What are Bruised Nails?
A Subungual Haematoma, or a bruised nail, is basically bleeding under the toenail. A bruised toenail can result in an intense, throbbing pain and as blood collects underneath the toenail.
How does it happen?
It is most often caused by direct trauma to the nail, causing injury and bleeding on the nail bed. Examples of such instances are:
- Dropping a heavy object on your toenail
- Kicking furniture at home
- Child stepping on your toe
Other causes include:
- Walking long distances in shoes that are too tight
- Running long distances
- Playing sports while wearing inappropriate footwear
How can a podiatrist help?
A podiatrist can assess the extent of the injury and advise on the appropriate management. In cases of severe injury, further investigations such as an X-ray may be required to rule out a fracture. Most of the time, drainage of the underlying blood clot will provide instant pain relief. A podiatrist will be able to carefully trim or file the affected nail using sterilised instruments, drain the blood clot, as well as thoroughly clean the nail bed by removing all scar tissue. The podiatrist will then provide advice on appropriate footwear and how to care for the nail subsequently to allow the new nail to grow healthily.
It is not recommended to drain a subungual hematoma yourself as it can lead to serious infection and permanent damage to your nail.
For advice, feel free to send in a photo of your nail to our friendly podiatrists on our Whatsapp Service at +65 9175 4929.
