How do I get rid of a subungual hematoma on my toenail?

How do I get rid of a subungual hematoma on my toenail?

Treatment

1. Rest: Limit use of the affected finger or toe.
2. Ice: Use an ice pack, to reduce swelling and pain.
3. Compression: Apply pressure such as a wrap to the area immediately, to reduce the amount of blood that can pool.
4. Elevation: Keep the affected hand or foot elevated, to reduce swelling.

What happens if you don’t drain subungual hematoma?

If blood is spontaneously draining from the hematoma, drainage of subungual hematoma is generally not required. You should not try draining your subungual hematoma at home as improper drainage may result in infections or permanent damage to the nail bed.

Should I go to the ER for subungual hematoma?

If you had a severe blow to a finger or toe, either seek immediate medical attention from your doctor or go to an emergency room. You should do this in case you have broken bones or serious damage to the nail bed and/or surrounding tissues.

Do subungual hematomas grow out?

Compression can further reduce the bleeding underneath the nail. Regardless of treatment the hematoma will eventually be resorbed by the body and a new nail will grow out. On average the nail takes 6 to 9 months to grow completely out.

What happens if you leave a subungual hematoma?

If left untreated, a simple subungual hematoma typically grows out with the lengthening nail plate and resolves on its own, although sometimes subungual hematomas can result in your nail falling off (onycholysis). Until the nail grows out, however, you can expect weeks to months of blue-black discoloration.

What happens when your nail is bruised?

Subungual hematoma is the medical term for bleeding and bruising under the nail. This is usually the result of some kind of injury to the blood vessels under the nail bed. For example, blood vessels can break and leak blood into the area underneath the nail when a door slams on a finger or a heavy object crushes a toe.

How do you release a subungual hematoma?

Most subungual hematomas can be relieved with simple trephination, a procedure which involves making a small hole in the nail. Unless the pressure is relieved, the patient may experience severe pain.

Can I put nail polish on a subungual hematoma?

Refer to a dermatologist. It is always a good idea to have a local dermatologist’s card readily available in your salon. Do not cover or mask the abnormal nail with an enhancement or polish.

Can I put nail polish on bruised nail?

There is no harm in applying nail polish.

Will my bruised nail grow out?

Recovery. Unless the area of bleeding is very small, an affected nail will usually fall off on its own after several weeks because the pooled blood has separated it from its bed. A new fingernail can regrow in as little as 8 weeks. A new toenail may not fully regrow for about 6 months.