Discolored toenails may occur for several different reasons, some of which are harmless, while the others can point out to some severe disorders. The part of the toenail that we see (nail plate) is composed mostly of mature, dead skin cells, beneath which is the layer called matrix, containing the living cells which constantly reproduce. The growth speed of the toenails is more than two times slower than the growth speed of the fingernails, and it has been estimated to about 1.5 mm per month. The color of the toenail plate is normally somewhere between reddish and yellow, but due to some causes, they can become extremely yellow, white, black, brown, red, blue, or even green. Toenails can even change color due to some medical conditions. Here are some of the most common causes for each of these cases so you can have a general sense of what discolored toenails indicate.

Causes of Toenail Discoloration

Injury

Toe injury can sometimes affect the nail plates and cause damage to the nail matrix blood vessels located beneath the toe plate. This is the place where nerve endings and pain receptors are also present. These are so called “slow C nerve fibers”, named by their slow impulse conductivity. You have surely experienced toe injury and you have probably noticed that the pain appears after a few seconds. The slow nerve fibers are responsible for that delay. Anyway, if the blood vessels are injured the blood is getting accumulated beneath the nail plate, thus producing a subungual hematoma. The color of the injured toenails usually becomes purple, blue, or even black. These kind of injuries are common from running or walking in uncomfortable and tight shoes. Injuries of toes and toenails can have very severe consequences in patients suffering from diabetes mellitus, as they have decreased sensibility in their feet and toes. Injuries can also occur in a toddler, as toddlers often drop things, which fall right on their feet and toes.

Fungal Infections

Infections of the toenails are not rare, and they can be caused by bacteria or fungi. Fungal infections of the toenails (Onychomycosis) are the most common, and they usually affect older persons or persons with poor hygiene of the feet. Also, immunocompromised persons, such as those with progressive HIV infection (AIDS) are at high risk of developing fungal infections. They are manifested as yellow or white discoloration of one or more toenails, usually with changes in their shape and consistency. Toenails can become fragile and develop ridges on their edges. The bad smell of the feet is one of the most common indicators that there might be a fungal infection. The most common types of fungi causing toenail infections are Trichophyton rubrum and fungi from Candida family.

Bacterial Infections

Infections caused by the bacteria are not that common, but they are usually opportunistic, which means that they appear on top of some other disorder of the toenail or the surrounding tissue. For example, ingrown toenail damages the soft tissue and may cause its infection caused by different bacteria, most commonly Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus. Pseudomonas infection is the most easily noticed, as it causes the toenails to discolor in various nuances from green to black. Staphylococcus can cause yellow or orange discoloration of the toenails.

After Nail Polish

Yellow discoloration of the toenails can occur after nail polish. This happens very often, especially with low quality synthetic nail polish formulation. Luckily, this is only a temporary condition, and the toenails will regain their normal color within a few weeks.

Melanoma

Melanoma is a tumor of the melanocytes, the cells which produce dark skin pigment called melanin. As melanoma can affect any part of the skin, it is logical that it can also appear under the toenails and fingernails, in which case it is called subungual melanoma. This condition causes brown or black discoloration of the toenail and it is very often mixed up with hematoma, especially if there is a history of toenail injury. However, with time, hematoma always subsides, while melanoma can progress, destruct the nail plate or the surrounding structures, and give metastases. Therefore, a brown or black toenail discoloration which lasts for more than several weeks without signs of subsiding can be a sign of cancer.

Other Causes

Toenail discoloration can also be caused by various other factors including vitamin deficiency, aging, and hormonal imbalance, especially the disturbance in thyroid hormones.

How to Treat Discolored Toenails?

The treatment of the discolored toenails depends on the cause of the discoloration. Most of the toenail injuries with hematoma causing discoloration will resolve without medical help. However, if there is a repetitive injury which hurts the damaged nail over and over, the recovery can be prolonged. In those cases, it is recommended to protect the injured toes with adhesive bandages, especially while wearing shoes. Surgical interventions are sometimes needed in order to remove the severely damaged parts of the toes, which often occurs in persons with unmanaged diabetes.

Fungal infections are usually treated with antifungal medications and increased level of feet hygiene. In some susceptible individuals, these fungal infections of the toenails and surrounding tissues can reoccur for no obvious reasons. In those cases, the disturbed pH (acidity level) on the surface of the skin is probably responsible for recurrent fungal infections.

For bacterial infections of the toenails, topical and oral antibiotics are commonly used. Topical creams often contain a combination of antibiotics and corticosteroids, in order to kill the bacteria and decrease the inflammatory process at the same time. Not all antibiotics will work against all types of bacteria, so please consult your doctor about the appropriate choice. Oral and topical antibiotics and corticosteroids are not allowed during pregnancy, unless your doctor decides differently.

Subungual melanoma is treated surgically. Depending on the stage of the tumor, your doctor may also suggest chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy.

Home Remedies

Some natural remedies can help you resolve the problem of toenail discoloration, without the need to use synthetic substances.

• Tea tree oil is well-known for its anti-fungal effects. Apply this oil 2-3 times a day to the infected nails, and you will notice the improvement very soon.
• Apple cider vinegar is also beneficial when fungi attack your feet. The best approach is to soak your feet in the water solution of apple cider vinegar, every night before sleep. Be sure to dry your feet well after this, as dry skin prevents the growth of fungi.
• Soaking your feet in warm water with several teaspoons of sea salt added, can be beneficial to relieve the pain after toenail injuries and to speed up the elimination of hematoma.

When to See a Doctor

Severe toenail injuries with open wounds and intense, painful swelling of the surrounding soft tissue require medical management. For simple fungal infections, you can first try some of the above mentioned natural remedies, but for advanced fungal or bacterial infections with inflammation and constant pain, please contact your doctor in order to perform a detailed assessment and to make a treatment plan. If you notice brown or black discoloration in the basis of your toenail which is painless and does not seem to be caused by an injury, be sure to visit your dermatologist, as this may be the first manifestation of subungual melanoma. Hematoma may look similar, but it usually migrates towards the tip of the toenail and becomes smaller within a few weeks, which is not the case with melanoma.

Sweaty feet is a common condition that almost everyone has suffered from sometime in their life but wish they had not. Smelly Sweaty feet can cause an embarrassing foot odor along with other problems. Get to know more information about this condition including the causes, symptoms, how to treat it, and most important, how to prevent sweaty feet.

