With the arrival of good weather, it is time to go out to the countryside to do some route and thus enjoy the sun and the good temperatures. But on the way home we can get a scare to see that the nails of the toes turn black.
Fans of sports such as running or football are used to it, because it is a very common condition among them.
It is neither more nor less than subungual hematomas, as explained by the Illustrious Official College of Podiatrists of the Valencian Community (ICOPCV).
The College has indicated that it is important to properly choose footwear that protects the feet in mountain or mountain areas because, if not, these days will end up taking their toll on the health of the feet.
This type of condition, characterized by the fact that the nails acquire a brown or black color, is caused by the appearance of a hemorrhage under the nail, due to repetitive trauma.
That is, the typical continuous impact in people who practice activities such as running or playing football.
But they are not the only causes. Subungual hematomas are also “produced by wearing inappropriate footwear for wandering over uneven terrain,” explains the podiatrist George Scotusmember of the board of directors of the ICOPCV.
How to avoid it
If we are not runners or soccer players, but we are simply going to take advantage of spring to take long walks in the mountains or the countryside, the way to prevent black nails is simple.
We just have to follow the advice given by the podiatrists of the ICOPCV:
- Wear mountain shoes that hold your feet well and ankles to prevent sprains.
- To be supple, breathable and with a sole that provides good grip to prevent slips or falls.
- must also have toe cap reinforcement to protect fingers and nails in case of tripping or hitting a stone, for example.
Along with subungual hematomas, other of the most common conditions due to wearing inappropriate footwear for the mountains are the appearance of blisters, ankle injuries and microtrauma to the nails.
When to go to the podiatrist?
Normally, this type of bruises they will disappear over time and will not require further treatment. But there are times when subungual hematomas can become painful.
As the Valencian podiatrists explain, “the blood accumulates under the nail without any exit route, and in these cases the pressure increases causing severe discomfort”.
When the pain begins, it is time to go to a specialist, since the most indicated in these cases is to drain the hematoma.