A finger slammed in a door, a thumb hit with a hammer, a brick dropped on a toe — these blast injuries are mutual and extremely painful. They can cause blood to pool visibly under a smash, which is chosen a subungual hematoma.

A subungual hematoma occurs when an injury breaks open blood vessels under the nail, causing blood to collect and become trapped in one spot.

Poorly fitting shoes can besides crusade subungal hematomas, especially if the person is very active. Shoes that are too tight or narrow can put pressure on the toenail, breaking blood vessels and leading to a pool of blood nether the smash.

Running or hiking downwardly steep hills or stopping and starting suddenly, such as while playing soccer or basketball, can likewise cause a blazon of subungual hematoma. This is often chosen runner'due south toe.

If a subungual hematoma is small and the pain is mild, information technology will usually resolve without treatment or complications.

Notwithstanding, if there is astringent damage to the nail bed, or if the hurting is unmanageable, a person should seek medical handling.

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An injury may cause claret to collect under the damaged smash of a finger or toe.

A person may have a subungual hematoma if they accept injured their finger or toe and:

  • at that place appears to be blood under the nail
  • the smash feels sore or tender
  • it feels like in that location is pressure nether the nail
  • the nail is discolored

People with artificial nails may not be able to see a subungual hematoma. If a person feels intense pain and pressure, they should remove the artificial boom and examine the boom bed.

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A doctor may perform nail trephination to bleed the blood and assist convalesce pain and pressure.

A minor subungual hematoma does not cause serious health problems. Home remedies can help to manage pain while the injury heals.

Over-the-counter pain relievers can reduce discomfort and swelling. In addition, the RICE method tin exist useful for minor subungual hematomas. RICE stands for:

  • Rest: Limit use of the affected finger or toe.
  • Ice: Use an ice pack, to reduce swelling and hurting.
  • Pinch: Utilise force per unit area such every bit a wrap to the surface area immediately, to reduce the corporeality of claret that tin can pool.
  • Elevation: Go on the afflicted hand or pes elevated, to reduce swelling.

For more serious injuries, this may not be plenty. Whatsoever significant injury to the nail can damage or break the bone underneath. A person should seek medical attention if:

  • the pain is unbearable
  • the injury happened to a baby or child
  • the bleeding is uncontrollable
  • at that place is a cut or laceration
  • the base of the nail is damaged
  • without injury, whatsoever nail turns dark or discolored

A physician may need to remove a severely injured smash or apply stitches for deep cuts.

Sometimes the damaged boom is not removed simply used as a cover to protect the smash bed while it heals. The damaged nail may need to be removed at a later on date.

When the damaged nail bed heals, the bleeding will terminate and a new smash will abound.

If a doctor suspects that the bone is broken, they may order an X-ray. Cleaved fingertips may be covered with a hard splint for several weeks to promote healing and to protect the area from farther injury.

A medico may perform a procedure called nail trephination to bleed the blood from under the boom. This can help to relieve pain and force per unit area.

The doctor volition make a small hole in the blast with a laser or needle. After, the area may be wrapped with a bandage and may continue to drain for up to three days.

This procedure should not be attempted at home, as it tin crusade infections or further injury to the nail bed.

Possible signs of an infection include:

  • fluid or pus draining from under the nail
  • increased swelling or pain
  • ruby-red streaks in the pare
  • a fever
  • a feeling of oestrus or throbbing in the finger or toe
  • excessive redness around the area of injury

If any of these symptoms appear, run across a doctor right away.

Although information technology is rare, melanoma tin occur nether a fingernail or toenail. Melanoma is the deadliest class of skin cancer.

A tumor may look similar a subungual hematoma. Melanoma can cause a nighttime mark to form under the nail. Even so, it does not ordinarily cause hurting and is not linked to an injury.

Speak to a doctor about any unusual marks or colors on the boom that appear without an injury.

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Information technology can have up to 9 months for a minor subungual hematoma to heal under a toenail.

A pocket-sized subungual hematoma usually heals over time without treatment. The trapped blood will eventually be reabsorbed, and the nighttime mark volition disappear.

This can accept 2–three months for a fingernail, and upwards to 9 months for a toenail.

If there is astringent impairment to the boom bed, the nail may be malformed or cracked when it grows back. Or, it may fail to regrow. This is uncommon, yet, and may be prevented by seeing a doctor for treatment when an injury occurs.