The toe turns black what to do. Why is my toenail blackened and sore? How to get rid of blackness.

25.08.2019 Complications

Most women have seen their toenails turn black. But why this happens in some cases, not everyone understands. The reason should always be known to make it easier to cope with such a phenomenon and keep beautiful fingers.

Causes of blackening of nails

There are several reasons why the nail plate can change its color. Some of them are internal, others come from the outside. These latter are the easiest to prevent.

In Central America, many peoples have used the same words for "hand" and for the fifth. In addition, the words "man" and the number twenty are the same, as most people name only 20 fingers and toes. But what exactly is a person who has redundant fingers or toes on their hands or feet? At least the Mesoamerican peoples seem to have thought about it. In the images at Teotihuacan, Monte Alban and Palenque, divine figures with six toes or toes appear over and over again.

This was probably especially true of the dead, burial 13, which lay under the floor of Room 33. Anthropologist Carrianne Morden of Eastern New Mexico University was able to reconstruct from the bones obtained that the man should have worn six toes on his right foot.

External factors

Blackness of toenails is often affected reasons that a woman could simply avoid, since they are transient and are not associated with the internal state of the body.

The blackening of the nail plate can be due to various internal and external reasons.

Transient reasons:

This is one of the richest burials in the entire settlement - and one of the earliest. The dead person may have belonged to the circle of the constituent elite who moved to the Chaco Corner of Cannes in the early eighth century. On the other hand, the left five-armed leg is empty.

The sixth head, which was buried in room 326, was probably highly prized during her lifetime. She was lying next to another person, carefully placed on a woven rug. In the third case, a young man or a young woman, the original burial is not clear. But at least two of the Chaco's three six-foot canyons received special attention after their death and gave them a special kind of burial.

  • an injury to the plate or a bruise of a finger leads to rupture of small vessels, and blood clots accumulate under the nails, which, when coagulated, gives the plate a dark color;
  • tight shoes put pressure on the toes, which rest against them. This is another reason why blood vessels are injured;
  • among the factors of blackening of nails, their interaction with chemicals is also called, when a woman uses low-quality care products for plates, or household preparations. Substances penetrate the pores of the nail, modifying its color;
  • when the blackness on the plate is accompanied by its fragility and delamination, the doctor suspects a nail fungus or even the entire foot. It is the darkening that indicates the neglect of the problem.


The fungus can cause deformation and blackening of nails.

Once all described external causes will be eliminated, the nail plate will gradually acquire a healthy colorif internal factors do not interfere.

Great enthusiasm for hands and feet. Three incidents among 96 known dead from the entire settlement may seem unimportant. However, with 3.1 percent, six-headed individuals are significantly higher than the current native population of the United States, with only two children with extra toes or toes per 100 births.

That we, as a rule, have five fingers, on the one hand, is a legacy of evolution. Hundreds of millions of years ago, there were also fish lungs with seven or eight so-called rays, as biologists mainly call fingers and toes. But at the end of five. Why, nobody knows so well. However, the number of fingers and toes is at the heart of our ten-based numerical system.

Internal reasons

If there is no external effect on the toes, then the doctor will look for the answer to the question "why do the toenails of women turn black". The patient will have to undergo an examination to find the causehidden inside her.

Causes of blackening of the nail, provoked by internal diseases:

Whether they were five or six, the residents of Chaco Canyon showed a lot of enthusiasm for the arms and legs. Everywhere on the walls, they made impressions - both in their homes and on the walls of the canyon. Faced with nearly 800 famous representations, the foot is one of the most frequently represented objects in valley art.

Hexagonal arms and legs often appear next to specific spots. For example, in room 28, located in the immediate vicinity of room 33, with two special burials from the foundation, a six-legged left foot left an imprint at a height of about 110 centimeters. The outer wall of the Kiva in space three, which served solemn purposes, is decorated with hand and footprints, including a six-finger hand print.



Hereditary factors may be to blame for the fact that a woman has weak nails and fragile vessels under them. The slightest pressure on the fingers will definitely lead to injury

This also includes a predisposition to short-term changes in pigmentation;

Sandals with extra toe space. Additional toes also left their marks in the shoes of the settlement. The most popular model has always been the sandal. But instead of evenly curved sides, some specimens have a bulge on the outside where the sixth toe will be found in most cases.

