Black Marks on Toe Nail - Nail Problems Message Board

Zimzam · 11-04-2005, 09:28 PM

Some of my toe nails (around 4 total) have blackish brownish discoloration and I am not sure what is causing it. Wish I could take a picture but don't have access to a camera right now. It is only black at the edges of the ends that are cut. So in other words, at the corners where the nail meets the skin. The discoloration seems to be on the bottom of the nail and it really can't be scraped or washed off. I can cut it completely off but when my nail grows back it is there again. Do you think its fungus, bacteria or possibly from my shoes? My shoes seem to be a little loose, but I was under the impression that improper shoes would case bleeding under the nail not just on the edges. Right now I am trying to grow out the nails some in hopes that it may have been caused by cutting my nails too close. Any suggestions?

Marti · 11-05-2005, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zimzam

Some of my toe nails (around 4 total) have blackish brownish discoloration and I am not sure what is causing it. Wish I could take a picture but don't have access to a camera right now. It is only black at the edges of the ends that are cut. So in other words, at the corners where the nail meets the skin. The discoloration seems to be on the bottom of the nail and it really can't be scraped or washed off. I can cut it completely off but when my nail grows back it is there again. Do you think its fungus, bacteria or possibly from my shoes? My shoes seem to be a little loose, but I was under the impression that improper shoes would case bleeding under the nail not just on the edges. Right now I am trying to grow out the nails some in hopes that it may have been caused by cutting my nails too close. Any suggestions?

Usually a discoloration of this nature could be attributed to a pseudomonas bacterial infection, but it would usually compromise more than just the free edge. Fungus does not appear as black, but more yellow. Could be from your shoes if you don't wear socks.