What Does It Mean When You Have A Black Toenail?
Typically black toenails are not something that you need to worry about as they are usually caused by bruising or bleeding underneath the toenail. However, there are some occasional cases that are more serious like ingrown toenails and fungal infections. Here are some causes and preventative measures that you can take.
What are some causes?
If you have an ingrown toenail, this can lead to an infection, which can cause necrosis. This is when your cells or tissues die. If you have diabetes and low blood circulation in your feet, ingrown toenails are more susceptible happening.
When a fungal infection happens, your toenail may turn into a yellowish colour. This condition can be difficult to treat the longer you wait, so the earlier you tackle this issue, the better the outcome.
Subungual Hematoma
This is when your toe is bruising or bleeding underneath the nail. This can be caused by an injury that breaks blood vessels.
So how can you prevent black toenails?
There are various preventative measures that you can take to avoid black toenails:
Be mindful of where you walk. Wear slippers around the house to avoid stubbing your toe.
Wear properly fitted shoes. Make sure your shoes are not too tight and there is enough room for your toes to move around.
If you do have a fungal infection, speak to a chiropodist so that they can provide you with an anti-fungal medication.
At River Podiatry, our team is ready to serve and consult in order to help you safely run at all times. Set up an appointment today to speak with our team of trusted foot health professionals.