And not only were real sandals available with room for an extra toe - also models in stone or wood, which probably had ritual significance, went into the extra-wide version. The same applies to small ceramic foot sleeves. Of the twelve known as Chaco Ions, with individual toes, half of the ceramic feet have six toes.

  • Another reason for the blackening of the plate on the legs can be a woman's allergy to varnish. This is due not so much to the quality of the cosmetic product as to the reaction of the body, which is sensitive to any chemical preparations;
  • It is especially important to be diagnosed by a doctor if diseases are a factor in the blackening of nails. internal organs. A woman may still not feel the disease, but the body is already beginning to signal about liver problems, gastrointestinal tract, the cardiovascular system;
  • Diabetes mellitus causes black nails because it affects the condition blood vessels (and not only on the fingers, but throughout the body).

Blood under the influence of the disease changes its density, which is why microcirculation is disturbed. Poor blood flow leads to bruising under the plate. Due to poor circulation in diabetics, the nail grows into the soft tissues of the finger.

If, perhaps, there is no divine either, so the six-foot Chaco Canyon probably enjoyed at least special status. Polydactyly, as the appearance of extra toes or toes may medically be hereditary. “The sixth human birth in connection with the dead from space 33 may be a fictional ancestor,” the researchers suggested in their essay in the journal American Antiquity, so to speak, as a quasi-divine heritage.

All people must die, that's for sure. But what exactly is happening is not known to doctors and researchers in every detail. Undoubtedly, experienced healthcare professionals can watch the patient when it comes to the end. One might even suggest that my palliative doctor, like Dr. Joseph Hell, is a kind of biological program for dying: Why shouldn't die as naturally as birth? Finally, it is provided by nature, and in both cases messengers and physiological mechanisms present in the body are present in the body. "Death should not be a battle, but a peaceful walk."

Fungus becomes a concomitant disease, for which glucose released with sweat is a fertile environment for development;


  • Due to various injuries of the nail plate, tissues under it, blood vessels, benign tumors sometimes develop - hemangiomas. They are characterized by proliferation of blood vessels through which blood flows, and it acquires a darker color.

This is what gives the color to the nail on the fingers. These neoplasms are accompanied by severe pain., but to finally make sure there is a tumor, you should press on the nail. In this case, he should turn white, which will be a signal for a serious examination.

The dying desire to accompany. Gian Domenico Boracio, one of Europe's most important palliative care physicians, calls empathy helping the mortal word “loving omission,” namely the refusal of all possible and possible medical interventions. The death process may take longer or less, the constitution, existing diseases and the environment may also have an impact, but some characteristic signs and stations can be observed very often.

In the last days before death, many people sleep a lot, are boring, manifest themselves clearly in themselves. These are the first signs of the onset of dying: the body speeds up metabolism. Laboratory values \u200b\u200bof blood and urine deteriorate. Professor Christoph Ostgate is in charge of the Palliative Station of the Erlangen University Hospital.

When the toenails of women of any age turn black, only a doctor can answer more reliably why this happens.

It is in his competence to identify internal factors lurking in the patient's body. The sooner the reason is established, the easier it is to maintain the integrity of the nail plate. and give her back a beautiful look.

The organism is programmed: no longer built or maintained, but dismantling is now foreseen. Most dying people do not want to eat or drink. The brain pours out certain messengers that are part of the stress cycle: they are hungry and thirsty. In hospitals, the probes that feed the nutrient solution are usually removed as well. Even on fluid intake, medical specialists: Simple dehydration is beneficial for the dying, because only then the brain pours out other messengers: they soothe and relieve pain, these are bodies containing opium substances, the so-called endogenous opiates, says Joseph Ad. Relatives are often very anxious then - they often require a tube and artificial nutrition.

Is blackening dangerous

Some people perceive a blackened nail as a cosmetic defect. If it is not accompanied by pain, then they do not pay much attention, hoping that everything will go away very quickly by itself.

Although here you need to consider the reasons that led to the color change - many of them should be eliminated with a medication... And the absence of painful symptoms is not yet a sign of a harmless defect.

Professor Christoph Ostgate, Head of Palliative Medicine at the University Hospital Erlangen, knows this: Relatives are often very insecure because they think that we will starve from the patient or die of thirst, but hunger does not appear at this last stage of our life is an integral part of our work at a palliative station that mediates the family. Applying fluid, food, or oxygen often causes pain. Even doing the laundry or moving around can mean pacifying stress.

