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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Nail To Turn Black After An Injury?

Hi, I have injured my nail recently and now it become black at the edge. I have looked up online it could be something called subungual hematoma, should be less than 25% of the finger. Could you please kindly advise regarding to this condition Symptoms: Just pain when apply pressure on it; not painful if not touching it; no swollen; white? slight grey pus; no fever
Mon, 21 Sep 2015
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General & Family Physician,  's  Response
Hello,
Thanks for posting in HCM.
After injury to nail, as you correctly said there occurs subungual hematoma formation as the damaged capillaries beneath the nail are damaged and they spill the blood out. Usually any bleeding under nail looks black in color.
As the wound gets healed, the blood spilled under the nail will be absorbed by the surrounding tissue and it will go away with time. It will take around 10-15 days or some more to completely get the blackening under nails to disappear.
Do not be worried about it. It will pain if you press there because under nail there is no space and bleeding has taken up some more space and hence pressure is already increased in the closed space. If you press more it will pain more.
So do not press it. Keep it away from any more injuries.
If pus increases you made need antibiotic course as it could have got infected. Kindly consult your doctor if does not resolved.
I hope I answered your question satisfactorily. If you have any more query kindly write back to me, will be happy to help you out.
Thank you.
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What Causes Nail To Turn Black After An Injury?

Hello, Thanks for posting in HCM. After injury to nail, as you correctly said there occurs subungual hematoma formation as the damaged capillaries beneath the nail are damaged and they spill the blood out. Usually any bleeding under nail looks black in color. As the wound gets healed, the blood spilled under the nail will be absorbed by the surrounding tissue and it will go away with time. It will take around 10-15 days or some more to completely get the blackening under nails to disappear. Do not be worried about it. It will pain if you press there because under nail there is no space and bleeding has taken up some more space and hence pressure is already increased in the closed space. If you press more it will pain more. So do not press it. Keep it away from any more injuries. If pus increases you made need antibiotic course as it could have got infected. Kindly consult your doctor if does not resolved. I hope I answered your question satisfactorily. If you have any more query kindly write back to me, will be happy to help you out. Thank you.