. Symptoms of a subungual hematoma include sudden pain, bleeding under the nail, nail discoloration, and pressure under the nail bed. The nail may look black and blue or black and purple. The nail may also be very tender to the touch.
If you experience any serious complications, such as intense pain, prolonged bleeding, or have a black or purple nail, see a healthcare provider promptly or go to your nearest emergency room. A healthcare provider can perform a simple draining procedure to relieve the pressure. However, if the trauma caused additional damage, such as a broken bone or deep cut, you will likely need further treatment and more time to heal.
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Bleeding under the nail
Blood or bruising under your nail is known as a subungual hematoma. This occurs when the blood vessels in your nail bed are injured and start to leak blood, which builds up underneath your nail plate. The blood has nowhere to go and pools, putting pressure on your nail plate and the nerves in your finger or toe, which causes pain and discoloration.
If you see blood or a bruise under your nail after an injury, seek medical care soon — within two days. Although it might seem like a minor injury, a nail bruise needs medical attention for several reasons. A healthcare provider can perform a simple draining procedure to relieve the pressure and give you relief. However, if the trauma caused additional damage, such as a broken bone or deep cut, you will likely need further treatment and more time to heal.
Basic wound care can be applied to take care of any immediate first aid needs. Put pressure on the area to slow the bleeding, clean the wound with soap and water, apply a bandage, and take an analgesic to help with pain if needed.
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Pain and discomfort
A bruise under the nail is known as a subungual hematoma. It is caused by a hard impact to your finger or toe, which bruises the tissue under the nail. The injury injures the blood vessels in your nail bed, causing them to leak blood, which builds up underneath the nail plate. This blood has nowhere to go, so it pools and puts pressure on your nail plate, causing pain and discoloration. The pain may be severe or throbbing, and the nail may be very tender to the touch. Even gentle pressure might hurt a lot.
If you see blood or a bruise under your nail after an injury, seek medical care soon – within two days. Although it might seem like no big deal, a nail bruise needs medical attention for several reasons. The pain you feel from a bruised nail isn’t just from the accident. “Blood trapped under your nail puts pressure on your finger or toe nerves,” explains Dr Capin.
If you notice a bruise under your nail, but you don’t remember hurting it, that’s a sign you should see your healthcare provider. When the injury first happens, you can take care of any immediate first aid needs. Basic wound care applies here: put pressure on the area to slow the bleeding if there is any, clean the wound with soap and water, apply a bandage, and take an analgesic to help with pain if needed.
A healthcare provider can perform a simple draining procedure to relieve the pressure and give you relief. But if the trauma caused additional damage – like a broken bone (bone fracture) or deep cut – you likely need further treatment and more time to heal.
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Discolouration
If you notice discolouration under your nail, it means that the tissue under your nail is bruised. This is known as a subungual hematoma. It is caused by an injury or pressure that damages the blood vessels in your nail bed, causing them to leak blood. The blood builds up underneath your nail plate, which is normally stuck to the tissue below it with no space between them. As a result, the blood has nowhere to go and pools, causing pain and discolouration.
Subungual hematomas rarely lead to complications, but they can develop bacterial infections, especially if the injury is severe and has damaged your bone. If you see blood or a bruise under your nail after an injury, it is important to seek medical care within two days. While it might not seem like a serious issue, a nail bruise needs medical attention. The pain from a bruised nail is caused by the pressure of blood trapped under your nail, which puts pressure on your finger or toe nerves.
If you notice discolouration or a bruise under your nail and you don't remember hurting it, this is also a sign that you should see a healthcare provider. When the injury first happens, you can take care of any immediate first aid needs. Basic wound care includes putting pressure on the area to slow the bleeding, cleaning the wound with soap and water, applying a bandage, and taking an analgesic to help with pain if needed.
A healthcare provider can perform a simple draining procedure to relieve the pressure and provide relief. However, if the trauma caused additional damage, such as a broken bone or deep cut, further treatment and more time to heal may be necessary. Symptoms of a bruised toenail or fingernail include severe or throbbing pain, nail discolouration (which may appear black-and-blue or black-and-purple), nail sensitivity, and separation of the nail plate from the nail bed due to the pressure of pooling blood.
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Treatment
If you have a bruise under your nail, it's important to seek medical attention within two days. This is because the blood trapped under your nail puts pressure on your finger or toe nerves, which can be very painful.
If you have a bruised nail, you can take care of any immediate first aid needs. Basic wound care applies here: put pressure on the area to slow the bleeding, clean the wound with soap and water, apply a bandage, and take an analgesic to help with pain if needed. If the wound is severe, a healthcare provider can perform a simple draining procedure to relieve the pressure. If the trauma caused additional damage, such as a broken bone or deep cut, you will likely need further treatment and more time to heal.
If you notice a bruise under your nail but don't remember hurting it, this could be a sign of an underlying health condition and you should see your healthcare provider.
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Frequently asked questions
It means that the tissue under your nail is bruised, not the nail itself. This is known as a subungual hematoma.
If you have a bruised nail, you should seek medical attention within two days. You can also take care of any immediate first aid needs by putting pressure on the area to slow the bleeding, cleaning the wound with soap and water, applying a bandage, and taking an analgesic to help with pain.
Symptoms of a bruised nail include pain, nail discoloration, nail sensitivity, and separation of the nail plate from the nail bed.
