Why is the side of my toenail black?

Are you concerned about your toenail turning black on the sides? Do not hit the panic button just yet. There are many possible causes of a blackened toenail. While some can be benign, others may warrant medical attention. In this article, we will explore everything from what causes discoloration to how it can be treated.

What Causes Black Toenails?

Your toenails- or fingernails, for that matter — attach themselves to your skin beneath them with tiny grooves called “nail folds.” When your nail sustains an injury, these structures get ruptured and allow blood or other fluids to seep through underneath, leading to discoloration.

But injury isn’t always at fault when one’s toe turns darker than usual (why soak in agony if unhurt?). A wide range of factors come into play:

Improper Fitting Shoes

Too tight shoes push against your toes (and/or feet), causing pressure buildup and eventual damage.

Fungal Nail Infection

A fungal infection occurs when fungi multiply under and around a person’s nails which often leads to darkening.

Stubbing Toenail

Sometimes stubbing a toe causing little visible bruising still traumatizes/ damages it internally.

Trauma / Fracture

Trauma sourced injuries are those where there hasn’t been any usage in excess or too-tight footwear but another object has impacted heavily enough; similar symptoms manifest breakages/chips as well.

How Can You Treat Discoloration Caused By Injury?

One simple method you could follow is using RICE therapy: Rest the area affected by reducing physical activity levels on that foot (but don’t spend months binge-watching Netflix active recovery speeds healing, hear?) , apply Ice packs intermittently throughout days , Compressing injured zone with bandages wrapped snugly ( gently ) and Elevating that leg above heart height.
Beyond that, some other factors may make it more advisable to see a doctor (sensible choice).

Self-Care Measures

Self-care measures could be the first course of action where the blackening toes not too severe (and isn’t causing much pain or spreading). Try following some simple steps:

Soaking your feet in Epsom salt.

Adding Epsom salts, vinegar, or tea tree oil into water for soaking softens nails often eradicating symptoms caused by dryness.

Apply an antibiotic cream.

One approach which works would apply a small amount of neosporin on that nail daily with gentle rubbing to treat any potential wound infection.

Consider purchasing larger shoes/sandals allowing your toes space & comfort while opting for Nail clippers trimmed back all affected areas.

Surgical Interventions

In worst case scenarios — injuries leading to extreme bleeding/bad fracture/numb toe-cellulitis-yadda yadda–culminating in surgery via one of 2 procedures:
– Partial (Ingrown Toenail Removal) – Surgeon removes only part affected toenail leaving existing ones intact usually carried out under local anaesthetic within hrs-daytime
– Total Nailbed Excision – As name suggests– Under general anesthesia complete surgical removal including surrounding tissue till full recovery time heals hair/delayed feeling sensation depends from person to person

How Can You Regrow Your Blackened Toenail?

Regrowth time = patience! After removing most (!) ingrown / dead nail fully protect freshly exposed toenail beneath using sponge-like materials , ointment treatments mostly prescribed .
At re-growth stage avoid participating physically demanding activities (
no Olympics try-outs just yet) as light exercise occasionally walking good booster.

Maintaining overall healthy lifestyle choices complemented through proper hygiene practices ensure there’s no repeated or excessive blackening after injury.

The Takeaway

If you are concerned about your toenails’ discoloration, it’s best to consult a medical expert. A darkened nail color might only signal some underlying health conditions that should be treated right away. Meanwhile, focus more on prevention by wearing sensible fitting shoes & avoiding said trauma-esque incidents (Prevention is better than cure) , adhering to hygiene best practices such as regularly trimming nails until signs of any further issues surface calling for prompt attention/ assistance from practitioners!

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