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The response to the question below was authored by Marc Mitnick DPM

Three dots under right toenail

by Rubén
(Zaragoza, Spain)

fungus? dry blood?

On 1st October I noticed three black dots under my right toenail. No pain or other symptoms. The night before I wore tight new shoes and had a family dinner with lots of food, beer, red wine and licors. It lasted from lunch to dinner and I wore that shoes all the time.

The dots haven't moved during this months. The right down one (the one closest to the toe skin) has grown towards the skin forming a line (as it can be seen in the pictures I attach). The other ones remained stable.

At this time, three different family doctors has said me that it may probably be a hematoma or fungus. I can't have and appointment with a dermatologist until January (I wish I could go tomorrow, but my insurance won't allow it until January and the National Health System will take months to appoint me a dermatologist) so I would be very grateful for any information.

Thank you very much.

The first pic is from 11st December.

The second one is from 22st December.

I have no earlier pics.

RESPONSE

Hi Ruben,

Looking at the enclosed pictures, my best guess would be that of fungus as well as dry blood under the nail.
As you point out, the discoloration does not appear to be growing forward.
Because of the fact that the discoloration is not growing forward, you have to be concerned about the possibility of some type of growth on the nail bed which is the skin underneath the nail.
The only way to actually know what is going on would be to have the nail removed and the nail bed (plus the underside of the nail) inspected.
In our country this is something that is done in the office, under local anesthesia, with just the toe being put to "sleep".
It is not an especially painful procedure and unless there are mitigating circumstances such as diabetes or bleeding tendencies, you can usually go about your business after you leave the doctor's office.
Assuming it is nothing but dry blood and fungus, a new nail should grow out, usually healthy. Sometimes, however, the new nail may grow out a bit thicker then the original nail. This is usually due to some degree of trauma to the growth plate of the nail during the removal process.
You might ask your family doctors if one of them feels comfortable enough to remove the nail, otherwise I guess you will have to wait until you can finally see the dermatologist.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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Jun 26, 2019
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Toe nail markings
by: Jenny

Hi there
I have recently found these similar markings under my two big toes. I haven’t bashed them or any change of shoes, does anyone have a suggestion? Googling it has just come up with cancer so a little scared now
Thanks

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Chances are you do not have cancer on both big toes at the same time, but if the markings do not begin to grow forward, see a podiatrist or a dermatologist.

Marc Mitnick DPM

Apr 03, 2017
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Final diagnosis
by: Rubén

Fortunately, it was just a bruise caused by tight shoes.

Thank you.

Dec 29, 2016
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Thank you
by: Rubén

Thank you very much for your diagnosis. In Spain, Family Doctors only diagnose. For an issue like this they would always send you to the dermatologist (at least, under National Health System).

I'll have my appointment with a dermatologist (under my private health insurance) by early/middle January. I'll give feed back here by then.

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ADDITIONAL REFERENCES

Mayo Clinic

Johns Hopkins Medicine

MedlinePlus

Arthritis Foundation

University of Rochester Medical Center

Harvard Health

Drugs.com

American Academy of Pediatrics

Penn State Medical Center

National Institutes of Health

Columbia University Department of Rehabilitation

ScienceDirect

Stanford Health Care

Illinois Bone and Joint Institute

Mount Sinai Hospital

Institute for Chronic Pain

University of Florida Health

American Family Physician

Cedars-Sinai

University of Maryland Medical Center

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Three dots under right toenail

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