The stomach and intestines are closed by the body, the kidneys no longer bleed and no urine is produced. Since the blood is no longer cleared in the kidneys, metabolic debris builds up in it. Result: toxins paralyze the brain - the patient becomes unconscious at some point.

If there is no pain, but only blackening

Even if you know why toenails turn black in women in each case, any factor must be taken seriouslythat led to this (despite the fact that the consequence is not accompanied by pain).

Causes of blackening of the nail plate, which are not accompanied by pain:

  • For example, the development of a fungus at first may not manifest itself as a pain syndrome.
  • Vessels that have burst under the pressure of tight shoes are most often painless.
  • When diseases of internal organs become the cause of blackness, naturally, there will be no pain in the area of \u200b\u200bpigmented nails.
  • Allergic manifestations are also not marked by pain.

Each of these situations seems harmless, because it is not accompanied by pain. Although this opinion is wrong - blackness of the nail already indicates a failure in the system.

Blood comes off the arms and legs. In the last hours before death, hands and feet are cold, blood recedes. The circulation concentrates on the most important organs of the body: the lungs, heart and brain. This centralization of blood circulation is visible: the nails become bluish and the legs and lower legs collect the collected blood that is not transported back. This gives the characteristic spots.

In the last hour before death, the face is very pale, often around the lips and nose. This marked "triangle of death" is very common and is a typical sign of impending death. Also, movements, plucking of sheets, movement of legs are often observed.

It doesn't matter what its scale is - either the problem lies in the internal organs, or it touched only one toe, but inattention to such a defect can have serious consequences.

Most often, it is not just the nail that turns black - the blood vessels burst.

The larger the hematoma, the more difficult it is for it to resolve on its own. If an infection also gets there, then serious inflammation cannot be avoided.... The pain that has arisen in this case is already a sign of a neglected problem, which may have more complex consequencesthan a flaked nail.

Trembling breathing has been known for centuries as a sign of impending death - the bronchi are filled with mucus. Breathing is still a regular part of a dying person, but there is often a seething noise with each breath. This is because the dying person can no longer cough and swallow, and the throat and bronchial tubes become filled with mucus. This puts more stress on the environment, for the care team and family. often ask us about sucking this slime. but we know the rattle will keep coming back after 10 minutes or a quarter of an hour. and We try to make it clear to the family that suction is a greater burden than rumbling oneself.

If there is pain

As mentioned above, if pain appears under a black nail over time, this indicates the development of an inflammation focus due to the fact that an infection has got under the plate.

After rupture of blood vessels under the nail, a large number of blood clots can accumulatewhich, if not cleaned out, can lead to the development of benign neoplasms.

Important: care, touch, safety

Dry mucous membranes should be moistened. Heavy breathing through the mouth dries out the mucous membranes - a wet smear is a slight relief. For although the patient is unconscious, doctors assume that dying people feel when they are being cared for. Safety at this stage is important to play with the touch, familiar music. Talking, praying, reading, singing, caressing, and hugging can also help a dying person.

According to many palliative doctors and doctors, the dramatic struggle of death among mass workers or very old people is not the rule, most die peacefully: there are, of course, exceptions - people who can become very anxious as the person changes a lot, screams, and also a shortage air, Or vomiting, but we can do many things with pain relievers and sedatives, so that life-giving life does not become a painful struggle to die.

When unpleasant sensations appear, the not blackened nail hurts - such symptoms respond to soft tissues and nerve endings placed under the plate.

This means that the reasons why a woman's nails turn black affected precisely these areas on her legs.

So why are there severe pains?

The reasons for the appearance of pain:

Consolation through a dignified goodbye

The dead are bathed in many cultures and dressed again. It's not just a ritual: Often still empty bladder and the intestines, the sphincter no longer has tension when the muscle relaxes into death. Washing and cooking the dead can be very comforting for relatives as a final act of leaving. Some people prefer this when nursing is doing the job.

Dangerous feet in diabetes are visible with different signs. The most important signs of the coming diabetic foot are. These symptoms must be clarified by a doctor. The same applies to cases of injury or even foot ulcers. The claw formation is susceptible to lift the forefoot when walking on inadequate, so they often stumble their feet. The stretch of the leg when walking changes. Thus, the pressure is concentrated when walking on the forefoot. Horny discs may form, which in turn press against tissue.

