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• Steps
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A partial or total black nail can be a sign of concern. Luckily, the darkening of your toenails is usually not serious and easy to treat. The best treatment will depend on the cause of the black nail. The two most common causes are nail bed injuries and fungal infections. Other common causes include systemic illnesses, drug use or inflammatory diseases. In rare cases, dark spots or streaks under the nail can be caused by melanoma (a form of skin cancer) that develops on the nail bed. If you are not sure what causes black nails, see your doctor for an accurate diagnosis and discuss treatment options.

Steps

Method 1 of 3: Treat dark toenails caused by trauma

1. 

   
   
   Look for signs of a toenail injury. Remember if you have had a toe injury recently. Damage to the nail bed can cause blood to accumulate under the nail and turn black or dark brown. This is called a subungual hematoma. The accompanying symptom may be pain or tightness under the nail.
   • In some cases, you can easily tell if a black nail is caused by an injury - for example, you've dropped something on your foot or stubbed your toe.
   • The toenails can also gradually become black from repetitive effects, such as excessive pressure from tight shoes or toe injuries from frequent running, hiking or sports.

2. 

   
   
   Use the RICE rule to treat pedicures at home. You can usually treat it at home if the subungual hematoma is mild and doesn't cause much pain. Apply RICE's rule - first letters of words in English - Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation immediately after injury to limit swelling and pain, while helping toenails heal:
   • Rest: Rest your toenails by limiting your use of the injured foot as much as possible. For example, you should avoid running or hiking for several weeks after your injury.
   • Ice packs: Wrap an ice pack in a cloth or plastic wrap and place it on the injured toe to numb and reduce swelling. You can use an ice pack every hour for 20-30 minutes each time.
   • Compression bandage: Apply mild pressure by wrapping the bandage around the injured toe. This therapy can help limit the amount of hematoma under the nail.
   • Raise: Reduce swelling by lifting the feet as high as possible to the heart level. For example, you could lie on a sofa and rest your feet on an armrest, or lie on a bed with your feet on a stack of pillows.

3. 

   
   
   Take an over-the-counter pain reliever. If your dark toe hurts, try taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen (Motrin), naproxen (Aleve), or acetaminophen (Tylenol). The medicine will help relieve pain and reduce inflammation.
   • Ask your doctor before taking aspirin or aspirin-containing medications, as these can worsen bleeding under the nail.

4. 

   See your doctor if you have severe symptoms. In some cases, home remedies for subungual hematoma may not be enough. Make an appointment with your doctor if you experience severe pain, uncontrollable bleeding, a deep cut in your toe or nail, or damage to the nail bed.
   • Your doctor may use a laser or needle into your toenail to drain blood or fluid from under the nail. If the nail wound is severe or shows signs of infection, they may need to remove the nail.
   • It is important to immediately bring babies and young children with injured toenails to the doctor instead of treating them at home.

5. 

   Seek emergency medical attention if you notice signs of infection. Watch for signs of infection such as pus or other discharge under the nail, increased pain or redness around the injured nail, red streaks appearing on the skin around the nail, fever. The skin around the nail can also be hot to the touch. If you notice any of the above symptoms, call your doctor or go to the emergency room right away.
   • The toenail becomes more susceptible to infection if the nail begins to loosen, which is more common in severe subungual hematoma.

6. 

   Protects the nail from further injury during recovery. After an injury, your toenail takes time and care to fully recover. Wear shoes that have a loose toe section to prevent tripping or pinching your toes. You can also keep your toenails safe and healthy by:
   • Keep nails clean, trim, and unpainted while you wait for the nail to heal. Inadequate nail polish or nail care can slow recovery and make it more difficult to spot signs of infection or damage.
   • Wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes, especially when running. When running, use shoes that are about half the size of your regular running shoes, and be sure to tie the laces to prevent them from moving around your feet.
   • Use thick, easily evaporated socks to keep your feet calm and dry.
   • Use a toe cap or tape on your injured toe when running or hiking.

7. 

   Wait a few months for the wound to fully recover. The black color on the toenail will only disappear once the old nail grows out. For most people this takes about 6-9 months.
   • Even if a non-operative doctor removes the nail, the toenail can come off on its own. Usually a new nail will regrow after a few months.
   • If the nail bed is severely damaged, it is likely that the nail will not grow back or grow abnormally.
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Method 2 of 3: Treat toenail fungus

1. 

   Check for symptoms of a fungal nail infection. If the nail is infected with a fungus, debris can build up under the nail, causing the nail to turn black. Look for other signs of onychomycosis, such as:
   • The nails are thick or warped
   • The nails turn white or golden brown
   • Brittle and brittle nails
   • The offensive smell of

2. 