Just on one foot alone there are more than two hundred and fifty thousand sweat glands, producing about a half pint of moisture, or sweat, each day. There are more sweat glands per inch on your feet than anywhere else on your body. This makes sense why there are approximately two percent of the people around the world, both adults and children, suffer from sweaty stinky feet. It usually affects men and younger adults more than women and older adults.

Most of the time the sweat will quickly evaporate but for others the sweat becomes trapped within the glands. The medical term for this condition is plantar hyperhidrosis, which means the plantar, or bottom, side of your foot. In addition to having sweaty feet this condition is often accompanied with sweaty hands and/or sweaty armpits. Generally people will sweat when they become warm or it is hot outside but those that have this condition sweat almost all the time.

There are many causes as to why this medical condition happens. It is not usually a severe condition but more of a minor temporary annoyance. Sweaty feet is often associated with hormonal changes. It can cause problems with fungus, foot odor, ruin shoes, make it hard to wear sandals, and problems with relationships.

There are two types of plantar hyperhidrosis, which include:

• Primary: this is an inherited condition that will usually develop during adolescence
• Secondary: this type develops later in life and usually tends to be a symptom of something more serious. Conditions like diabetes, tumors, menopause can cause thyroid dysfunction that can lead to this type of hyperhidrosis.

Having constant sweaty feet is not only uncomfortable but can also cause problems such as foot odor, which can cause staining and damage to the insoles of shoes like sandals. It has also been linked to having a higher risk for developing fungal and bacterial infections on the toenails and feet, like plantar warts, or athlete’s feet. Depending on what causes your sweaty feet it can be very difficult or very easy to solve and treat.

Symptoms of Sweaty feet

The key symptom is water production that is immersed with solids that are dissolved and produced excessively by your sweat glands, which are found all over your body. The highest concentration of all the body’s sweat glands can be found in the region of your feet, groin, armpits, and hands. The basic symptoms can exacerbate through anxiety and stress. Other symptoms can include:

• Foul smell, which is caused by the bacteria on your feet interacting with the extra sweat.
• Peeling skin
• Itching
• Toenail fungus that can cause yellow toenails
• Redness
• Burning sensations
• Your feet may slip around in your shoes if you sweat too much
• Your feet may have a wet whitish appearance
• Foot infections
• Emotional stress and worry about their sweaty foot odor
• Blisters
• Rash that can look like eczema
• Dead skin
• Itchy bumps

What Causes Sweaty Feet?

Sweaty feet have many causes but generally it happens when your sweat glands are signaled to produce sweat in your feet too often. What causes this extra signaling is not known but it has been linked to periods of stress at times. The overactive sweat glands in your feet are often seen in people under the age of 25 and adolescents. Their sweat glands are triggered by the changing hormone levels in their body, causing them to become overactive. Because it often happens to adolescents when they are experiencing changing hormone levels they can develop sweaty feet all of a sudden with no warning. Other causes can include:

• Genetic conditions: research has shown that if a close family member experiences sweaty feet the chance to develop this condition increases.
• Simple lifestyle choices like exercise, diet, and hygiene
• Acquired diseases
• Poor footwear
• Continually wearing covered shoes in the winter and not letting the extra fluids and water to escape the sweat glands and skin pores
• Hormonal imbalances in your body can stimulate your sweat glands causing sweaty feet.
• Menopause in women
• Hyperactive thyroid gland
• If you are taking some medication that does not suit you it can produce different side effects like cold sweaty feet at night and during the day.
• Chain smoking
• Excessive drinking
• Certain health conditions like heart diseases, lymphoma, and leukemia
• Stress and/or anxiety because sweating is a natural way for your body to cool itself.
• Wearing socks that are one hundred percent cotton or made of nylon can act like a sponge and lock the sweat in, keeping your feet wet all the time.
• Vitamin deficiency

One of the main causes is poor hygiene, which includes not washing your feet or changing socks. Either of these will allow sweat levels and bacteria to build up on their feet. When this happens it will increase the smell and toxicity which is caused by bacteria-creating amino acids. Having a toxicity level that is high can also be caused by low levels of water and little to no exercise. Another possible cause of sweaty feet is eating foods that are high in saturated fats and eating a lot of spices. If your feet are covered in shoes and socks all the time it restricts the natural evaporation of sweat into the atmosphere. Sometimes during a woman’s pregnancy it could be a warning sign of a possible miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy.

How to Treat Sweaty Feet?

If the cause of sweaty feet is due to your lifestyle and/or hygiene either of these is usually easy to treat. All you would need to do is make some basic changes to your lifestyle such as eating a diet that is healthier and includes a lot of vegetables and fruits instead of saturated fats and spices.

With plantar hyperhidrosis it is a condition that may not be able to be controlled by using normal antiperspirants and foot odor control products so it may be necessary to see your physician for treatment. When you see your physician there are several things that they can recommend to help with sweaty feet. One of the first things that they may try is giving you a prescription for an antiperspirant for your feet. It is normally applied one or two times a day. If your sweaty feet do not respond to the prescription antiperspirant there are other treatments. These can include:

• Drug treatment using anticholinergic drugs, which is a class of medications that block the action of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine in your brain.
• Botox injections, which last from six to nine months
• Minor electrical shock treatment to your feet
• Surgery

If your physician chooses surgery there are two types of surgery that can be performed.

• Removing the sweat glands in your feet
• Severing the communication from the sweat glands to the nerves that are signaling them.

Surgery is normally the last treatment considered because many patients respond to less invasive treatment, especially if they implement home remedy treatments with the treatment prescribed by your physician.

Prevention

One way to prevent sweaty feet is to keep your feet dry. There are three ways that you can effectively do this:

• Before you put on your socks and shoes apply a layer of talcum powder to your feet. The powder will clog your skin pores, preventing sweating for some time and help to reduce the foul smell.
• Use a salt water solution to keep your feet dry. Add 5 to 6 tablespoons of table salt to a half tub of water and mix well. Soak your feet for 10 minutes and then wash with normal regular water. After patting your feet dry apply a moisturizer that is oil-free.
• Always make sure that your feet are completely dry after bathing, showering, swimming, or any activity that gets them wet. You can use a hairdryer on the cool setting to make sure that they are dry. Make sure that the area between your toes is also dry. Once they are dry use an antiperspirant to the bottom of your feet.

