blue toenail

Many cyclists experience blue toenails or toenails that "fall off", an annoying and often painful thing.  This turning blue is caused by the friction or impact of the toe against the toe of the shoe, causing bleeding under the toenail. The cause may lie in a too small  or shoe that is too narrow. Putting up the feet in heat can also be the culprit. This makes the shoe too 'small'.  The pressure of the blood can cause a throbbing sensation in the toe.

If you suffer a lot from the pressure and pain, you can make a hole in the nail. This hole allows the blood that is under the nail to drain, reducing the pressure. A (sports) pedicure can do this with a small drill that makes a hole in the nail. You can also make a hole in the nail yourself, make sure you disinfect everything well to prevent possible infections. Poke a hole in the toenail with a disinfected needle (hold the needle in your hand and make a rotating movement). Another possibility is that you heat a needle and burn a hole in the toenail. Then hold the foot in a basin of water until the blood drains. If the blue nail doesn't feel painful, no hole needs to be made. Keep a close eye on the toe, as the nail will likely come off after some time.

Better to stay ahead of these blue nails. Pay attention to the good fit of the shoe, neither too small nor too large ( see 5 tips for buying cycling shoes). With shoes that are too big, you slide too much forward and with too small you are too tight. The width of the shoe is also important.  In connection with putting on the feet at higher temperatures, you may need a larger shoe for this period. In other words, a cycling shoe for the summer and one for the winter.