Middle Finger with Bruised Nail


What is Black Nail Fungus?

Most of the time black nails aren’t actually caused by any type of fungus. Black nails are usually a result of blood beneath the nail due to some sort of trauma, such as hitting yourself on the thumb with a hammer or dropping something heavy on your toe(1). Much less commonly, black spots under the nails can be a sign of melanoma or skin cancer, so if your nails look black and you don’t recall injuring yourself in any way, you should see a doctor or dermatologist be safe.

Most of the time, nail fungus actually makes nails look yellow, tan, or brown in color, rather than black. It also causes nails to grow thicker than normal. Sometimes nails appear warped as well as discolored. They may also crumble at the edges. 

The condition can cause pain; when it affects the toenails, it can make walking extremely painful and difficult. While nail fungus can often be treated with over-the-counter remedies, if you’re experiencing a lot of pain, we recommend you see a physician.

How do You Get Nail Fungus?

Bruised finger nail

Black nail fungus, or nail fungus of any other color, can be caused by a number of different types of fungi, including the same fungus that causes ringworm. Most are transmitted in the same way, however, and it’s surprisingly easy to get a fungal infection of the nails. All you have to do is come in contact with the fungus, either by touching a person or animal (many pets and farm animals can be infected by fungi that cause nail fungus) that has a fungal infection or by touching an object handled by someone with a fungal infection. For instance, you can get toenail fungus by wearing shoes that were worn by someone with toenail fungus. You can get nail fungus by getting a manicure or pedicure if the instruments weren’t sterilized properly after being used on someone with nail fungus. You can even get it from walking barefoot on a locker room floor where someone with an athlete’s foot (another type of fungal infection) also walked barefoot.

How is Nail Fungus Treated?

Most of the time, nail fungus is treated with topical medications, available both by prescription and over the counter. The medication is applied to the infected nails once or twice a day, usually for several months or longer. Over-the-counter medications are often effective, but if those don’t seem to help or if your nail fungus is causing a lot of pain, we recommend seeing a doctor. For more information, check out our Nail Fungus Topical Treatment Guide.  

In severe cases, doctors may prescribe oral antifungal medications. These must be used with caution due to the risk of serious side effects and regular blood tests may be needed to make sure the medication isn’t causing liver damage. Make sure you let your doctor know about any health problems you may have or medication you take. 

Other treatment options include surgically removing the infected nails or using laser therapy to destroy the fungus. Follow this link to learn more about laser treatment for nail fungus.

Top Recommended Remedy For Nail Fungus

Our top recommended remedy for nail fungus is a topical medication called Funginix. It’s available without a prescription, it’s easy to use, it’s affordable and it comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the results. To find out more about why Funginix is our preferred treatment for nail fungus, just follow the link.