Other ways that you can help prevent sweaty feet includes:

• Wear socks made of less than fifty percent cotton, acrylic, wool, or a synthetic-blend, moisture-wicking socks.
• Footwear in some type of breathable material, like canvas or leather. Wear open footwear when you can. Run barefoot around the house.
• Put moisture-blocking insoles in your shoes.
• Do not let sweat build up on your feet because it can lead to sweaty feet and bacteria infestation. Use a good medicated or antibacterial soap, using it to wash your feet, including between your toes, in the morning, evening, and before you go to bed. After playing a sport, exercise, running, aerobics, wash your feet immediately afterward so the sweat does not remain on your feet too long
• Shower or bathe daily
• Changing your socks twice a day
• Work on practices and exercises that can help to reduce stress, which can include learning meditation, learning to do yoga or Tai chi, and deep breathing exercises.
• If you are overweight try to lose the extra pounds so your rate of metabolism and help to control excessive sweating
• Use anti-fungal foot powders or spray, or cornstarch, or baking soda on your feet
• Rotate your shoes, allowing them to dry out between uses.

What does pigeon toed mean? Get more insights on various symptoms and causes of pigeon toes in toddlers, and information about how to correct pigeon toes.

My toddler has pigeon toes (curved feet with toes pointing inwards), is it something to be worried about?

The foot is a very strong and complex structure with as many as 26 bones and 33 actively articulated joints held together by muscles, tendons and ligaments. A toddler’s foot is highly flexible as it is stuffed with fats. It is a very common and endearing sight to see an 8- 15 month old toddler struggling to walk with his or her knees and toes pointing inwards. In the initial stages, the toddler’s feet point inwards because the muscles and ligaments are yet to be developed. However, if the toddler’s knees and toe do not straighten by the age of 3 years, the parents tend to get perturbed.

Pigeon toe (medically called in-toeing) is a term used to describe a condition in which a person’s toes point inwards while walking. Pigeon toe is commonly observed in toddlers. In most cases, pigeon toe in toddlers is not really a matter of concern as the toddler gains the normal gait before reaching adulthood.

However, it is a good idea to discuss any abnormality in your child’s gait with the paediatrician. Pigeon toe is generally not associated with any pain or inconvenience in toddlers, neither is it known to cause any serious medical conditions like arthritis. It does not hinder physical activities like walking or running. In fact, it is believed that people who are pigeon toed tend to be good runners or athletes. However, it should be noted that severe cases of pigeon toe can give rise to a condition called club foot. In some children pigeon toes may be observed as a result of pre-existing medical conditions such as cerebral palsy.

What are the Symptoms of Pigeon toes?

The symptoms of being pigeon toed include feet pointing inwards, twisted shin or thighbone clumsiness while walking and stumbling which occur in severe cases. People with pigeon toes tend to suffer from hip, knee or ankle injuries at later stages of life.

What Causes Pigeon toe?

While pigeon toe may be caused due to genetic predisposition, most of the cases occur due to misalignment occurring due to squeezed- up position of the baby in the mother’s womb.

Metatarsus adductus is a condition in which the outer edge of the foot has an inward curve, giving a kidney like appearance to the foot. Metatarsus adductus is very commonly observed in newborn children. It most commonly occurs due to the position of the child in the womb during pregnancy.

It is often observed in children who like to sleep with their face down. These children are more susceptible to dysplasia of hip, a condition in which the top of the thigh slips within or outside the socket. Metatarsus adductus is classified into two types – flexible (the foot can be straightened to a certain degree by massaging or bending with hand) and non-flexible (the foot cannot be straightened by any amount of massaging with hand). Generally flexible form of pigeon toe corrects itself as the baby grows without any treatment.

Sometimes, an inward twist of the tibia or shin bone is observed. Like metatarsus adductus, the twist in shin bone may also be caused due to the position in which the baby lays in the mother’s womb. This condition is most commonly observed in children learning to walk. In most of the cases, the shin bone slowly untwists and the leg straightens out by the time the child turns one year old. However, surgery may be required if this condition persists above the age of ten. Children who are pigeon toed and trip often may have internal tibial torsion.

In some cases it is seen that the knee caps tend to point inwards when the child is walking. This condition is caused due to femoral anteversion or an inward twist in the upper thighbone. Toddlers with femoral anteversion can be identified by their unique affinity to sit with their legs in ‘W’ position. It is always advisable to discourage your toddler from sitting in the ‘W’ position so as to avoid worsening of the femoral twist. Femoral twist is more commonly observed in girls than in boys. Most children outgrow this condition by the age of eight to ten years. However, in some children complete untwisting of the thighbone does not occur. Most of the cases of pigeon toes occurring in adults are due to femoral anteversion.

Pigeon toes Treatment

It is common to notice some extent of in-toeing in infants up to the age of two or three. This in-toeing is observed as a result of differences in the structure of the child’s foot. As the child’s age increases, their gait begins to improve without any particular treatment. However, if this does not happen by the age of three, a physician or a podiatrist should be consulted to make sure that the child’s bone development is taking place correctly. Most cases of metatarsus adductus are diagnosed in infancy when developmental changes in the child’s foot are still going on.

Exercises

The physician may ask you to perform some passive manipulation exercises on your child’s feet while bathing or changing his diapers. A change in the sleeping position of the child, for instance side- lying position, may help.

If the foot does not respond to any amount of stretching or exercise, long leg casts, braces or splints may be used, which have to be changed every 1 to 2 weeks. If improvement in in-toeing is seen with the use of leg cast, the use of straight cast shoes may be prescribed. Straight cast shoes are made without an arch in the bottom and help to hold the forefoot in place. There is a difference in opinion amongst physicians regarding the use of braces for correction of pigeon toes. While some doctors feel that pigeon toes can be corrected by using braces when the child is 4- 6 months old, others feel that use of braces speeds up the development of pigeon toes, thereby worsening the alignment of the toes.

Surgery

In very severe cases of pigeon toes, surgery may be required to correct the condition. Most of the time, surgery involves strengthening of the achilles tendon. Leg casts may be used post-surgery to hold the foot in place.

Proper Shoes

The shoes that your child wears play an important role in shaping the child’s gait. A child gains meaningful sensory information from the soles of their feet. Shoes that have hard soles may make walking difficult. Toddlers should be allowed to walk barefoot and shoes should be used only to protect their feet from injury due to sharp objects. In order to prevent worsening of pigeon toe, the child should be discouraged from crossing his or her legs while sitting. Regular use of corrective shoes, splints or cast should be encouraged. Ballet, which is a dance form, has been used to improve the symptoms of pigeon toe.

