What does it mean when your toes start turning black?
There are a few medical conditions that may cause black toenails, including:
- diabetes
- kidney disease
- heart disease
- anemia
What causes swollen black feet?
Causes of swollen feet and ankles can range from overuse and surgery to pregnancy. 1. Edema. Edema is a common condition where excess fluid is trapped in your body’s tissues. This causes ...
What causes a foot to turn black?
- Widen blood vessels (using a small balloon),
- Remove plaque deposits from blood vessel walls
- Insert stents (mesh tubes) to reinforce the blood vessels.
What causes your feet to turn black?
- Stop Smoking.
- Lose weight.
- Improve your diet.
- Drink more water.
- Exercise by walking daily.
- Protect your feet in cold weather.
What does it mean when your foot turns black?
Gangrene is a serious condition where a loss of blood supply causes body tissue to die. It can affect any part of the body but typically starts in the toes, feet, fingers and hands. Gangrene can occur as a result of an injury, infection or a long-term condition that affects blood circulation.
What disease causes your feet to turn black?
resulting from PAD can lead to gangrene in your toes, feet and legs. Restricted or blocked blood flow can kill cells and can cause tissue to die. This is called gangrene, which can cause your skin to dry or shrivel, and the flesh to turn colors — brown to purple to black — and eventually fall off.
Why do diabetic feet turn black?
Gangrene. Diabetes affects the blood vessels that supply your fingers and toes. When blood flow is cut off, tissue can die. Treatment is usually oxygen therapy or surgery to remove the affected area.
How quickly does gangrene develop?
Common symptoms include increased heart rate, fever, and air under the skin. Skin in the affected area also becomes pale and then later changes to dark red or purple. These symptoms usually develop six to 48 hours after the initial infection and progress very quickly.
What is causing swelling in my right lower leg and foot?
Possibilities: Injury, venous insufficiency, lymphedema, infection, inflammatory or systemic conditions are some common reasons.
What to do if you have swelling in your legs?
If you have a trouble breathing along with swelling in both legs, please go to the nearest emergency room and the er physician will do a complete workup for you.
Why does my mutliple sound black?
Multiple sources can cause this including hx of smoking, diabetes , vascular diseases. But turning black is not good sign and warrants urgent attention. Have your doctor take a look and made need further specialty care.
What to do if your ankle is swelling?
If it is only one ankle that is swelling, you should have it looked at to eliminate the possibility of infection. This may save your foot.
What causes venous insufficiency?
Venous insufficiency: Damage to the venous system returning blood to the heart from the legs. Medication can also cause this.
Veins conditions leading to darkening
Darkened feet are often a side effect of varicose veins. Varicose veins are bloated, swollen, and/or bulging surface veins caused by underlying vein disease where the vein isn’t strong enough to work correctly and blood can pool in your legs. This pooling typically leads to swelling.
Smoking leads to skin color changes
Darkening legs or feet can also be attributed to smoking. There are chemicals in cigarettes that speed up the aging process and lead to skin changes like uneven skin tone. Nicotine, a substance in cigarettes that makes them addicting, also constricts blood vessels, which restricts the blood flow to your arms, hands, legs, and feet.
Other causes of darkening feet
Other culprits that may be leading to the darkening of feet or legs could be cancer and eczema. When eczema manifests on your feet, it can lead to the changing of your skin tone. Venous eczema or stasis dermatitis also may change the color of your legs or feet and cause them to swell up and feel dry and itchy.
Vein Treatment San Diego
If you have black feet or legs, have noticed that your feet are darkening, or think you have leg vein issues, it’s time to seek professional help. At Kafri Wellness Clinic, we have over 25+ years of experience working with patients.
Why is my toenail black?
A black toenail may be caused by: An underlying medical condition: This may include anemia, diabetes, heart disease, or kidney disease.
What causes numbness in the feet?
Diabetes is a serious condition which can have many effects on the feet, including: (1) Nerve damage, resulting in numbness, extensive burning, pain, coldness, "pins and needles" or tingling while at rest. These nerves may actually affect the "position" sense, so that the joints or bones actually collapse with time.
