Skip to content 
Typical symptoms include:
Pain or throbbing shortly after the injury
Tenderness when pressure is applied
Dark discoloration beneath the nail
Mild swelling around the toe
If the pain is severe because of pressure beneath the nail, a healthcare professional may be able to relieve it by draining the trapped blood.
Could It Be a Fungal Infection?
Not every black toenail is caused by trauma. A fungal infection may also darken the nail, although the discoloration often appears yellow, brown, or black over time.
Other signs of a fungal nail infection include:
Thickened toenail
Brittle or crumbly edges
White or yellow streaks
Distorted nail shape
Unpleasant odor
Unlike a bruise, fungal infections usually develop gradually and often require antifungal treatment.
See the rest on the next page