Do not allow your child to sleep on his or her tummy with feet curved under the stomach, in the position similar to which the baby sleeps in the womb. This sleeping position worsens the in toeing. Encourage your baby to sleep on his or her back or side.

Moreover, do not allow your toddlers to sit with their feet bent beneath their bottoms. Stretching their legs gently while massaging helps in proper development of toes and leg muscles. If your baby trips a lot while walking, do not forget to mention it to the paediatrician during the next visit.

If your child is above 10 years of age and has a pigeon toe with very little possibility of being corrected, do not get discouraged. Remember that many gifted athletes are pigeon toed. In fact many football, basketball, soccer and track coaches want pigeon toed players to join their club. It is important to bear in mind that pigeon toe does not affect your child’s ability to walk, run, swim or participate in any sports activity. At any time seek medical help if your child is facing trouble in walking, running or complains of excessive pain in the legs.

Swelling of the feet refers to an increase in the size of the foot or both feet. It is a fairly common occurrence that may involve both feet or only one. While only feet may swell, most often swollen feet are accompanied by swollen ankles, or even other swollen body parts.

Causes of Swollen Feet

Swollen feet have a myriad of causes ranging from the fairly harmless to life threatening conditions. Causes of swollen feet include:

Dependent swelling

This refers to the swelling that is often observed following long periods of standing up or sitting down. While it may be an indicator of underlying disease, it is most often a normal effect of gravity resulting in fluid pooling at the lower peripheries.

Angioedema

Occasionally, swollen feet may be a result of angioedema. Angioedema refers to accumulation of fluids, mostly beneath the upper layers of the skin, resulting in swelling. While it may occur in isolation in the feet, it is more often noticed in other parts of the body as well. In most cases, angioedema occurs as an allergic reaction perhaps to medication.

Lymphedema

Lymphedema refers to the accumulation of fluid that contains a lot of protein within the spaces that surround every cell. Because proteins are highly osmotic-meaning they easily attract water across permeable barriers, the accumulation of such fluid results in more fluid being pulled into this spaces. This results in increased swelling. Lymphedema may be primary, meaning that it may run in families. Therefore, if a child or a new born has swollen feet, and several other members of the family have swollen feet, the child-and the other members of the family-may be suffering from primary lymphedema. Lymphedema may also be secondary, for example, in the case of elephantiasis – a form of lymphedema characterized by massive limb swelling among other signs and symptoms.

Pregnancy

Pregnancy is a very common cause of swollen feet. Swollen feet in pregnancy can be explained by increased blood pooling around the lower extremities. In pregnancy, as the baby continues to grow, the womb continues increasing in size and thus, presses upon some veins found in the pelvic region. This results in impaired return of blood from the legs. Consequently, there is increased blood in the legs, which may result in fluid leaking out of the vessels, thus swelling.

Infections of the feet

Swollen feet because of infection

Most infections involving the foot tend to present with swelling of the feet. The most common is cellulitis. Cellulitis is an inflammation (which is a localized reaction by the body mostly due to injury including infection) affecting the tissue found just beneath the skin called the “subcutaneous tissue”. Unlike most of the above mentioned causes of foot swelling, cellulitis will most often affect only one foot. Another infection is necrotizing fasciitis. This is an inflammation of fascia – a thin glove like covering of muscles – and other subcutaneous tissue that often results in death of any infected tissue.

Trauma

One of the most common reasons as to why trauma leads to swollen feet is the increased susceptibility to infections. However, even on its own, trauma may lead to swelling as occurs in burns. Swelling following trauma can be loosely termed compartment syndrome. This involves swelling of the compartments within which muscles and blood vessels are held.

Diabetes Mellitus

While diabetes mellitus may result in swollen feet through increased susceptibility to infection, it also causes swollen feet in the absence of infection. In diabetes mellitus, there is often increased levels of blood glucose. Glucose, like proteins, acts as a powerful agent of osmosis. Therefore, in high concentrations of glucose, there is often increased water retention in the body. This may result in swelling, not only in the feet, but also in the entire body, resulting in perceived weight gain.

Blood clots

The presence of blood clots, particularly in the veins of the foot usually results in swelling of one foot. Blood clots, if big enough, may occlude the veins preventing blood from flowing back. There is blood retained within the foot, resulting in increased fluid leaking out of the vessels, thus, swelling.

Other diseases

Swollen feet may be an indicator of much more serious diseases, especially if accompanied by certain signs and symptoms. Swollen feet may be seen in people who suffer from kidney, liver or heart disease. Therefore, swollen feet that do not resolve with the home remedies or medication may point to a more serious underlying cause and medical help should be sought as soon as possible.

Signs and Symptoms of Swollen feet

• The most common symptom is feet which are increased in size. If only one foot is swollen, the swollen foot can be compared with the normal foot. If both feet are swollen, the extent of the swelling may be harder to estimate.
• Another common symptom is pain. Pain in the presence of swollen feet may be an indicator of cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis, angioedema or trauma as the cause of the swelling.
• Local redness of the skin around the swelling is common in cellulitis, necrotizing fasciitis and trauma, but may be absent in angioedema.
• There may be a localized increase in temperature in cases of foot swelling due to cellulitis, while angioedema usually presents with a burning sensation which is often only around the swollen area.
• In lymphedema, there may be associated infections and unexplained fatigue.

Home Remedies

There are certain measures one can take before or even after seeking medical treatment. These include:

• Rest: This is useful in the case of dependent swelling and pregnancy. Rest enables the body to try and restore itself, especially as these causes of swollen feet usually are normal.
• Elevation of the legs: This is helpful in most of the cases of foot and ankle swelling. Elevation of the legs enables blood to flow back to the heart with minimal obstacles. The ideal elevation is about two or three well fluffed pillows to ensure that the legs are above the head and thus the heart while lying on a flat surface.
• Reducing the amount of salt taken: This may be tried especially in those who have early signs of either kidney or cardiac disease. Salt contains sodium, which is usually key in water retention. Therefore, if sodium intake is reduced, there may be an overall reduction in the amount of water retained in the body, thus reduction in the swelling.
• Regular cleaning of the swollen foot: This is mostly a preventative measure. Regular cleaning of the foot would prevent infection as swollen feet are prone to infection. It may also help remove dead tissue-although this is best done by someone who has adequate information and training on how to do so.

Certain home remedies are effective for certain causes of swollen feet. For example, in lymphedema, some relief may be achieved by losing weight if the person suffering is overweight. People with lymphedema may also benefit from the use of compression socks.