How does diabetes affect the foot?
you might like Diabetes can cause two problems that can affect your feet: Diabetic neuropathy. Uncontrolled diabetes can damage your nerves. If you have damaged nerves in your legs and feet, you might not feel heat, cold, or pain. This lack of feeling is called "sensory diabetic neuropathy." If you do not feel a cut or sore on your foot because of neuropathy, the cut could get worse and become infected. The muscles of the foot may not function properly, because the nerves that make the muscles work are damaged. This could cause the foot to not align properly and create too much pressure in one area of the foot. It is estimated that up to 10% of people with diabetes will develop foot ulcers. Foot ulcers occur because of nerve damage and peripheral vascular disease. Peripheral vascular disease. Diabetes also affects the flow of blood. Without good blood flow, it takes longer for a sore or cut to heal. Poor blood flow in the arms and legs is called "peripheral vascular disease." Peripheral vascular disease is a circulation disorder that affects blood vessels away from the heart. If you have an infection that will not heal because of poor blood flow, you are at risk for developing ulcers or gangrene (the death of tissue due to a lack of blood). Continue reading >>
Why do my feet look like they are rocking?
Although rare, nerve damage from diabetes can lead to changes in the shape of your feet, such as Charcot’s foot. Charcot’s foot may start with redness, warmth, and swelling. Later, bones in your feet and toes can shift or break, which can cause your feet to have an odd shape, such as a “rocker bottom.”.
Why do diabetics get ulcers?
Ulcers may be caused by external pressure or rubbing from a poorly fitting shoe, an injury from walking barefoot, or a foreign object in the shoe (rough seam, stone or tack). Infecti Continue reading >>.
How to prevent foot problems in diabetics?
Preventing foot problems in diabetes begins by preventing the loss of circulation that will result in serious nerve damage. This is relatively easy today if the risks for circulatory problems are recognized early. Keeping the blood pressure below 130/80 is essential for reducing damage to blood vessel walls.
How to keep your feet healthy?
You might be afraid you’ll lose a toe, foot, or leg to diabetes, or know someone who has, but you can lower your chances of having diabetes-related foot problems by taking care of your feet every day. Managing your blood glucose levels, also called blood sugar, can also help keep your feet healthy.
What does it mean when your feet are swollen?
You have unexplained, painful swelling of your feet or legs, particularly if it's only in one leg. The swollen area becomes warm, red or inflamed. The swelling is accompanied by a fever. Also seek immediate medical care if you're pregnant and develop: Sudden foot swelling. A noticeable change in foot swelling. Swelling in only one foot or leg.
What are the symptoms of sudden swelling?
Sudden swelling along with other new signs or symptoms such as severe headache, vision changes, upper abdominal pain, nausea or vomiting, or shortness of breath. Choose a symptom. Selected Select related factors. View possible causes.
Why does my foot swell?
Cause of foot swelling. A foot can appear discolored because of poor blood circulation, bruising, or disease. The common causes of foot discoloration are: Injury. If something injures your foot, it can cause bruising with a range of color from purple through yellow and green as the bruising heals. Bruising can also result from strains and sprains.
Why do my feet turn purple?
Feet can turn blue, purple, or pink from a lack of oxygen. Left untreated, severe Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) can lead to amputation. Diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that results in damage to your blood vessels and nerves in the foot area.
What does a rash on the foot look like?
Lupus. Lupus is an autoimmune condition, and it can result in vasculitis (inflammation of blood vessels) in the feet. It looks like a rash or purple or red dots. Patients may also feel sensations of numbness or tingling in the area of the rash.
What to do if your feet are discolored?
If you have feet discoloration, treatment is necessary to alleviate pain and improve your level of physical activity. Medication. Prescribing medication supports the goals of: Preventing blood clots - daily aspirin or other medicines. Lowering blood pressure - high blood pressure is undesirable for general health.
How to heal a foot injury?
The standard home approach is: Rest - take a break and get the weight off painful feet and legs. Ice - apply an ice pack to cool the foot and reduce swelling. Frozen peas make a flexible ice pack.
Why do my feet turn black?
Reduced or restricted blood flow can become very serious if cells and tissue begin to die. If there is little or no circulation to the feet you may notice feet turning black, especially in the elderly. If this occurs, gangrene can set in which can lead to possible amputation if it is not treated. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate assessment and treatment.
What does purple skin on feet mean?
Purple spots on elderly skin are one of the first signs of circulatory insufficiency to the feet and legs .
Why do my legs turn purple?
