Bruise under the fingernail

A bruise under the fingernail is in most cases traumatic. Injuries in the form of bruises or blows can occur both in everyday life and during sporting activities. Small children in particular often pinch their individual fingers or the whole hand in doors, drawers or windows.

Often not only the fingernail but also the surrounding tissue is affected. The pain usually sets in immediately and very intensively. However, after cooling and immobilising the fingers, they should settle within a few days and only a small bruise under the nail remains, which is only painful under pressure. Otherwise, depending on the cause of the injury, it is advisable to consult a doctor in case of prolonged pain as well as swelling, redness and pain in order to exclude possible concomitant injuries such as a fracture of the phalanx. In addition, in the case of supposed bruising without an adequate course of injury, the malignant skin tumour, a malignant melanoma, should be considered, which can develop under the nail both on the finger and on the toes.

Bruise under the toenail

A bruise under the toenail, as well as on the fingernails, is usually caused by trauma. The bruise often develops due to falling objects or after bumping on an edge. It is also conceivable that another person may step on someone’s feet.

Also worth mentioning are bruises under the toenail caused by wearing the wrong shoes. If a too tight or small shoe is worn regularly or for a longer period of time, a high pressure is exerted on the tip of the toe, which is usually transferred to the toenail. This irritation can lead to the formation of blisters and small blood vessels tearing, so that the escaping blood accumulates under the nail bed and appears as a bruise. Here too, as with a fingernail, it helps to cool the toe immediately after an injury and/or to stop wearing the wrong shoes. A bruise under the toenail can be based on skin cancer, just like with the fingernail.

Duration of bruising under the nail

The duration of the healing process depends not only on the injury that led to the bruise, but also on the size and extent of the bruise, the involvement of surrounding tissue and possible concomitant injuries, and above all the nature of the nail and its growth time. In the course of several days the bruise will disappear and change its colour. Usually it grows out with the nail.

This can vary greatly over time, as some nails grow faster than others. On average it takes about 4 – 6 weeks. With larger injuries, where the surrounding tissue structures are also involved and the nail may have fallen off completely, healing takes considerably longer.

In addition, complications occur more frequently in these cases. Sometimes it is possible that the nail does not grow back correctly, becomes deformed or grows into the nail bed, which also prolongs and influences the healing process. Infections and inflammation of the nail bed can also occur in the course of the disease and lead to complications that also prolong healing.