Black toenails occur when blood pools underneath the nail bed. It’s typically a direct (and painful) result of trauma to the toe. However, it’s also common to see runners come in complaining of having black toenails. The biggest reason for this is wearing shoes that don’t fit properly.

When your feet have too much room inside your shoe you may notice that your toes constantly hit the inside of your shoe. This repetitive motion can lead to black toenails. The main thing to remember is to get shoes that fit you correctly. You may also want to consider wearing protective padding around your toes to prevent injury. Wearing moisture wicking socks can also decrease your chances of having black toenails. If you are a runner who does a lot of downhill running, make sure you lace up your shoes tightly.

If you would like more tips on avoiding black toenails call Dr. Mitchell Wachtel at (978) 794-8406 to schedule an appointment with us in any one of our three Massachusetts offices.