Circulatory deficiency means the valves located in the legs cannot push blood upward to the heart. Damaged or aging veins in the body can lead to blood pooling in the feet which causes purple legs in elderly individuals.
Why do my legs discolor?
Leg discoloration occurs when the veins in your legs aren’t performing at their full capacity. Elderly adults often have underlying health conditions or physical limitations resulting in blood not being returned to the heart as it should.
Why do veins in legs get stiff?
Uncontrolled blood sugar causes the veins in the legs to become hardened and stiff which impairs circulation. Untreated varicose veins are twisted and enlarged making it impossible for blood to circulate properly.
Does underlying physical condition help with swelling?
For others, treatment of underlying physical conditions may help with swelling , discoloration, and discomfort.
What causes leg swelling and discoloration?
Lower leg swelling and discoloration is a common symptom, but you may also notice other issues such as itching and tingling, cramping in legs, pain that becomes worse when standing and improves when legs are elevated, varicose veins, ulcers on the ankles or legs, and wound on the ankles or legs that heal slowly. Performing regular exercise, wearing compression stockings, losing weight, and not sitting or standing for long periods may help improve your condition.
Why do my legs swell?
Lower leg swelling may affect your calf, ankle, toes, or foot, and this could be due to a number of different causes. Some of these causes are not that serious, such as discoloration caused by bruises. However, you may require medical treatment for certain problems, such as venous insufficiency or venous hypertension that can cause lower leg swelling. You usually need no treatment when the discoloration is on a small area and is caused by bruises, but you should see your doctor if discoloration covers a larger area of the calf, ankle, or foot. Let's find out more about the causes of swelling with some treatment options.
What does it mean when you have a blood clot in your leg?
Blood Clot in the Legs. If you have lower leg swelling and discoloration with bulging veins, tenderness and warmth in the affected area with a lump or bulge, this may indicate a blood clot in the leg. You develop clots in this area when blood thickens and clumps in a calf or thigh vein. Taking anticoagulants or blood thinners help treat ...
How does bone infection affect children?
This infection of bones causes swelling along with many other symptoms including skin redness, fever, headache, and pain. The infection can get to the bone through an injury, through nearby tissues, or through the blood. It usually affects children and can cause serious complications if left untreated.
Why does my lower body swell?
Here are some of the most common causes of swelling in your lower body. 1. Bruise or Contusion. You get bruises or contusions when something hits your body hard and breaks small blood vessels underneath your skin. You develop a reddish purple area where the damaged blood vessels leak.
What causes swelling in the lower leg?
Crohn's Disease. In this chronic condition, your immune system starts attacking healthy tissue in your digestive tract. This may cause lower leg swelling and discoloration along with many other symptoms, including diarrhea, blood in toilet, joint pain, skin bumps, fever, mouth sores, and change in stools.
What causes itchy skin?
Bites and stings from mosquitoes, bees, fleas, wasps, and other insects can cause these symptoms with itchy skin reactions. They are usually not dangerous and your condition improves by cleaning the area, applying cold compresses, and taking antihistamines.
1. Loss of Appetite
As the body shuts down, energy needs decline. Your loved one may start to refuse foods that are hard to chew or digest like meat. Declining meals or simply taking a few bites is common. This can be a very emotionally upsetting time for the family.
2. Increased Physical Weakness
Decreased food intake leads to less energy and simple activities like sitting on the edge of the bed, lifting one’s arms to change clothes and having a short conversation become difficult.
3. Labored Breathing
Towards end of life most people begin to experience changes in breathing. Shortness of breath is often described as air hunger. Air hunger is a fearful desire to breathe better. The body is telling the heart and lungs that it needs more oxygen and this can produce fear and anxiety.
4. Changes in Urination
Dehydration from decreased oral intake will lower blood pressure, leading to decreased renal function (decreased urine output) and eventually renal failure. Urine will become concentrated, brownish, reddish or tea colored. It may have a very strong odor that may not necessarily be infection, so antibiotics will not be appropriate.
5. Swelling to Feet, Ankles and Hands
Various chronic illnesses contribute to edema and swelling of the feet and hands as the disease becomes unmanageable. Fluid is not effectively pumped through the kidneys to be filtered and regulated. As a person ages, the kidney function decreases naturally. A very common cause of edema in a dying person is protein malnutrition.