🩸 Subungual haematoma is a common problem that can affect anyone, regardless of age or gender.
A moment of inattention is all it takes — trapping a finger or toe in a door, a hard impact, a trip on uneven ground… and there it is.
🔍 What is a subungual haematoma?
It is an accumulation of blood between the nail bed and the nail plate. Signs include:
- severe throbbing pain beneath the nail
- a change in the nail plate’s colour (dark purple, brown or black)
- sometimes lifting or separation of the nail plate
🧠 Important facts:
✅ The detached part of a nail plate will not reattach to the nail bed — you need to wait for new growth.
✅ A very painful haematoma needs prompt assessment. If drainage is required, it is best carried out within the first 24–48 hours after the injury.
✅ Gel polish and gel enhancements can conceal a haematoma and make the nail harder to assess.
✅ Increasing pain, pus, hot skin or a serious injury to a finger or toe are reasons to see a doctor.
🧴 What did the podology practitioner do at Feetbuster?
In the case described in the original publication, a client trapped her nail in a door. The absence of gel polish made the plate easier to inspect. The blood drained spontaneously, so no drainage procedure was performed; the account describes removal of the plate that had separated from the nail bed. Regrowth was still awaited at publication. No later outcome is recorded. This is an account of that case, not advice to remove a nail yourself.
📌 Our recommendations:
🔹 Trim your nails without cutting deeply into the sides.
🔹 Choose shoes with room for your toes.
🔹 Do not pierce or remove the nail yourself.
🔹 A serious injury to a finger or toe requires medical assessment, including a check for a fracture.
Further information
- Nail injury — when to see a doctor or a foot care specialist
- Painful subungual haematoma — when is drainage needed?
- Nail care after injury — follow-up and regrowth
- Shoe pressure and nail injuries — checking the fit
- Injured toenails — a case from January–July 2024
- A nail trapped in a door under acrylic — a case report
- A nail injury after gel polish and a wart in a six-year-old — stories from the practice
- Subungual haematoma — assessment after an injury
Medical sources: Cleveland Clinic — Subungual Hematoma.
Editorial update: .