What causes toenails to thicken and change shape?

Toenails can thicken as a result of sudden or repeated trauma or injury. Mostly, this happens to people involved in sport or exercise, such as soccer players, runners, and dancers, but also to people with ill-fitting shoes. Often, thick nails due to injury are mistaken for fungal infections.

What causes a thickened toenail?

Thick toenails are your body whispering that something is not right. Several causes result in developing thick toenails. The main cause is onychomycosis or fungal infection of the nails caused by dermatophytes (nail fungus). Physical trauma, Psoriasis,Lichen planus and diabetes may also cause thick nails to develop.

Can thickened toenails be reversed?

Thick toenails can be reversed if the underlying cause is addressed or proper preventative measures are taken. Polishing rough surfaces to make them smoother is a great way to treat thick toenails. Avoid pedicures because they may cause fungal infection to flare up when cuticles are removed.

What does it mean when your toenails change shape?

Permanent changes in nail shape or color can occur as a result of a crushing injury. Poisons. Colloidal silver, touted by some as cures for everything from HIV/AIDS to eye infections, is actually a poison that can turn skin and nails blue. Arsenic poisoning colors nails white and makes them appear pitted.

How do you treat thickened toenails?

How are thick toenails treated?

Clean the affected area with soap and water daily.
Groom your nails regularly.
Apply an over-the-counter fungal treatment after you gently file your nails.
Apply Vicks VapoRub on your toenail each day.

What is the thick white stuff under toenails?

Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.

How can you treat your thick toenails?

Soak your feet for 10 minutes in warm water then dry thoroughly.

Trim your toenails using nail nippers. Nail clippers are what we typically associate with trimming nails,but these are usually not strong enough to cut through thick toenails.

Use small cuts and go straight across the nail.

What can be done for thickened, discolored toenails?

Keep your feet clean by washing them with soap and water regularly.

Keep your feet as dry as possible: Change your socks a few times a day,wear cotton socks that remove moisture from your feet,rotate your shoes so they can

Try a foot powder that keeps your feet dry.

Why are my toenails so thick?

“If someone has melanoma in the base of the nail, the root where the nail grows out, causing streaking of (a brown streak) that runs longitudinally along with the nail,” says Dr. McEneaney. “It actually grabs some of the pigment from cancer and drags it through the nail.

How do you cut thickened toenails?

– medical-grade toenail clippers, as standard clippers may not be able to cut all the way through and can slip off the nail and cut your skin – longer foot soak (20 or 30 minutes in warm water) – clipper disinfection using alcohol or diluted bleach