   See your doctor for an accurate diagnosis. Toenail fungus has symptoms similar to many other diseases, so it's important to see your doctor for an effective diagnosis and treatment. Make an appointment to see your doctor examine your nails and do some tests to confirm or rule out onychomycosis.
   • Your doctor may take out a few pieces of toenails or scrape off bits under your nails for testing.
   • Tell your doctor about the symptoms and medicines you are taking, or if you have any other health problems.

3. 

   Try an over-the-counter antifungal medicine. Before taking more aggressive treatments, your doctor may prescribe over-the-counter medications to treat onychomycosis. You can buy antifungal creams or ointments like Dr. Scholl's Fungal Nail Treatment or Lotrimin AF and apply according to the directions on the label.
   • Medication may be more effective if you sharpen your nails and soften them before applying them. Keep your nails short and lightly filing thick areas, being careful not to puncture the nail.
   • You can also help the medication penetrate deeper by applying urea cream to your nail before applying it, such as Urea 40+ or ​​Urea Care.

4. 

   Ask your doctor about prescription antifungal topical medications. If your condition doesn't respond to over-the-counter medications, your doctor may prescribe a fungal cream, ointment, or nail polish. These drugs can also be used in parallel with oral antifungal for difficult to cure cases. Carefully follow your doctor's instructions.
   • Common prescription topical medications include amorolfine, ciclopirox, Efinaconazole, and Tavaborole.
   • Some antifungal ointments can be applied daily, others only need to be applied once a week. Medicines can take weeks of therapy to take effect.
   • Some antifungal agents come in the form of a medicated nail polish (Penlac) that is applied daily to the infected nail.

5. 

   Talk to your doctor about oral antifungal medications. If you don't see any improvement after taking over-the-counter or prescription antifungal medications, see your doctor. Your doctor can prescribe a stronger oral antifungal. Popular choices include Lamisil and Sporanox. These medications kill fungus and allow new, healthy nails to regrow in place of a fungal infection.
   • You may need to take these medications for 6-12 weeks to get rid of the fungus, and it may take a few more months for the damaged nail to fully grow, so don't be discouraged if you don't see any immediate improvement. instantly.
   • Oral antifungals can cause serious side effects. Keep regular contact with your doctor to make sure you are tolerating the medication well. Tell your doctor about the medicines you are taking and your concerns.

6. 

   Talk about getting rid of fungal infections that are hard to treat. If medication does not work for a severe fungal infection, your doctor may recommend removing the nail so that the nail bed can be treated directly. You may be subjected to nail removal chemicals or nail removal surgery.
   • In most cases, the nail will regrow after being treated. This can take months to a year.
   • If the fungal infection keeps recurring and doesn't respond to medication, your dermatologist may need to have permanent nail removal surgery.
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Method 3 of 3: Treatment for melanoma in toenails

1. 

   Consider symptoms of melanoma. Melanoma (also called subcutaneous melanoma) can be like a black bruise that occurs when a nail is injured. If you see a dark spot under your nail without trauma, see your doctor for an immediate check. Other signs and symptoms of subungual melanoma include:
   • Brown or black under-nail streaks may develop over time - especially streaks from the tip of the nail to the bottom of the nail bed.
   • The nail bruise or bruise does not move upwards or go away as the nail grows
   • Nails separate from the nail bed
   • The skin around the nail is darker
   • The nails are cracked, thin, or warped
   • Bleeding under the nail

2. 

   See a doctor right away for a diagnosis. If you suspect you have subungual melanoma, don't hesitate - get medical attention right away. Melanoma is much easier to treat if detected early.
   • The doctor will usually order a biopsy, which involves removing a small amount of tissue from the nail bed to look for cancer cells.
   • If the tissue test is positive for melanoma and there is suspicion that the cancer has begun to spread, your doctor may prescribe a biopsy of nearby lymph nodes.

3. 

   Surgery to remove melanoma. The best treatment for melanoma is to remove the cancerous tissue. Depending on the thickness and spread of the melanoma, your doctor may prescribe partial or total removal of the affected nail.
   • If the melanoma has spread to surrounding tissues or the lymph nodes, you may need chemotherapy or radiation therapy along with surgery.
   • Even if melanoma is relatively less widespread, your doctor may prescribe treatments to prevent melanoma from recurring or to destroy all remaining cancer cells.
   • Follow-up periodically after treatment and perform self-examination to prevent melanoma recurrence.
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Advice

• Nail discoloration can be caused by other causes, such as a change in the natural pigmentation of the skin. It can also be linked to various medical conditions, such as diabetes, kidney disease, heart disease or anemia. Work with your doctor to identify any underlying medical conditions that may cause darkened toenails.