Toenail Problems

It often happens that you dismiss a slight discoloration of the toenail or mild peeling off as a seasonal thing which will go away on its own in a few days. Most people don't take abnormalities pertaining to the toenails that seriously until the affliction causes physical discomfort. Such discomfort compels you to take your gaze down to your feet and it is then that you realize the gravity of the situation. Contrary to this, any injury to the toenail resulting in tearing off or nail breakage is noticed instantly due to the sharp pain that accompanies the sudden impact of an accident. Let's take a brief look at some common toenail problems and find out how to take care of each of these issues.

Toenail Fungus
Fungal infection is one of the most common problems that affect toenails and it accounts for more than half of all toenail afflictions. Toenail fungus infection can be of four distinct types - Distal subungual onychomycosis (the nail bed and inner surface of the nail is invaded by fungus), White superficial onychomycosis (the nail plate and surface are affected by fungal growth), Proximal subungual onychomycosis (fungal infection of the proximal nail fold extending to newly formed nail plate) and Candidal onychomycosis (yeast infection of the nails caused by constant accumulation of moisture between the nail and the nail bed). The most common sign of a fungal infection of toenails is discoloration of the nails which is usually accompanied by thickening of the nail.

The constitution of the nail may become brittle and crumbly, often tending to break off in the form of debris if rubbed hard or if scratched on the surface. In severe cases, the surrounding skin can become itchy and a rash may also develop. Administration of anti fungal drugs is the only way to treat toenail fungus and a full course can last for anywhere between 6-12 weeks, depending upon the severity of the situation. Natural remedies include application of grapefruit seed extracts, thymol and snakeroot leaf extracts on the affected toenail as these are known to have strong microbicidal properties.

Ingrown Toenails
Sometimes, the side edges of the toenail that come in contact with the skin of the nail bed can grow down into the skin, causing redness and swelling therein. In such a case, even a slight pressure from, say, a closed footwear can cause the toenail to cut into the skin and hurt. Irregular trimming and wearing ill-fitting shoes are the most common reasons that lead to ingrown toenails. Also, picking at the corners of the nail can lead to ingrowth. The best way to treat this situation is to soak your feet in warm water for sometime so that the nail gets softened. Then, very gently and carefully, lift the nail edges from the skin in which it is embedded using a sterilized nail file and cut off the ingrown edges with a nail clipper. You may apply an antiseptic cream or solution along the inflamed skin after cutting the edges to prevent infection and soothe the redness. In case you're a diabetic or have a damaged nerve anywhere in the leg or foot that has an ingrown toenail, it is best not to try the aforementioned remedy yourself and you should get the condition treated by a doctor.

Nail Trauma
Any trauma or injury to the toe or the toenail can lead to discoloration, splitting or appearance of either horizontal depressions (Beau's Lines) or dark vertical lines that run across the surface. These lines and depressions take their own time to fade away. However, certain steps like having a protein and Vitamin C rich diet, gentle nail care and wearing the right footwear can accelerate the healing process.

Toenail Shedding
The most common reasons behind a toenail falling off include fungal infection and nail injury or trauma. In such as case, treating the root case behind the shedding is the only way to get those nail plates to stay rooted to the nail bed.

Ram's Horn Toenail
This is one of the most common toenail problems in children besides nail trauma and fungal infection. This condition takes place when the toenail bumps against the inner surface of a closed footwear over a long time, causing the head of the nail to become blunt and thicken. This gives it a rounded, thickened appearance of a ram's head which is what this condition is named after. It can also be caused by dropping something heavy on the toes or hitting something very hard with the bare toe. Besides thickening, the nail head can get a blackish blue discoloration due to the accumulation of clotted blood under the nail plate. This can be a painful condition wherein the blood must be drained by burning a hole through the nail. This kind of trauma usually sends the nail root in a shock and a new nail plate eventually pushes away and replaces the damaged nail. However, this takes time and till then, proper care should be taken to protect the nail from further damage.

These were some of the most common toenail problems that are complained of by more than half of the world population that has an issue surrounding the keratinous cover on their big toe (or any other toe for that matter). Hope this helps you identify any abnormality in the initial stages so that you can take appropriate actions early enough to prevent further deterioration of your condition. Preemptive action is especially important in case of fungal infections like Athlete's foot as they have a tendency to spread to other parts of the body (between the toes, groin and any other part of the body that remains moist or are not exposed to air) from the toenail. Be aware, stay alert - nipping these problems in the bud is the right way to go.