However, as a general rule, anyone who has swollen feet should avoid wearing tight clothes as these may further impair blood flow.

Treatment

For most cases, the treatment will depend on the underlying cause. However, for dependent swelling and pregnancy as causes of swollen feet, the above home remedies should be sufficient.

• Angioedema: The primary step would be to stop exposure to the allergen if one is present. The doctor may instruct on the use of medication. Most commonly, epinephrine. Corticosteroids and antihistamines may be recommended. Surgery is very rarely required, and even then, it is only in very severe cases.
• Lymphedema: Commonly used medication for lymphedema include coumarin and albendazole. Due to the increased susceptibility to infection in people with lymphedema, they may also require antibiotics like penicillin G and clindamycin.
• Foot Infections: Cellulitis is commonly treated using oral antibiotics including quinolones, cephalosporins and penicillins. It also often requires debridement, which is removal of dead tissue. Necrotizing fasciitis requires the use of broad spectrum antibiotics and debridement. For infections of the feet to heal properly, it is essential that they are detected early and adequately treated.
• Trauma: For trauma, there are various indications based on the type of trauma that was incurred. Most often, surgery is the preferred management.
• Diabetes mellitus: In diabetes mellitus, it is essential that the blood sugar levels be regulated and maintained within normal levels. In most cases, this will result in resolution of the swollen feet.
• Blood clots: Medical treatment of blood clots requires use of medication that can break down the clot and prevent more from forming. Very rarely, surgery may be indicated.
• Liver, kidney and heart disease: These require a treatment that caters specifically to the affected person. However, in most cases, the doctor may recommend a diuretic, which is medication that causes increased loss of water from the body.

Dry, cracked feet also known as heel fissures, refer to the presence of cuts along the upper layer of the skin of the sole. While any person can be affected, dry cracked feet are more common among athletes and people who suffer from conditions such as diabetes, thyroid disease, psoriasis and eczema.

Causes of Dry Cracked Feet

The most common causes of dry cracked feet are pressure (which is why athletes are one of those most affected) and dry skin. Conditions that either cause increased pressure or dry skin may result in dry cracked feet. These include:

• Deficiencies in diet: Several nutrients, if not taken in adequate quantities may result in dry cracked feet. A deficiency in iron, calcium, zinc, omega 3 and/or vitamin E has been demonstrated to result in dry feet.
• Using harsh soaps: Harsh soaps may alter the pH of skin, with effects mostly on the skin’s outermost layer. Use of harsh soaps results in dryness and tightness of skin, which is one of the predisposing factors for dry cracked feet.
• Cold weather: In cold weather, there is little humidity. This dryness, combined with the cold in the atmosphere, saps the essential oils from the skin. This results in drying which may lead to heel fissures.
• Walking and standing for long hours: This is related to increased pressure on the skin of the foot. Pressure is one of the reasons one may develop dry and cracked feet.
• Being overweight: Overweight individuals would have a large amount of weight exerted on the fat pad lying beneath the skin of their soles. This makes them susceptible to developing cracks in their feet.
• Continuous exposure to water: Continuous exposure to water has the same effect on skin as cold weather. The skin is deprived of its natural oils, resulting in it being dry, and thus, susceptible to developing cracks.

Naturally dry skin makes a person more susceptible to developing dry cracked skin on the soles of their feet. Such individuals would require less amounts or less exposure to any of the above causes of cracked skin, to develop it.

Signs and Symptoms

Dry cracked feet are predominantly a cosmetic problem rather than a medical problem, with most people seeking professional help due to the fact that their feet look unsightly. People with dry cracked skin may notice any of the following symptoms:

• Peeling of the skin on the soles
• Red flaky patches at the soles of the feet
• Itchiness along the sole
• Skin bleeding

In cases where someone has had dry cracked feet for a long period of time, and the severity of this condition has increased to include more layers of the skin, they may notice discharges or bleeding from the cracks. They may also have pain at the soles of their feet. Infection can also occur if proper hygiene is not maintained.

Home remedies

While there are many home remedy options, it is better to prevent the occurrence of dry cracked feet rather than try to treat them. Prevention is mostly through proper care of feet. This can be done through:

• Ensuring that your feet are clean: Whereas it may be hard to have clean feet at all times, we should endeavor to have clean feet as often as we can. This is achieved by thoroughly cleaning your feet, drying them properly after every wash and moisturizing them sufficiently.
• Regular exfoliation of feet: This would be helpful in removing dry flaky skin, and would go a long way in preventing dry cracked skin.
• Relaxing your feet: This is especially necessary following long periods of walking and standing. It can be done by placing and gently rubbing feet in alternating cold and warm water. The different temperatures help soothe the feet.
• Wearing socks overnight: This is particularly helpful for those who have naturally dry skin, but can also be used by those with normal skin. Wearing socks prevents the exposure of feet to harsh environments, for example it minimizes the effect of cold weather on one’s feet. Wearing socks also results in smoother, more pliable skin, preventing dry cracked feet.
• Wearing footwear/Shoes: Shoes help protect the skin of our soles from any damage from the ground. Walking barefoot exposes the skin to the rough ground and may directly result in cracks along the soles.

If one already has dry cracked feet, there are a variety of options to choose from to help relieve this problem. Most of these techniques require that they be done daily for a period of about one or two weeks or up to such a point where the cracks heal. These include:

Scrubbing the soles of the feet

Scrubbing helps exfoliate the skin, removing dry dead skin. Before scrubbing, it is recommended that one washes their feet in warm water. Soaking feet for a while in water may also be helpful in making the skin of the soles soft and easy to scrub without damaging it. Scrubbing can be done using a pumice stone, body scrub or a soft brush. A paste made from oatmeal may also be used as a homemade scrub. Honey and milk may also be combined as a paste to make a gentle nourishing exfoliant. After scrubbing, it is essential that the feet dry adequately. Wearing warm socks overnight may be of added benefit.

Use of petroleum jelly

In trying to heal dry cracked feet, petroleum jelly can be used on its own or in combination with lemon juice. Before applying, it is important to wash one’s feet and ensure that they are adequately dried. The benefit of petroleum jelly is that it maintains moisture. After applying a generous portion to both feet, it is recommended that one wears warm socks to prevent any moisture loss. Heated paraffin wax combined with either coconut oil or mustard oil may work in the same way as petroleum jelly.

