A small change in a fingernail or toenail can be easy to dismiss. After cutting a nail, however, some people notice tenderness, swelling, pressure, or a dark red, purple, or black area beneath the nail. In some cases, this can happen because the nail or the delicate tissue underneath it has been accidentally traumatized.
One possible result is called a subungual hematoma — a collection of blood beneath the nail. It can occur after direct pressure or a minor injury to the nail, and the affected area may become painful and