  1. Even a minor injury to the finger will be accompanied by pain, because there was a bruise (i.e., a mechanical effect on the tissue).
  2. In advanced stages, the fungus penetrates into soft tissues, eating them away.
  3. Diabetes mellitus is "not satisfied" with blackness alone - when the nail grows into the flesh of the finger, it naturally causes pain.
  4. In benign tumors, vascular proliferation also occurs in soft tissues, and it is so painful that these symptoms cannot be ignored.

Any pain is already a danger.

If you do not take measures in time, you can be left not only without a nail, but also without a sore finger. or even feet. In some cases, there is a risk of getting soft tissue gangrene.



To remove deformed or blackened nails, you should consult a doctor.

How to get rid of blackness

One wave of the "magic wand" does not eliminate the blackness from the plate (unless you paint your nails with black varnish). It will take some time for the color to change.



Diseases of the nail plate must be eradicated by medication (sprays, ointments, powders).

Here you should also pay attention to where the spot itself is located.

  • If it is located directly in the structure of the nail (i.e., the pigmentation of some of its areas is changed), then until a new clean plate grows, the blackness will not disappear.
  • If the nail is tinted with a hematoma underneath, there are a number of measures you can take to help the blood clots dissolve.



Necessary measures for resorption of blood under nail plate:

  1. If there was a bruise, then the first step is to put ice on the finger to reduce the bruise.
  2. It is advisable to immediately ensure the outflow of blood from the leg by lifting it up.
  3. To stop subungual bleeding, reduce pain and relieve inflammation, an emulsion of ricinol or diluted bodyagi powder applied to the problem finger will help.
  4. Compresses with demixide, as well as heparin ointment (or based on arnica), will also help to quickly get rid of blackness.
Dimexide is a remedy that will help you quickly get rid of black nails.
  • As for the disease of internal organs, fungus, diabetes mellitus, the nail will remain black until the root cause is eliminated. In other words - until the appropriate treatment is carried out.
  • It is more difficult with neoplasms - finger tissues are involved. Perhaps the problem cannot be solved without surgery.

Whatever the reason why women's toenails turn black, it is not necessary to eliminate the defect by cosmetic means... Medical treatment should be selected by a doctor who will initially make sure what factors led to pigmentation.

Is self-medication always acceptable

At home treatment should be carried out only on the advice of a doctor... It is not worth turning into a traditional healer, because a woman may not know the exact reason why her nails suddenly turn black on her feet.

Only in the case of injury or tight shoes is it allowed to apply a number of measures described above in order to prevent the development of a large hematoma.

But even in this situation, it is necessary to see a doctor in order to make sure that everything goes without consequences. In addition, the injury can be quite serious, and then inflammation will develop, as a result of which the plate will begin to move away from the soft tissues.

In no case can you remove it yourself, so as not to infect. After applying a soft bandage with anesthetic, you must immediately go to the surgeon's appointment.

Everything a woman will need at home, - do not load the leg, on whose finger a black nail appeared.



Lemon helps to remove blackness on the nails.

In the case of exposure to the plates of low-quality varnish or chemicals, it is enough for a woman to whiten her nails using, for example, lemon juice.

Prevention of blackening of nails

So that you don't have to face a problem in life, how to get rid of dark spots on plates, you should understand why the toenails of women turn black in order to prevent this from happening in the future.



Preventive measures protect nails from fungus and subungual hemorrhage.

Preventive measures are so important here.



Same important is the woman's care to maintain general immunity, which will help the body to cope with any diseases and problems.

Watch your health and take care of yourself, dear women!

Why does blackening or thickening of the nail appear, in detail in the video:

If the blackening of the nail is associated with a fungal disease. Details in the video:

How to Treat Black Nails? The answer in the video:

Blackening of the toe is an ailment that more and more people face, regardless of lifestyle and hygiene standards. Stating the fact of blackened toes, it is impossible to independently diagnose, since this manifestation is a symptom of several diseases. There are a number of possible reasons blackening of the toes, among which both infectious and mechanical injuries are distinguished. An accurate diagnosis should be made by a doctor based on laboratory data.

