Blackened toe? What does such an alarming symptom mean? First of all, that the blood flow in this area is disturbed, which could lead to a fungal infection, black acanthosis or diabetes mellitus. Consider the causes of blackening of the legs, nails on the fingers of the lower extremities. As well as how the therapy is carried out, and whether there are preventive measures against the dangerous manifestation of diseases.
What symptoms precede blackening of the toes?
Some people wonder why the big toe turned black and what such disturbing symptoms can talk about. It is worth noting that darkening of the skin of the lower extremities does not occur suddenly. Often this phenomenon is preceded by other signs that are worth paying attention to.
Symptoms that precede a change in skin tone on the legs:
- toenails are deformed, their shape noticeably changes;
- constant pain in the lower extremities with different intensities;
- legs become less or, conversely, very sensitive;
- the general condition worsens, which manifests itself in the form of weakness and fever;
- patches of skin on the legs redden and flaky;
- legs swell;
- feet become too cold or, conversely, too warm.
All these symptoms appear, as a rule, before blackening of the legs and increase gradually. It is important to seek help from a specialist when the first appearance of black dots on the legs, as this may indicate tissue death.
Why do legs blacken?
Most often, such an alarming symptom as a blackened toe is associated with gangrene. But this pathology is not the only cause of discoloration of the skin.
Common causes of blackening of the skin on the legs:
- Fungal infection. This is not about ordinary candidiasis, but about an atypical and dangerous form called trichophyton. It is often manifested by blackening not only of the fingers, but also of the nails. At the same time, the disease is accompanied by severe itching and numbness of the lower extremities. Infection spreads quickly, and treatment is complex.
- Vascular problems. Often this is the cause of blackening of the skin with diabetes. With an increased level of glucose in the blood, the formation of blood clots is activated, which adhere to the walls of the vessels, narrowing the lumen for the passage of blood. In the absence of therapy, thromboembolism occurs, which leads to the death of tissues and the only treatment here is only amputation.
- Mechanical damage. What to do, a toe bruised and it turned black? In this case, the cause of blackening may be a fracture of the phalanges or severe bruising. If the hematoma does not spread to neighboring areas of the skin, it should not cause concern. Swelling and blackening will fade over time, like a normal bruise. If, on the contrary, this zone increases or begins to bleed, it is worthwhile to undergo a specialist examination.
- Close shoes or a long stay "on their feet." The frequent formation of corns and corns, which leads to darkening of the skin, can be triggered by improperly sized shoes, as well as a strong load on the lower limbs.
- Black acanthosis. It most often manifests itself in diabetics against the background of insulin resistance. In this case, itching, thickening and darkening of the skin gradually leads to the death of cells or the formation of tumors.
- Hereditary predisposition. It is rare and is primarily associated with the feature of skin pigmentation. In this case, there is no pain, except for aesthetic discomfort. No therapy required.
How to distinguish diabetes from gangrene when darkening of the toes?
A symptom such as blackened toes in diabetes mellitus occurs when iron sulfide is formed from hemoglobin cells under the influence of air. In 95% of cases, diabetics have the so-called dry gangrene. Pathology does not cause acute intoxication and is not accompanied by rotting of tissues. This affects the general condition slightly.
Dry gangrene also requires appropriate therapy, but develops gradually. The disease can progress from 3 weeks to several years. Amputations and disabilities can be avoided by resorting to treatment in the initial stages of the disease. It is important in this case not to confuse the pathology with the usual gangrene, which is accompanied by the death of tissues.
Symptoms of gangrene are as follows:
- pain when walking;
- increased swelling of the legs;
- the shade of the skin changes quickly, moving from pink to black;
- the boundaries of infection are clearly visible;
- there is no unpleasant odor or it is very slight.
Gangrene, regardless of the type, is also treatable, especially when organizing treatment in the first stages. During therapy, attention is paid to the restoration of normal blood circulation, as well as the destruction of infections that led to the death of tissues. Surgical intervention is possible, during which muscle tissue affected by necrosis is removed.
How to treat black toes with diabetes?
When blackening appears on the lower extremities, especially in diabetes mellitus, diagnostics are carried out to determine the cause of the development of pathology. First of all, the state of the vessels is checked by ultrasound. It is important that blood flow is not disturbed. Neurological reflexes are also being studied, arterial scans, arteriography and diagnosis of finger pressure changes. Be sure to measure the pulse on the lower extremities by palpation.
Frequently, patients at the reception ask the question what to do: did the toe bruise and it turned black? Most often, an x-ray is taken to detect a fracture, which can cause a change in the color of the skin. In this case, gypsum is applied. If there is no fracture, then other diagnostic methods can be performed to identify the root cause of blackening.
Most often, drug treatment is carried out, which is aimed at restoring normal blood flow and the state of blood vessels, in case of blockage. It is important during therapy to pay attention to the shoes in which the person walks. It should be comfortable. This will prevent the damaged limb from inflammatory and purulent processes.
Surgery is also performed (bypass surgery, angioplasty) if a too narrow area is detected inside the large arteries.
Folk remedies
You are wondering if there are any natural medicines or alternative methods used for treatment if the toe is blackened? Yes, and they are used in combination with traditional therapy.
For treatment at home, you can use:
- burdock leaves - gruel is made of them and applied to a blackened place;
- young potatoes (pink) - slices of peeled vegetables are applied to the sore spot for a couple of hours.
Doctors say that not a single folk remedy can cope with a blackened nail or finger alone. It is important to approach the therapy comprehensively.
Prevention
In order not to blacken the toe, especially with diabetes, it is worth adhering to certain preventive measures.
Doctors give these recommendations:
- Regular use of special ointments for the diabetic foot and proper care of the lower limbs.
- It is important not to overheat, to prevent sweating of the legs and not to supercool this zone.
- Do not walk without shoes on the street, even on the beach.
- All microtraumas on the foot are immediately processed.
- It is worth monitoring the diet.
- Shoes should be comfortable.
Why do black nails?
If the nails on the toes are blackened, you should immediately consult a specialist, as this may indicate a variety of diseases. The cause of blackening of the nail plate can be both pathological and non-pathological factors.
Pathological reasons include:
- disturbances in the work of the heart and circulatory system (in this case, the nails turn blue, and all at once);
- improper operation of the digestive tract;
- lack of iron in the body;
- thrombosis, varicose veins, diabetes;
- wearing too tight shoes.
Non-pathological causes include injuries of the nail plate of varying degrees. In this case, blood accumulates under the nail plate, which looks like a blackened nail. Medicinal herbs, lotions, and even poor-quality varnish of a dark shade can also lead to a change in the color of the nail.
Frostbite of the lower extremities
Frostbite of the legs, which is accompanied by burning and tingling, requires immediate medical attention. In cold weather, blood vessels contract, and blood flow in certain areas may even stop. At this point, cell destruction occurs. Frostbite can be either mild or severe, resulting in tissue necrosis. In this case, the leg becomes dark in color.
When frostbite of the lower extremities, which can occur even with a slight minus temperature, it is important to place your feet in a warm place. It can be a pleasant temperature not a hot bath. Do not use warming ointments, they can only stop the frostbite zone. Massaging the legs also helps, but the movements should be smooth and light so as not to damage the skin.
Output
The appearance of darkening on the lower extremities is not a normal condition of the foot and requires specialist advice. It can occur for a number of reasons and often appears in diabetics. It is important to monitor the condition of the legs, to carry out prevention and timely treatment.