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Why do nails turn black? Could this be a symptom of diseases such as diabetes? What is the treatment of black nails? Which specialist should you go to? The question is answered by the drug. Katarzyna Darecka.
- Changing the color of the nail can cause anxiety
- In such a situation, it is always best to see your doctor – he will verify the cause
- Black nails can mean, among others diabetes, hypertension or mycosis
- More current information can be found on the Onet homepage.
Why do nails turn black?
Hello, my dad is 67 years old and recently I noticed he has two terribly black toenails. Of course, sending dad to the doctor is like asking for peace in the world. I wonder if the cause of black toenails there is mycosis, or maybe some other more serious problem. If I know what causes black toenails, maybe I’ll convince him to go see a doctor and do something about it. At the moment I don’t know what would make him do that, so I’d rather ask a question here.
Dad is not treated for any disease, he is still professionally active. His nails, he says, don’t hurt him, they don’t sting, they just changed color. I hope it’s not diabetes, because at first I thought about diabetic footwhich caused my grandfather to lose both legs. Of course, I won’t tell my dad this, because I’m going to start to get hysterical. I must admit that I am terribly worried, so please let me know what is the cause of black nails? What is the treatment of black toenails like and which doctor to see?
The doctor explains the causes of black toenails
If my father does not have chronic diseases, then I understand that this also means that he does not have diabetes – then the risk of diabetic foot is also negligible, as it is a complication of long-term diabetes.
Black nails can be caused by various disease entities, including:
- Chronic disease such as anemia, diabetes mellitus, heart disease, chronic kidney disease.
- Fungal infection – however, usually the toenails are white or yellow in color, but sometimes they may be black. Treatment of mycosis requires several weeks or even several months of using antifungal drugs, so it is worth contacting a dermatologist who will be able to order the treatment. Fungus can be infected if we use the same surfaces as the sick person with bare feet, so it is worth treating mycosis also because of people from the environment.
- Melanoma, a very dangerous skin cancer, can manifest itself in black or brown spots, also under the nail.
- Toenail injuries can also cause a change in the color of the toenails and this is the result of damage to the blood supply and drainage vessels to the nail, causing bleeding under the nail, resulting in a black color.
Not every dark coloring of the nail requires a visit to a doctor or treatment, it depends on the cause – if we know that the foot or toes are injured, it is most likely the cause of the darkening of the nail and this will pass over time as the wound heals. However, if we do not know why our nails have changed color, it is worth visiting a doctor in case the black toenail is a symptom of a more serious disease. You should definitely see a doctor, if you have diabetes or suspect melanoma or mycosis – see a dermatologist.
To prevent black toenails, avoid activities that can injure the toenail, which may be helped by the use of tight (especially at work) and comfortable, tight-fitting shoes during exercise. In the prevention of melanoma, it is important to apply sunscreen to each area of the skin exposed to the sun’s rays.
– Lek. Katarzyna Darecka
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We encourage you to listen to the latest episode of the RESET podcast. This time Joanna Kozłowska, author of the book High Sensitivity. A Guide for Those Who Feel Too Much »says that high sensitivity is not a disease or dysfunction – it’s just a set of characteristics that affect the way you perceive and perceive the world. What are the genetics of WWO? What are the perks of being highly sensitive? How to act with your high sensitivity? You will find out by listening to the latest episode of our podcast.