Causes of blackening

Black toes can become black for various reasons. This may be due to previous injuries, fungal infections and other diseases. Doctors identify several main reasons for darkening of the nail on one or more fingers:

  • Predisposition. Often, the cause of the appearance of black pigmentation is the hereditary predisposition of the body to any disease. In this case, it is recommended to find out which of the relatives suffered from a similar ailment.
  • Fungal infection. Nail fungus is a contagious disease that can affect the nails to the deepest layers of the nail plate. As the disease progresses, blackening of the fingers occurs.
  • Liver disease.
  • Heavy chronic diseases, especially diabetes mellitus.
  • Injury received. Following an injury to a toe, proper wound care should be taken immediately. If the bruise is not severe, a black hematoma (bruise) forms under the transparent layer of the nail plate, which will disappear over time on its own.

In addition to the main ones, there are many additional reasons why the toes turn black. These include: melanonychia, benign tumors and other ailments, the treatment of which should take place under the strict supervision of a physician.

Symptoms of possible diseases



If your toes are blackened not due to bruising or other mechanical damage, but due to a developing disease, it will be difficult to find out what exactly caused the appearance of pigmentation. In this case, it is worth considering various symptoms, manifested with the development of any disease in the body.

Orthopedic surgeon Professor Dikul Valentin Ivanovich:
"It is known that for the treatment of joints there are special insoles, splints, correctors and operations that are prescribed by doctors. But we will not talk about them, but about those medicines that you can use yourself and at home ..."

Treatment methods


Everyone should know what to do in certain situations with blackened nails before visiting a doctor.

  • Mechanical injury. In case of bruised or injured toenail, it is necessary to ensure complete rest, lie down so that the bruised area is above the head. Subsequently, a consultation with a traumatologist is required. As the injury heals, it is important to wear loose shoes (preferably open), not to load the injured leg, to prevent the occurrence of infections (bandage the area or seal it with a plaster). For pain relief and disinfection, your doctor may recommend appropriate pain relieving / anti-inflammatory drugs.
  • Diabetes. In diabetes mellitus, blackening of the nails is usually observed as a result of an impaired blood circulation or infection with a fungal infection. Fungal diseases in people suffering diabetes mellitus, are much more common than in healthy people - this is due to metabolic disorders in the body. At the first appearance of blackening, you must consult a doctor.
  • Wearing tight shoes. Wearing uncomfortable shoes is not good - only harm. One of the consequences of wearing tight, tight or poor quality shoes is blackening of the toe or toenail. As a rule, in this case, no treatment is required, the main thing is to exclude further wearing of bad shoes.
  • Hemangioma. A neoplasm that appears under the nail plate, which contributes to the blackening of the nail, is called hemangioma. It is accompanied by discomfort and severe pain. If a tumor is detected, surgical intervention is necessary: \u200b\u200bcomplete removal of the nail followed by a course of therapy during postoperative recovery. With timely intervention, the damaged nail is replaced with a healthy one.
  • Gastrointestinal disorders. A black nail with a greenish tint is a sign of abnormalities in the stomach. It is necessary to conduct appropriate laboratory tests: to pass tests, to make an ECG for an accurate diagnosis.
  • Disruption of the central nervous system and brain. It is accompanied by blackening of the nail with the acquisition of burgundy or brownish shades. The diagnosis and treatment is prescribed by a doctor, based on test data and MRI.
  • Circulatory disorders. This is indicated by a blackened finger with cyanotic features. If blood circulation is impaired, a doctor's consultation is necessary.

Treatment is selected by a dermatologist or traumatologist, depending on the cause of the appearance of blackening. In some situations, the intervention of a surgeon is necessary.

Preventive actions


Naturally, it is impossible to prevent the occurrence of all diseases at once. Some of them can be completely eliminated or the risk of their occurrence can be minimized by observing simple rules of prevention:

  • Wear comfortable shoes. Wearing comfortable high-quality footwear will prevent many skin and nail diseases.
  • Follow a diet. This point applies to people with diabetes. Strict adherence to the diet and all doctor's recommendations will help to avoid the appearance of black pigmentation on the fingers and under the nails.
  • Avoid bruises and injuries. Naturally, all injuries occur in a random order, but still, you should take care of your health and not risk them unless absolutely necessary.

If the finger turns black, despite the possible methods of prevention and treatment, you should think about the advisability of a visit to the doctor. In most cases, the prognosis of this phenomenon is favorable, but it is necessary to immediately pay attention to the symptoms.

GOT PAIN IN THE JOINTS?
  • persistent swelling and numbness;
  • inflammation and discomfort;
  • unbearable pain when walking;
  • terrible appearance.
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