Running marathon toe nail bruising Running toe nail blackening

April 23, 2023
Peeling toenails are the most common problem experienced by marathon runners, and usually, we blame it on wearing ill-fitting shoes and overtraining. So why exactly is it? And how do we deal with this problem?

Why do toenails get bruised

The constant friction between your toes and the soles of your shoes threatens to hurt your nails and even cause blood and blisters, forcing your nails to peel away from your skin.

Suggestions

Before running, you can try to shorten your nails to help avoid these problems in the long distance running.

Apply pressure

The podiatrist at Ankle Specialists recommends applying pressure to the injured area until the bleeding subsides, aided by antibiotics and a Band-Aid. In the shower, you can leave the wound exposed until it is finished, press it dry and apply a Band-Aid. If it is super painful, when the antibiotics and Band-Aid are applied, you can let your feet soak in warm water for 10 minutes to help reduce the pain.

Bandaging

Often, after repeated microtrauma, the nail may fall off, but there will not be any bleeding or open skin damage, so both a Band-Aid and antibiotics are good to add an extra layer of protection to the skin to prevent infection as well. If I have a blister, do I need to poke it? It is recommended that you can use alcohol to sterilize the needle and then just poke the blister. In addition, you can also wear five-finger socks and wrap the blister-prone toe with a Band-Aid, remembering not to wrap it too tightly or it will compress the nail.

Patience and care

When the nail is turned up, please do not pull it or touch it repeatedly, as doing so can cause unnecessary pain and additional damage. Instead, try to keep your nail as short as possible before running so that it does not come into too much contact with your socks and shoes. Also, don't tape your nail up with other unidentified tapes; it doesn't bond to your skin by being taped up. In addition, you have to be patient with this nail and take care of it. Each nail is an individual, and the growth cycle takes 6-9 months. After about six weeks, you will see a new nail growing.

Seek medical attention promptly

If you notice an increase in pain, such as discoloration of the toe, swelling, or constant discharge of unidentified fluid, be sure to consult a doctor at a professional clinic as these are signs of infection. The nail is very close to the bone of our toe, and if the infection starts in the skin around the nail, it can easily spread towards the bone and, if left untreated, can lead to a serious infection.
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