Toenail Conditions: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatment Options
Your toenails function as a protective layer for the top of your toes, defending the soft tissue underneath from injury. Despite their importance, toenails are sometimes an overlooked aspect of foot health. Without proper care, you could experience issues like ingrown toenails, fungal infections, and discoloration. At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we have a wide understanding of things that affect your foot health and offer foot pain treatment. Here are toenail conditions, their symptoms, and the treatment options we offer:
Ingrown Toenails
Ingrown toenails are an uncomfortable condition that occurs when the corners of your nails grow downwards into the surrounding skin. If treated quickly, you can reduce the chance of developing an infection in the affected area. Here are some symptoms and causes of ingrown nails and the treatment options we provide to patients:
Symptoms
You might have an ingrown toenail if you experience throbbing pain and tenderness along the side of the nail. Redness and swelling occur as the nail digs into your skin, causing irritation, and the area may be warm to the touch. Sometimes, skin grows over the nail, and the affected area could start to darken. There may be the presence of pus or liquid discharge coming out from the broken skin where the nail has penetrated.
Causes
At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we advise our patients to avoid cutting their toenails in a rounded shape, as this increases the chances of having ingrown toenails. Wearing ill-fitting shoes and playing high-impact sports could also put you at risk of developing ingrown toenails. Some people have a genetic predisposition that causes them to experience repeated ingrown toenails.
Treatment Options
When you visit our clinic for foot pain treatment, we examine your feet to determine if your toenails are ingrown and understand the level of your condition. If it is not severe, we recommend soaking your feet in warm water for a few minutes multiple times a day to soften the skin. You can add salt to the water to reduce the risk of infection. After soaking your feet, use a small piece of cotton or dental floss to lift the nail off the skin. Repeat this with a fresh piece of cotton or dental floss daily until the ingrown nail grows long enough to trim. Surgery can help remove part of your nail if you have a genetic predisposition that causes recurrent ingrown nails.
Fungal Nails
Fungal infections affecting the nail might cause discoloration, usually appearing as a white or yellow spot at the tip of the nail. If you have a discolored toenail, check for the following symptoms to determine if you have a fungal infection:
Symptoms
While a discolored nail may seem like a minor inconvenience, getting treatment can stop any infection from going deeper into the nail bed. If the infection spreads, sometimes the nails thicken, which could make them harder to trim. In some cases, the infection can make the toenail shape distorted. Other patients’ toenails become brittle and start crumbling, leaving them jagged. If the infection is severe, you may experience a foul odor accompanied by foot discomfort.
Causes
Toenail fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, making individuals who frequent saunas, public pools, and the gym vulnerable to infections. Avoid walking barefoot in wet environments due to the risk of the fungus transferring to your feet from another person. Wearing sweaty shoes or keeping your feet wet for extended periods may make you susceptible to fungal infection. People with diabetes also have a higher chance of developing a fungal infection.
Treatment Options
At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we treat toenail fungus using anti-fungal creams, medicated nail polish, or oral antifungals. To determine the best treatment, our doctors examine your toenails to determine the severity of the infection. We also take a sample of the toenail or scrape debris from underneath the nail to determine the type of fungus causing the infection. We recommend trimming or filing down thickened nails before applying topical treatments to enhance their effectiveness. Oral medication works quickly, which makes it the preferred treatment for fungal infections.
Toenail Trauma
Trauma to the toenails can result from injuries like stubbing your toe, wearing tight shoes for prolonged periods, or dropping a heavy object on your feet. Events like this can cause your nail to detach from the nail bed or cause bruising with blood pooling underneath.
At our facility, we recommend rest, ice, and compression (RICE) to manage your pain. If you have a detached nail, we may perform surgery to remove the nail fully to allow your toe to heal properly.
Visit our Clinic for Foot Pain Treatment
Toenail conditions may affect the aesthetics of your nails and can cause ongoing discomfort, impacting your quality of life. At Horizon Foot & Ankle Institute, we offer diagnosis and treatment of toenail conditions like traumatic injuries, nail growth issues, and infections. Our treatments can restore your foot health, helping you to wear shoes and walk comfortably. We offer surgical and non-surgical options to treat mild and severe toenail issues. Contact us today for a comprehensive diagnosis and foot pain treatment.