Question 1

why is my toe nail is blue? my big toe nail turned blue for no reason, it looks bruised but i never dropped any thing on it. it looks like a blood cloth under my nail. this has happned to my sister and her toe nail fell off. maybe we share the same shoes

Accepted Answer

THANK : Thank you for providing a photograph!  when dealing with such issues, it's tremendously helpful.

If your toenail turned blue suddenly (not slowly over the course of weeks or months), based on the picture, i would agree with you that it is blood trapped under the nail plate.

Our nails pick up their color from the underlying skin.  If you squeeze the end of your finger to blanch the skin white, you'll also notice the nail appears white as well because the color of the nail is reflective of the color of whatever is underneath the nail.

What probably happened was you broke a tiny little blood vessel and the blood had nowhere to go, so it accumulated under the nail plate and that's where it will stay until it slowly grows out with the nail over time.  If this is the first time something like this has happened, i wouldn't be alarmed or pursue it unless it becomes painful or doesn't grow out with the nail over time.

If this is a recurrent phenomenon, it would be prudent to determine just why your capillaries under the nail are so fragile as to break (unless you can recall some sort of trauma).  You're allowed this one time event without further work-up, though.

If you decide to paint your nails to cover it up (which is ok to do), it's important to remove the nail polish every couple of weeks and see what's going on down there.

Hope this helps!

Question 2

big toe turning blue?

Accepted Answer

Circulation: Without a prior history of trauma to case bruising, my first thought would be poor circulation. As tissues receive less oxygenated blood, they turn blue and dusky. This needs to be checked promptly. See a podiatrist for an examination. If findings warrant, they will order circulation testing and possibly even refer you to a vascular surgeon.

Question 3

i have a horizontal black/blue line across  the middle of my big toe for months i haven't hit it or anything, now my other big toe is getting it..

Accepted Answer

Runner's toe: Whether there was trauma you can recall or not, the nail is or was hitting the top of the shoe and you bled under the nail.  (subungual hematoma).   Change shoes if you want, but this will grow out in time.  Or use a nail polish to cover for now.  If there is an odor or pain have the nail removed.

Question 4

3 days ago my right big toe started to hurt when i put weight on it. today i noticed a small black and blue circle on the bottom. not sure what it is!

Accepted Answer

Toe Bruise..: If it is black and blue, then you have managed to traumatize the soft tissue elements, causing a bleed and subsequent bruise formation. It is probably only soft tissue damage but without an x-ray a fracture cannot be ruled out. Consultation with a Healthtap specialist could be a benefit.

Question 5

big toe turns red and blue what can it be?

Accepted Answer

Depends: The skin color can determine many things like bruises, infection or inflammation.  You should have a podiatrist take a look at it.

Question 6

why does gout start in the big toe, and then after the attack it all turns black and blue?

Accepted Answer

Usual/unusual: Gout frequently but not always manifests in the big toe (1st MTP joint) but can also involve any other joint and it is no fun at all, no matter which joint or joints it hits.  Turning black and blue afterward is unusual in my experience and indicates that something else may be going on.

Question 7

i, as a sous chef, work 12 hours a day. recently my big toe turns blue/green at the end but by the next day it's back to normal. i'm growing concerned?

Accepted Answer

Blue green toe: the fact the toe changes color and returns to normal suggests maybe your shoes are too small and maybe bruising. If there is no pain, wouldn't worry too much. Best bet would be to have a foot exam by your local Podiatrist.

Question 8

banged big toe on a chair saturday and it really hurts and it is swollen and black and blue.... hot or cold compress?

Accepted Answer

Cold: To help relieve inflammation. If your pain is yet to improve, consider seeing a doctor just to ensure that you did not fracture your toe. Best wishes.

Question 9

i cut my big toe on a rock in the river. it didn't bleed a lot, butwent blue under the surface. its a 11/2 inches long cut. do i need stitches?

Accepted Answer

U have 24 hrs: From the time of the cut to get stitches.After that, they don't help much.Make sure u r up to date with tetanus vaccination, keep it clean and dry.Ig gets infected , c ur doc.

Question 10

should i see a doc for a stunned big toe that is black and blue and cannot bear weight? injured it yesterday and have repeatedly hurt it since.

Accepted Answer

RICE: Rest, ice , compression and elevation
These are the things to do. Take time and care for your toe. It may be fracture and the black and blue is a hematoma. I would not compress but would ice it, elevate it and rest the foot. Would not weight bear for at least five days. Use crutches and then have it evaluated. If fractured it may need a splint. See your doctor if it does not calm down. 
best wishe

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Doctor answers about:

Blue big toe

A member asked:

Why is my toe nail is blue? my big toe nail turned blue for no reason, it looks bruised but i never dropped any thing on it. it looks like a blood cloth under my nail. this has happned to my sister and her toe nail fell off. maybe we share the same shoes

A member asked:

Big toe turning blue?

A member asked:

I have a horizontal black/blue line across the middle of my big toe for months i haven't hit it or anything, now my other big toe is getting it..

A member asked:

3 days ago my right big toe started to hurt when i put weight on it. today i noticed a small black and blue circle on the bottom. not sure what it is!

A member asked:

Big toe turns red and blue what can it be?

A member asked:

Why does gout start in the big toe, and then after the attack it all turns black and blue?

A member asked:

I, as a sous chef, work 12 hours a day. recently my big toe turns blue/green at the end but by the next day it's back to normal. i'm growing concerned?

A member asked:

Banged big toe on a chair saturday and it really hurts and it is swollen and black and blue.... hot or cold compress?

A member asked:

I cut my big toe on a rock in the river. it didn't bleed a lot, butwent blue under the surface. its a 11/2 inches long cut. do i need stitches?

A member asked:

Should i see a doc for a stunned big toe that is black and blue and cannot bear weight? injured it yesterday and have repeatedly hurt it since.

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