What should you know about bruised nails from gel polish?

A close-fitting enhancement, repeated tapping, or pressure on a tender nail can injure small blood vessels beneath the nail plate. Forceful filing, scraping, or peeling during removal can also separate or weaken the plate. Blood under the nail may appear red, purple, brown, or nearly black, then change as it breaks down.

A bruise is different from surface staining in the product. A nail that lifts can collect moisture, and damaged skin around the nail may become inflamed. Look for tenderness, a gap, drainage, odour, warmth, or swelling rather than judging the cause from colour alone.

Pause gel polish and other enhancements until the nail and surrounding skin are comfortable and intact. Remove product gently; never peel it away or drill through a painful area. Keep the nail short, clean, and dry, and use roomy shoes or gloves to reduce pressure. A loose section should be protected, not pulled.

Do not pierce the nail to release blood at home. A healthcare professional can assess the injury and choose appropriate pressure relief or other care. For an overview of procedures involving the nail, see [Nail Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/nail-surgery/). General colour changes are discussed in [Discoloured Nails](/symptoms/nail-discoloration/).

Get prompt medical advice if pain is worsening, the nail is detaching, or the skin becomes increasingly red, hot, swollen, or wet with pus. Urgent care is appropriate after a crush injury with deformity, numbness, uncontrolled bleeding, or difficulty moving the finger or toe. Have an unexplained mark checked, especially if it remains in one place instead of growing outward with the nail.

Ask whether the injury involves the nail bed, whether the product should be removed in a particular way, and how to protect a loose nail. Ask when it is reasonable to resume polish and what symptoms would mean the nail needs review sooner.