Causes of Toenail Bruising, Related Conditions, and Prevention

Causes of Toenail Bruising, Related Conditions,

and Prevention

A bruise can be caused by a minor bump, but if bruises appear in several parts of the body without you even noticing, it may be a warning sign of a specific condition.

If a toenail bruise, caused by red blood cells leaking out of blood vessels and collecting under the skin, lasts for more than two weeks, various conditions such as melanoma may be suspected.

Today, I will explain in detail the causes and symptoms of toenail bruising and melanoma, along with diagnostic methods, treatment methods, and prevention methods.

Bruises are generally caused when an external impact breaks capillaries, causing blood to leak out of the blood vessels.

At first, they may appear bright red, and as the breakdown process progresses, they can gradually change to colors such as blue, purple, and brown.

In general, they improve naturally without any particular problem after about two weeks, but if a bruise persists for more than two weeks without any external impact, melanoma should be suspected.

Melanoma is a skin cancer in which melanocytes in the skin turn into cancer cells. It usually appears on the chest or legs, but in some cases it can also appear as a toenail bruise.

A black vertical line may appear, or the bruise may gradually grow larger until the entire toenail turns black.

Melanoma often has no particular symptoms in the early stages, but if left untreated for a long time, there is a high possibility that cancer cells will spread through the blood to other parts of the body, so caution is needed.

To prevent melanoma, you should avoid prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays, and it is a good idea to apply sunscreen carefully before going out.

During the afternoon hours when ultraviolet rays are strong, protecting your skin with clothing and a hat is helpful.

Also, if repeated force is applied to the toenails, it can cause discoloration from bleeding under the toenail, a condition caused by jogging toenails.

It occurs in people who often walk or run because of hiking, jogging, soccer, and similar activities. To prevent toenail bruising caused by jogging toenails, you can apply a cold compress to the affected area.

Also, when walking or running, you should keep your neck and lower back as straight as possible, and wearing shoes that fit your foot size is helpful.

Symptoms can also appear due to vasculitis, which refers to a disease in which inflammation develops in the blood vessel walls due to abnormalities in the immune system.

This disease occurs when there is a problem with platelet function, or when there are too few platelets, so the blood does not clot properly.

If the bruise is blue due to an impact, it may improve naturally after 1 to 2 weeks, but if the bruise is another color, you should visit a relevant medical institution promptly.

Black, black lines, and green are colors that are rarely seen, so I hope you will improve through an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment at a relevant medical institution.