Black Toenail: Causes, Treatments, And More - Healthline

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Black Toenail

Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — Written by Kristeen Cherney — Updated on July 16, 2019

Causes
See a doctor
Complications
Treatments
Q&A
Outlook
Prevention

Toenails can turn black from nutritional deficiencies, infection, or trauma. This may go away on its own. If not, see your doctor to rule out a more serious cause.

Read on to learn about the causes of black toenails and the possible treatments.

What causes black toenails?

A black toenail may be caused by:

An underlying medical condition: This may include anemia, diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease.
Fungal infections: While these often look white or yellow, fungal infections can sometimes cause black toenails from debris buildup. Your toenails are especially vulnerable to fungal infections because they thrive on moist and warm environments.
Melanoma: This is the most serious type of skin cancer, which often appears as a dark brown misshapen spot. Such spots can also occur underneath nail beds.
Trauma: Usually caused by an injury, trauma to the toenail can cause the blood vessels beneath a nail to break. The resulting bleeding underneath the nail appears black.

When should you see your doctor?

A black toenail doesn’t necessarily require a doctor’s visit — the need for medical treatment depends on the initial cause. Knowing the cause can help you make this decision. On the flipside, if you don’t know the cause, it’s a good idea to see your doctor just in case your black toenail is a sign of a serious medical condition.

Not all cases of toenail fungus require a doctor’s visit. However, if you also have diabetes, you should see your doctor for treatment.

A dermatologist can also help diagnose and treat black toenail. You’ll need to see a dermatologist if you suspect melanoma. However, if your black toenail is caused by another underlying health issue, such as diabetes, then you’ll also need to see your primary doctor to treat the cause.

Any black toenail that doesn’t go away should be looked at by a doctor. If you’re concerned about your black toenail and don’t already have a dermatologist, you can view doctors in your area through the Healthline FindCare tool.

Can a black toenail cause complications?

Toenail fungus that’s left untreated can spread throughout your feet and other parts of your body. It can also cause permanent nail damage.

Complications can also arise from melanoma in the toenail that’s mistaken for trauma-induced black toenail. It’s important to see your doctor if you notice any black spots that might be spreading throughout the nail, or if they don’t go away despite your toenail growing out.

What are the treatments for black toenail?

Fungal infections of the toes are relatively treatable at home when caught early. Over-the-counter ointments, creams, and polishes are usually effective. Severe cases may require a prescription antifungal treatment.

If a black toenail is caused by an injury, the resulting spot from broken blood vessels will disappear once your nail grows out.

Black toenail caused by trauma from an injury usually resolves on its own without treatment. However, if your toenail grows out and it still appears black, then the symptoms might be related to another underlying cause.

Toenail discoloration related to diabetes and other health conditions requires treatment for the underlying causes.

Q&A: Black toenail from running

Q:

A:

Answers represent the opinions of our medical experts. All content is strictly informational and should not be considered medical advice.

What is the outlook for a black toenail?

With black toenail, your outlook largely depends on the root cause of the symptom. Cases related to trauma and fungal infection have the best outlook. In these instances, injured nails grow out, and fungal infections may be treated at home.

Black toenail caused by melanoma and other health conditions are symptomatic. The outlook for such cases depends on how early you treat the underlying cause.

How can you prevent black toenails?

Keeping your nails clean and dry can help prevent some causes of black toenail. You can also take care to help prevent toenail trauma. This involves wearing closed-toe shoes when working so that your nails don’t get injured from dropped objects. Wearing proper-fitting shoes during exercise (especially running) can also help prevent toenail trauma.

When it comes to other underlying causes, you need to take other preventive measures. Reducing direct sun exposure to your feet and wearing sunscreen around your toes can help prevent melanoma. Black toenail attributed to other medical issues can be prevented through proper treatment and management of the underlying health condition.

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Adult foothealth. (n.d.).http://www.aofas.org/footcaremd/overview/Pages/Adult-Foot-Health.aspx
Mayo ClinicStaff. (2015). Nail fungus.http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nail-fungus/basics/definition/CON-20019319?p=1
Nails. (n.d.).https://www.aad.org/media/stats/prevention-and-care/nail-care
White toenails.(n.d.).https://www.foothealthfacts.org/conditions/white-toenails

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Medically reviewed by William Morrison, M.D. — Written by Kristeen Cherney — Updated on July 16, 2019

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