There is something black in the crevice of the big toe nail.

Jun 01, 2023 Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Liu Wan
Introduction
Black discoloration in the crevice of the big toe nail may be caused by physiological factors, or it could result from trauma, paronychia, and other reasons. Targeted treatment should be based on the specific underlying cause. Besides these common causes, other factors such as micronutrient deficiencies, onychomycosis (fungal nail infection), or melanoma may also be responsible. In such cases, patients should seek timely medical attention to prevent disease progression and delays in appropriate treatment.

Black substances in the crevice of the big toe nail may be caused by physiological factors, or they could result from trauma, paronychia, and other causes. Targeted treatment should be based on the specific underlying cause. The details are as follows:

I. Physiological Factors

This is usually related to poor personal hygiene or inadequate cleaning, which can lead to black dirt or sebum accumulation under the nail. Generally, there are no discomfort symptoms, and the issue resolves after proper cleaning and nail trimming, requiring no special treatment.

II. Disease-Related Factors

1. Trauma

When the big toe suffers pressure or impact from external force, local tissue damage may occur, resulting in subungual hematoma (blood accumulation under the nail), often accompanied by pain. In such cases, patients may take medications such as Sanqi tablets or Xuefu Zhuyu pills under medical guidance for treatment.

2. Paronychia

This is an inflammatory condition affecting the tissues surrounding the nail, commonly associated with bacterial infection. It causes local symptoms such as redness, swelling, hematoma, pain, and fever. It is recommended that patients follow medical advice and apply topical antibiotics such as erythromycin ointment or mupirocin ointment to relieve symptoms.

Besides the common causes mentioned above, other potential factors include micronutrient deficiencies, onychomycosis (fungal nail infection), or melanoma. Patients should seek timely medical attention to prevent delayed diagnosis and treatment.

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