Dr Zoe Williams reveals why you should NEVER ignore any unusual marks on your toe nails

OUR resident specialist and NHS GP, Dr Zoe Williams, shares her expert advice.

Today, Dr Zoe helps a reader who has discolouration around the ankle and lower leg area as well as a odd-coloured toenail.

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Q) MY big toenail on one foot is pink, but the other one looks bluish purple.

I also have a lot of blue/purple discolouration around the ankle and lower leg area.

Should I be concerned? I don’t have diabetes. I’m 73.

A) This somewhat depends on how long the discolouration has been there and if there are any associated symptoms.

If it has come on suddenly, then I would be more concerned, and certainly if accompanied by pain and swelling, then it would suggest a circulatory issue.

Deep vein thrombosis would need to be excluded as a priority.

From the image you sent, it appears as though this has been like it for quite some time and there is no swelling and presumably no pain, as I expect you would have mentioned it.

In this case, the cause is much more likely to be down to thread veins, also known as spider veins or telangiectasias, which are small, visible veins that appear close to the surface of the skin.

They are often a result of dilated or broken veins, causing blood to pool and become visible as fine pink, red, purple, or bluish lines.

If you press over them the skin tends to return to normal colour until you release and the tiny veins fill with blood again.

They are usually harmless and don’t cause any significant health problems.

However, they can be a cosmetic concern for some people.

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