Continuous rubbing or bumping of the toes against the top of your shoe can cause a bleed under the toenail. You will feel the blood pulsing through your toes. If there is a serious bleed, the nail may come loose after a while. Shoes that are too small, too big or too narrow could be the cause. Feet swell during long training runs or competitions and you must take this into account when buying new shoes.
- You see a small fleck of blood under the nail.
- Sometimes the whole nail goes blue/black.
- When the pressure under the nail increases, this can be painful. Usually this passes after a few hours.
Cool the toe for 10 minutes with ice. A small fleck of blood under the nail is nothing to worry about and will grow out naturally. If you have a painful bleed, a doctor can reduce the pain by pricking the nail.
- Do not wear shoes that are too small; make sure they fit properly.
- Cut your nails short.
