Noah Sinclair
Pain under your nails can be caused by a number of conditions. One of the most common is a subungual hematoma, which is when blood pools under the nail plate, causing pain and discolouration. Another cause could be paronychia, a skin infection that occurs around the nails, or onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection that occurs under the nails.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Bleeding under the nail | Blood pools below the nail plate, causing pain and discolouration |
| Bruising under the nail | Blood pools below the nail plate, causing pain and discolouration |
| Paronychia | A skin infection around the nails caused by bacteria, yeast, or fungi |
| Onychomycosis | A fungal nail infection caused by different types of yeasts or moulds that live in the environment |
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What You'll Learn
Subungual hematoma: bleeding and bruising under the nail
Pain under your nails can be caused by a number of issues. One of the most common is a subungual hematoma, which is bleeding and bruising under the nail. This occurs when blood leaks and builds up underneath your nail plate, causing pain and discolouration. Normally, your nail plate and the tissues just below them (nail bed) are stuck to each other, with no space between them. So, when there is bleeding under your nail plate, the blood has nowhere to go. It pools and puts pressure on your nail plate, causing pain and discolouration. When blood pools below your nail plate, it may look black-and-blue like a bruise you’d see on your skin. The colour may change over time as the injury heals.
Another cause of pain under your nails is paronychia, which is a skin infection that occurs around your nails. This infection can be caused by bacteria, a type of yeast called candida, and fungi — all of which can get into your skin as a result of biting your nails, picking a hangnail, trimming or pushing back the cuticle, and over-exposing your nails to water. The main characteristic of paronychia is a painful, red, swollen area around the nail (usually at the cuticle), but it can sometimes involve nail discolouration and pus-filled blisters, especially if it is a bacterial infection.
Fungal nail infections can also cause pain under your nails. These infections are caused by different types of yeasts or moulds that live in the environment, and they tend to get into your nail through cracks in your nail or the surrounding skin. This is different from paronychia in that onychomycosis actually occurs under (vs. around) your nails. If you're wondering why the side of your fingernail hurts when pressed, your discomfort might be the result of onychomycosis.
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Paronychia: a skin infection around the nails
Pain under the nails can be caused by a skin infection called paronychia. This infection is caused by bacteria, yeast, or fungi entering the skin through nail-biting, picking a hangnail, trimming or pushing back the cuticle, or over-exposing your nails to water. Paronychia is characterised by a painful, red, swollen area around the nail, usually at the cuticle. It can also cause nail discolouration and pus-filled blisters, especially if it is a bacterial infection.
Paronychia is different from onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection that occurs under the nails. Onychomycosis can be caused by different types of yeasts or moulds that enter the nail through cracks in the nail or the surrounding skin. It can result in the nail becoming discoloured (usually yellow), thick, and more likely to crack or break.
Another possible cause of pain under the nails is a subungual hematoma, which is when blood leaks and builds up underneath the nail plate. The nail plate and the tissues below it are usually stuck together, with no space between them. When there is bleeding under the nail plate, the blood has nowhere to go and puts pressure on the nail plate, causing pain and discolouration. Subungual hematomas usually go away without causing major problems, but it is important to seek medical care if there is any doubt about the severity of the injury.
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Onychomycosis: a fungal nail infection
Pain under your nails can be caused by a number of issues. One cause is a subungual hematoma, which is when blood leaks and builds up underneath your nail plate. This can be caused by an injury to your hand or foot, and the blood has nowhere to go so it pools and puts pressure on your nail plate, causing pain and discolouration. Another cause of pain under your nails is a fungal nail infection called onychomycosis. This is caused by different types of yeasts or moulds that live in the environment and get into your nail through cracks in your nail or the surrounding skin. The nail can become discoloured (usually yellow), thick, and more likely to crack or break. A third cause of pain under your nails is paronychia, which is a skin infection that occurs around your nails and can be caused by bacteria, yeast, or fungi. It is characterised by a painful, red, swollen area around the nail (usually at the cuticle), and can sometimes involve nail discolouration and pus-filled blisters.
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Yellow nail syndrome: discolouration, thickening, cracking and breaking
Pain under the nails can be caused by a number of issues, including subungual hematomas, paronychia, and onychomycosis.
Subungual hematomas are caused by bleeding and bruising under the nail plate, which can occur as a result of trauma to the nail. The blood pools and puts pressure on the nail plate, causing pain and discolouration. This type of injury usually goes away without causing major problems, but it is important to seek medical care if there is any doubt about the severity of the injury.
Paronychia is a skin infection that occurs around the nails and can be caused by bacteria, yeast, or fungi. It is characterised by a painful, red, swollen area around the nail, usually at the cuticle. Paronychia can also cause nail discolouration and pus-filled blisters, especially if it is a bacterial infection.
Onychomycosis is a fungal nail infection that occurs under the nails, as opposed to around them. It can be caused by different types of yeasts or moulds that enter the nail through cracks in the nail or surrounding skin. This condition can result in the nail becoming discoloured (usually yellow), thick, and more likely to crack or break.
Yellow nail syndrome is a specific type of nail discolouration that is characterised by thickening, cracking, and breaking of the nails. It is often associated with underlying medical conditions, such as lymphatic or respiratory problems. While the exact cause of yellow nail syndrome is unknown, it is believed to be related to a decrease in nail growth and a change in the composition of the nails. Treatment for yellow nail syndrome typically involves addressing the underlying medical condition and may include medications to improve nail health.
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Nail injuries: trauma to the nail
Pain under the nails can be caused by a number of issues, including injury, infection, and fungus.
Nail trauma can be caused by a blow to the nail, or by closing the finger or toe in a door or drawer. This kind of trauma commonly results in blood under the nail, a condition called subungual hematoma. Nails can also be accidentally torn or split, or a splinter can get under the nail. Repeated trauma to toenails, caused by ill-fitting shoes, can lead to deformities in the nails. The deformities may resemble a fungal infection; nails can be thickened or discoloured and can lift away from the nail bed, which causes cosmetic concerns. Habits such as nail biting and cuticle biting can also cause trauma to the nails.
If the trauma to the nail injures the nail matrix (the tissue inside the cuticle at the base of the nail where new nail is formed), a ridge or split can develop. If the injury includes the base of the nail, some cosmetic changes may be permanent. Fingernails usually regrow completely in about two months, and toenails take about four months.
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Frequently asked questions
This could be a sign of a fungal nail infection, known as onychomycosis, which occurs under the nails. It can be caused by different types of yeasts or moulds that live in the environment and get into your nail through cracks in your nail or the surrounding skin.
This could be a sign of paronychia, a skin infection that occurs around your nails. It is caused by bacteria, yeast or fungi and can be the result of biting your nails, picking a hangnail, trimming or pushing back the cuticle, and over-exposing your nails to water.
This could be a sign of a subungual hematoma, which is when blood pools below your nail plate, causing pain and discolouration.