Coconut or Olive oil

While coconut oil can be used in combination with paraffin wax, as stated above, it has been demonstrated to have certain benefits even if used on its own. Olive oil also works in a similar fashion to coconut oil. Both of these are important to minimize infections, which may result, particularly in cuts that run deeper than the epidermis. They also provide moisture, thus reducing dryness of the feet.

Bananas

Bananas are surprisingly beneficial for people with cracked feet. This healthy tasty fruit can be used to heal dry cracked feet. The preferred bananas are those that are slightly overripe, and thus, can be easily crushed or blended to form a paste. Each application requires one banana or two, depending on the size of the banana. After crushing or blending the bananas, the paste is them applied to the feet, and let to soak in for about fifteen minutes. Then, the feet are to be washed and gently dried. Wearing socks, may be of great benefit in ensuring smooth skin.

Aloe vera

The healing powers of aloe vera can be demonstrated once again in dry cracked feet. Aloe vera can be used on its own or in combination with a pinch of crushed basil leaves and a pinch of turmeric. This combination may be applied for not less than fifteen minutes then washed off.

Glycerin

Glycerin, used to moisturize skin, may be of benefit in dry cracked feet. Preferably, glycerin should be used together with lemon juice. If possible, one may add rose water to this combination. This combination should be used after washing and drying your feet, and before getting into bed. It should be left on overnight. It is recommended to use this even after the cracks heal to ensure that they is no recurrence of dry cracked feet.

White vinegar

Just like lemon juice, white vinegar is slightly acidic and is also used in healing dry cracked feet. One should soak feet in vinegar for about five to ten minutes. While soaking, it may be helpful to scrub the feet, after which, feet should be washed and dried adequately and then moisturized. This home remedy should preferably be done one to two times a week.

Use of a rub containing menthol

This includes Vicks rub. This requires application of the rub only around the cracked areas and only in a thin layer. After application, it is recommended that one wears a clean pair of socks. This rub is helpful, not only for healing any fungal infections, but also for providing essential oils to the skin of the sole.

Treatment

Despite there being many home remedies, there is also medical treatment available in case the home remedies do not work, or in some cases, worsen the cracks. These include:

• Use of sodium lactate, urea and glycerin preferably in a paste available as a medicated foot cream. Urea is a key component of the epidermis (the upper layer of the skin) that helps in water retention within the layers of the epidermis. Use of the above substances to make a paste that is then applied to the sole of the feet, prevents excessive loss of moisture, thus preventing the drying of feet, and enabling dry and cracked feet to heal adequately. This paste should be left on the feet overnight, then removed upon waking up.
• Antibacterial soaks: These may be administered even without evidence of infection to prevent the development of infection.
• Medication, in the form of creams or sprays, may also be given to treat any current fungal infection. For example, miconazole and clotrimazole foot creams.
• A dermatologist may also use ultra violet light treatment. However, this is reserved for severe cases that refuse to heal.

What is a Stubbed toe?

This is a foot injury that is common in both children and adults. Most times having a stubbed toe is not serious and after the pain goes away you can usually carry on as you normally would. There are times when your stubbed toe can be a serious injury that will need to be treated. Your little pinky toe is the toe that is most commonly injured with the big toe being the next most stubbed toe. A stubbed toe occurs when your foot is jammed into a solid object. Most times they will heal quickly, usually within a few days.

Symptoms of a Stubbed toe

• Immediate pain
• Swelling
• Bruising on the toe or extend onto the foot
• Can be difficult to put weight on the foot
• Toe can become black and blue over the next few days
• Bruising under the nail
• Stiffness

Why does a stubbed toe hurt?

A person’s toes are densely populated by nerve endings that relay sensory feedback to their central nervous system, like pain sensations. Your brain is programmed to give top priority to sensory input from your feet because they are in touch with the ground. Your feet play a critical role in helping to prevent harm to your body. Unlike other areas of your body your toes have little muscle or fatty tissue to absorb the force of an impact. These are the reasons that a person experiences excruciating pain when you stub your toe.

Causes

A stubbed toe is often the result of walking barefoot , wearing open toed shoes, or wearing sandals, and colliding with a curb, a piece of furniture, or anything hard. Many times people stub their toe when they get up in the middle of the night and do not turn on the light, resulting in hitting furniture or some other object with their foot.

Diagnosis

When stubbing your toe it could be fractured or stubbing it may also cause other injuries like a contusion, tendon injury, ligament sprain, dislocation, or other soft tissue injuries. All of these other injuries are caused by the identical thing that causes a toe fracture. To determine if your stubbed toe is fractured or has another soft tissue injury your doctor will usually order x-ray to make the right diagnosis. In children, stubbed toe injuries can cause in an injury that is more serious, especially if it is their big toe they stubbed. Stubbing their big toe can result in developing osteomyelitis or an open fracture. Osteomyelitis is an infection that can happen if treatment is delayed for an open fracture.

Check your stubbed toe

Make sure that you inspect your toe immediately after stubbing it to make sure that the skin is intact because any break in the skin could invite an infection. In addition to looking for a skin break you should also check to see if it has a misaligned or bent appearance, if it is bleeding, has a misplaced or broken nail, or any heavy discoloration and/or swelling. Even if you did not see any skin breaks or anything abnormal when the injury happened you should check your toe over the next few days to see if there are any changes.

How to treat a stubbed toe?

When stubbing your toe most take a “wait and see” approach because most injuries with a stubbed toe will often resolve without any treatment. The primary treatment is to take as much rest as possible. You should also apply an ice pack to help reduce the swelling and pain. Apply it for 15 – 20 minutes at a time several times a day. You can also massage your stubbed toe with an ice cube for ten to fifteen minutes every couple of hours. Do not use this treatment if you have a problem with circulation or diabetes. Massaging with an ice cube could limit the blood circulation which is not a good thing. You should not use heat on a stubbed toe because anything hot will dilate the blood vessels that are torn immediately. This can cause a buildup of fluid in your stubbed toe.

You should avoid putting pressure on the toe as much as possible. When you are sitting, elevate the foot of the stubbed toe to also help reduce swelling. If you leave your foot hanging down the blood runs into and can increase the swelling. To help with the pain and swelling you can take over-the-counter pain medication. If there is a break in the skin clean the area and apply an antibacterial cream, then cover with a bandage. After stubbing your toe you should try to avoid wearing shoes that are tight-fitting until any swelling or pain goes away. Wear sandals or other open toed shoes or shoes that are wide enough to not put pressure on your stubbed toe.

