My buddy has a black toe!?

Question

What would cause a black toe nail? He says it's been like that for quite awhile. He says it hurts to the touch. What the heck could be the cause of this? Do you think it's contagious?

Answer 1

if it's just the nail, i'd say he most likely hit it on something or smashed it and the black is actually blood pooling under the nail. it(the nail) will most likely fall off in time. if his whole toe is black, he needs to see the doc. the only thing i know of that will do that is gangrene. very dangerous.

Answer 2

I have assisted a podiatrist for 5 years and we see this all the time. His toenail is black because he bumped it or dropped something on it, that is blood under the nail you see that has turned black. Usually the nail falls off, if it doesnt and its painful its getting infected and needs to be removed, they numb up your toe and he wont feel a thing, when his feeling in his toe comes back it will feel better than before because the pressure will be gone from under the nail. It will take up to a year for a new nail to grow back, just keep it really clean once its removed. Try using Amerigel on it, it works great at speed healing, also warm salt water soaks, also dont go into any public pools or hot tubs once removed to avoid bacteria.

Answer 3

It's not contagious my cousin has one to but he has no filling in it. Your buddy probably has an ingrown toenail and it messed up a vein. My cousin got his taken out at the doctor, but they hit a vein and it turned black and didn't grow. Tell your buddy to find a good foot doctor that can help him with his toe before they have to amputate.
-Twister

Answer 4

I doubt if it's contagious but it sounds like he's LONG overdue for a visit to the doctor.

Answer 5

sounds like something heavy fell on it/no it is not contagious/ see dr to make sure nothing serious is goin on