Nail Injuries
It would be tough to get through life without injuring at least one nail. Fingers get smashed in doors, toes get stubbed on furniture and stepped on.
Most of these injuries are minor. As a result, you might notice some changes in the nail, which may look bad but usually are normal:
- Small white spots as the nail grows.
- A bruise underneath the nail that makes it look black or purple.
- Thin reddish-brown lines, which means the blood vessels – the tubes that carry blood throughout the body – were damaged.
To treat nail injuries:
- Make a cold compress to help keep swelling down. Wet a cloth with cold water or put ice inside a cloth and place it on the injured nail. Never put ice directly on the injury because it could cause frostbite.
- Elevate the injured hand or foot so that it is above the heart.
- Look for other injuries. Sometimes the injury involves more than the nail – for instance, a bone might be broken – and you might need to make a trip to the emergency room.
- See a dermatologist or other doctor if:
- The nail turns black or purple and is very painful. The pain is caused by blood that builds up under the nail. The doctor will relieve the pressure by making a small hole in the nail to release the blood. The doctor might do this with a small heating device that burns a hole in the nail, or with a tiny drill. Don’t worry, this is a common technique and won’t permanently hurt the nail.
- The nail separates from the finger or toe and falls off. The nail will most likely grow back, but may take a long time. Fingernails take six months to grow back and toenails can take 18 months.
If a nail doesn’t look right and you or your child can’t recall injuring it, make an appointment with a dermatologist. The dermatologist can help you find out what is wrong and see if other things such as chemicals, a disease or infection may have hurt the nail.
Next: Rough Nails