Sometimes when you stub your toe it can cause your nail to break or tear off. If your nail is still partially attached you should cover it with an adhesive bandage in order to give the toenail to reattach itself. If it falls off within a few days make sure that you cover it to help prevent an infection. If the nail does not reattach itself gently clip it off so it does not catch itself on something and gets pulled off.

After checking your stubbed toe it is important to immobilize it. When you stub your toe, muscles or ligaments could be strained or sprained and any excess movement could make the injury worse and prevent adequate healing. You should immobilize your stubbed toe with a splint to prevent allow the tissues to heal on their own and to prevent movement. You can do this at home by using medical tape to secure the stubbed toe to the one next to it. If you think it might be broken do not do this because you could do more harm than good.

When you are diagnosed with a broken toe you should see a podiatrist. Depending on how severe the fracture is the foot doctor may implement one of the following treatments:

• Securing your stubbed toe to another toe
• Splinting your broken toe
• Surgery to reset a severe fracture
• Assigning corrective and protective footwear

When your stubbed toe is broken, to completely heal, it can take six to eight weeks.

Complications

With a stubbed toe the two complications that are most likely to happen are osteoarthritis or infection. The infection could start when the skin which is closer to your stubbed toe is broken open. If you have an ingrown toenail in the toe that you stub it could cause an ingrown toenail infection. This could make it necessary for antibiotics and/or debridement.

If the person is immuno-compromised, like a person with diabetes, they are more at risk to develop an infection even after minor injuries like a stubbed toe that has broken skin. This could lead to a bone infection or an ulcer on their foot. Osteoarthritis is often referred to as a wear and tear medical condition. The reason is that osteoarthritis will typically develop over time with the breakdown of cartilage in the joints. Osteoarthritis could also develop months or even years after an injury. Developing osteoarthritis in your big toe is often caused by dropping a heavy object on your big toe or stubbing it. You can also suffer from stiffness but this can be prevented if you keep moving the stubbed toe gently.

How to tell if a stubbed toe is broken?

There are several signs or symptoms that can indicate that your stubbed toe is actually broken, which can include:

• Pain that continues for several hours or the pain returns when you put pressure on the toe
• Swelling that lasts for a few days
• Discoloration that lasts for several days
• Bleeding under the toenail
• An abnormal appearance of the stubbed toe
• An audible sound at the time the injuries

The symptoms listed do not always mean that a toe fracture has happened but you should still visit your physician. If a fractured toe is not treated it could result in complications, which could be more pain, and time-consuming or costly treatment. One thing to note is that if you stub your toe and it is broken you can still walk on it and you may not be in any pain following the injury. Because of the swelling wearing shoes and walking may start to become difficult.

When to see a doctor?

If you are still experiencing symptoms after several days, it is best to contact your physician. When seeing your physician they will want an explanation of how you stubbed your toe and what symptoms you have experienced when it happened and afterward. Sometimes when you stub your toe you could develop a subungual hematoma, which is a collection of blood under your toenail. If it is a large injury you should visit your physician for treatment. The physician will make a little hole in your toenail and drain the blood that has collected there.

Exercises to help with the stiffness

If you know that your toe is not broken there are different exercises that you can do to help keep your stubbed toe from becoming stiff. One important thing to remember is that you should begin to exercise your stubbed toe very gently and if it starts to hurt stop. Start off with gentle, simple range-of-motion exercises. These can help to relieve some of the swelling and pain by improving the circulation in the stubbed toe and foot. Gently bend the stubbed toe with your fingers and hold it for ten seconds. Slowly straighten your stubbed toe back out and relax for ten seconds. Start out doing this five times and work your way up to doing it ten times. You should do this three times a day.

Other exercises that you can do can include:

• Towel pick-up and stretch: to do this exercise you sit on a chair and toss a towel on the floor in front of you. Pick it up with your toes, making sure that you are keeping your heel flat on the floor. Drop it and repeat ten to twenty times. You can also sit on the floor and stretch your injured foot out in front of you. Slip the towel around the ball of your foot and then grasp the ends of it with both hands. While pulling the towel toward you make sure that you are keeping your knee straight. Hold your foot in that position for ten to twenty seconds and then relax your foot. Repeat three times.
• Heel raises: stand up and hold onto a countertop or chair. Shift your weight onto the counter or chair and slowly raise yourself up onto your toes. Hold that position for five seconds and then lower yourself to the floor slowly. Repeat five times and work up to ten times. Do three sets a day. When starting this exercise do it using both feet but when it becomes less painful try doing it only on the foot with the stubbed toe.
• Toe raises: stand up and distribute your weight over both feet evenly. Keep your feet flat and rock backward. Shift your weight onto your heels and then raise your toes off of the floor. Hold that position for five seconds. Repeat ten times and do three sets.

When exercising your stubbed toe you can alternate between these exercises. You can also do other non-weight-bearing exercises like swimming as this type of exercise will put less pressure on your stubbed toe. If you have been diagnosed with a broken toe do not do any exercises without your physician’s permission.

Why are your toenails thick? Get more insights on how to get rid of your thick, unattractive toenails and find out the various causes, treatment and home remedies to trim your thick yellowish toenails.

Toenails do more than just adorning your feet

Yes, you read it right! Toenails are not vestigial and they have more functions than just making your feet look beautiful. Toenails help you in balancing while walking or dancing by providing counter-pressure. Toenails also protect the tip of your toe bones to some extent. Moreover, changes in the appearance of toenails may be indicative of certain diseases. For instance, pitty or scaly toenails may occur as a symptom of connective tissue disorder.

Causes of Thick Toenails

Your toenails may sometimes become thick and difficult to trim. Toenails become thick due to variations in the nail bed, plate and root. The changes may be temporary or permanent depending on the severity of the cause. Most of the times, thick toenails are caused due to fungal infection and getting rid of the fungal infection may be an arduous task.

Fungus

Fungal toenail infection, medically termed as Onychomycosis, is associated with pain and may sometimes cause disfigurement of the toenails. However, pain and disfigurement appear as the disease progresses. In the initial stages, thick toenails due to fungal infection may appear only as a cosmetic concern. Albeit, as the thickness of the toenail increases, it starts pressing against the inside of the shoes, thereby causing a lot of pain and discomfort. Eventually, onychomycosis may lead to loss of dexterity, thus causing serious physical and occupational limitations.
Thick toenails due to fungal infection are characterized by brittle nails with yellowish discoloration, which may gradually turn into green or black color.

