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Blood Beneath the Nail

Blood beneath your nail, also known as a hematoma, is very common in people with active lifestyles. It is most commonly seen in joggers, soccer and tennis players. It happens when the toe rubs excessively and aggressively against the shoe. If your shoe is too small, it can also happen by hitting against the end of the shoe. People with high arched feet are at greater risk for this type of injury due to their foot structure, which forces the toe to flex upwards into the shoe upper.

Treatments for hematoma

If treated within hours of the trauma, your chiropodist will create a small hole into the nail plate. This will release the blood and ease the pain.

If time has eliminated that option and the nail is painful, the nail may need to be removed and the nail bed cleaned. The nail plate will regrow in about 6 months. If there is no significant discomfort, the blood will move forward towards the end of the toe as the nail grows. It should finish its migration in 6-9 months.

Depending on the causative trauma, your chiropodist may want to order an x-ray to rule out any type of fracture.