Skier’s Toe: The Big, Black Toenail In Your Boot

If you’re a skiing or snowboard enthusiast, you may have taken your boot off to find that your toe is throbbing in pain and blood has pooled under your nail. While you may be looking at it in horror, wondering if your whole toe is going to fall off or if you’re suffering from frostbite, the good news is that unless you have been skiing barefoot, you’re likely just suffering from Skier’s Toe.

Skier’s Toe, which is just another name for Runner’s Toe or its scientific name subungual hematoma, is a condition that is common for alpine sports fanatics.

If your ski boots are too big or small, your toe nail might hit the top part of your shoe, causing the nail to separate from the nail bed and blood to pool under the nail. This causes your nail to appear black and is often accompanied with painful throbbing.

The doctors at Triad Foot Center don’t recommend that you try to relieve the pressure yourself by burning a hole in the nail to release the trapped blood, as infections and further damage could result.

Instead, you should seek the help of a podiatrist to safely release the blood and release pressure from under your toenail in a sterilized environment.

To avoid future occurrences of “Skier’s Toe,” be sure to have properly fitting boots and that your socks don’t bunch up.

To schedule an appointment for a consultation with one of podiatrists at the Triad Foot Center, please call 336-375-6990 or click here to request an appointment.

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