Thickening of the toenail due to fungal infection is more common in immunocompromised people. It occurs more in the elderly population as compared to younger people. Advanced form of fungal infection, called dystrophic onychomycosis, may cause permanent damage to the toenails. Fungal toenail infection may be contagious. Therefore, care should be taken to avoid sharing footwear with people suffering from thick toenails.

Candida albicans

Sometimes, a yeast known as Candida albicans may also cause thickening of your toenails. Along with thick toenails, candida infection presents additional symptoms like inflammation of the nail fold and separation of the nail from the nail bed. Some of these fungal infections may also be a source of a foul cheesy odour emanating out of your toenails.
Thick toenails caused due to fungal infections can be easily identified by the appearance. However, confirmatory lab tests should be carried out before commencement of treatment in order to avoid misdiagnosis of some other medical condition such as this.

Trauma of the nail

Apart from the infection caused by fungus, thick toenails can be caused due to trauma to the nail. Thickening of nails due to trauma, medically known as Onychauxis, may occur as a result of dropping something heavy, like a hammer, on your toe or wearing poorly fitted shoes. Thick toenails occurring due to trauma can be identified by presence of cuts or bumps around the toenail. Generally, trauma causes thickening of the upper part of your toenails. Your nails may turn yellow or white in color and may start falling apart from the edges.

Certain medical conditions like acromegaly, Darier’s disease or Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris may also cause onychauxis.

Hereditary

Another factor responsible for thickening of toenails is heredity. A person whose mother or father has thick toenails may face a similar issue at some point in his life.

Poor circulation of blood

Toenails require adequate blood supply to appear healthy and grow properly. Any medical condition which hinders the blood supply to the lower extremities may cause the toenails to thicken. For instance, thick toenails are often observed in people suffering from psoriasis and diabetes, in which blood supply to the lower extremities is poor.

Ageing

Thick toenails may also occur as a result of the natural process of ageing. As the age increases, the blood flow to the lower body diminishes, thereby giving rise to thick toenails.

Thick Toenails Treatment

So, I want to get rid of my thick toenails, how do I treat them?

Antifungal Medication

Thick toenails may often be difficult to treat. If the thick toenails are caused due to fungal infection, cutting your toenails may be cumbersome as the toenails may be very brittle and may crack in the middle. The doctor may prescribe oral or topical antifungal medicines to treat the fungal infection. The effectiveness of topical antifungal agent may be less due to its limitations in penetrating into the deeper parts of the nail. The oral antifungal medicines are very effective but they may affect the functioning of the liver. A combination of oral and topical antifungal agent may however be useful and may help in reducing the severity of the side effects caused by oral antifungal medicines. Even after complete treatment of thick toenails due to fungal infections, the rate of recurrence is high.

Surgery

Recently, surgical and laser intervention for removal of fungal infection from toenails are available. Surgical procedures like nail avulsion or matrixectomy make use of chemicals to remove the thick toenails using a urea compound. Laser treatment makes use of laser beam to penetrate the nail tissue and heat to kill the fungus growing in the toenails. Laser treatment is very costly, painful and the success rate is very low. Therefore, surgery and laser treatment should be used only as the last resort to cure thick toenails due to fungal infections. Moreover, these become ineffective when used alone and need to be combined with oral and topical antifungal agents for best results.

Prevention of thick toenails

You can prevent occurrence of thick toenails due to fungal infection by following a few precautionary measures. Firstly, avoid sharing footwear and socks with other people. Secondly, do not go barefoot into public showers and bathrooms. Thirdly, make sure that instruments used for pedicure are appropriately sterilized. Keep your toenails trimmed and wear synthetic socks that will absorb your sweat(especially while running). Dusting some antifungal powder in your gym and sports shoe may help keeping fungal infections away from your toenails.

Treating Onychauxis

Onychauxis can be treated by trimming the nails regularly. Most importantly, treatment of onychauxis involves finding out the root cause behind the condition. If you are suffering from thick toenails as a result of underlying medical conditions like psoriasis or diabetes, treating the root cause may improve the appearance of your nails.

Regular workout and exercise can help in improving the blood flow to the lower limbs, thereby reducing the risk of formation of thick toenails due to insufficient blood supply. In extreme cases, complete or partial removal of the affected toenail may be required.

Home Remedies

• Various home remedies like soaking your feet in hot water containing antibacterial mouthwash/ soap/ epsom salt or vinegar may prove to be useful in treating thick toenails.
• Dry your feet immediately after cleaning as moisture promotes the growth of fungus.
• Applying tea tree oil, vicks vaporub or orange oil directly to the toenails have also been reported to be effective in treating thick toenails, however the efficacy of these home remedies is not clinically proven.
• Use of comfortable shoes with ample space for toes help in reducing the development of thick toenails caused due to trauma. Always tie your shoelaces tightly so as to prevent your foot from sliding to the front.

Thick or brittle toenails may sometimes occur as a result of nutritional deficiencies. Dietary modifications may also help in prevention of thick toenails. Incorporating vitamin C- rich food like cabbage, oranges, grapes and cauliflower in your daily diet may help improve the appearance of nails.

Trimming of Thick Toenails

How can I make trimming thick toenails a less painful affair?

Cutting a thick toenail may be very painful and inconvenient. Moreover, there is a possibility that the infection due to onychomycosis may spread to other parts of the toe. Diabetes is known to delay wound- healing process. Therefore, people suffering from diabetes should take care to prevent injury while trimming toenails.
However, trimming the toenails from time to time makes the nails look clean. Most of the times, nail cutter alone may not be of much use for cutting thick toenails. Using a nail file along with the nail cutter may help in reducing the thickness of your toenail. Sterilize the nail file and nail cutter every time before and after use.

Soaking your feet in warm water for 10 – 15 minutes before cutting your nails helps in softening the nails. Applying moisturizer to your toenails also helps in softening them, thereby making it easier and less painful to cut the toenails. Care should be taken to avoid excessive softening of the toenails so as to avoid injury to the nail bed while cutting.

Cutting the toenail in straight line is advisable in order to prevent development of ingrown nails. Selection of the right tool for trimming the toenail is absolutely essential. A heavy duty toenail clipper may be required to trim extremely thick toenails. An emery blade may be used to smoothen the rough edges of the toenail. However, if the thick toenails become difficult to cut and cause a great deal of pain and sometimes bleed, it is advisable to visit a podiatrist or a physician immediately.

Thick Toenails Pictures

Have a look at some of the pictures of thick toenails

Thick toenails affecting the big toe

Thick yellowish toenails