If you’re beginning to notice issues with your toenails, you should consider your treatment options before the issues become worse.
Toenail fungus is a very common nail condition that’s most prevalent among individuals who are 70 years old or older. It begins with the development of a small spot just underneath the front of the toenail. This spot is usually yellow or white in color. If you don’t tend to this problem immediately, the fungus will continue to spread, which will invariably cause the affected toenail to thicken and become discolored. These nails can also start to fall apart as the condition progresses. Over time, it’s possible for the fungus to spread to surrounding toes.
If you feel as though you might be suffering from toenail fungus, look for any yellow or white discoloration below the toenail. Other symptoms of toenail fungus occur when the toenail smells poorly, becomes brittle, is misshapen, or thickens.
Ingrown toenails are relatively common, and can be surprisingly painful. This condition results from the corner of your toenail growing directly into the surrounding flesh, which can create a variety of problems until the condition has been treated and the nail properly heals.
When taking a look at ingrown toenails, the primary symptom with this condition is high amounts of pain just beside the rest of your toenail. This pain will worsen when you touch the sensitive area. Redness and swelling are also common until the condition has been treated.
When the ingrown nail is at its worst, it’s possible for pus to start leaking from the injured toenail. The symptoms associated with toenail trauma are numerous and depend on the type of trauma that’s occurred. The primary symptoms include pain, the presence of dark red spots below the nail, a torn nail, bleeding, and discoloration.
Toenail trauma refers to any kind of impact injury to the toe that has affected the nail. This type of trauma can also lead to the development of a subungual hematoma, which occurs when blood pools underneath the nail. When you’ve suffered from a trauma to your toenail, it’s important that the injury site is treated quickly to keep the effects of the trauma from worsening.
Understanding the causes of these nail problems may help you avoid them in the future.
The treatments that are used for toenail problems will be determined by the extent of the injury or condition and the type of problem or symptoms that you are experiencing.
If you’re suffering from toenail fungus, the most successful treatment option involves taking anti-fungal pills that will be prescribed to you. Taking anti-fungal pills will help the fungus to disappear completly (in anywhere from a few weeks to a couple of months).
If you have an ingrown toenail and you’re unable to get rid of the ingrown nail yourself, the nail can be lifted or removed, which can be either a partial or complete removal depending on the severity of the ingrown nail.
Minor toenail trauma (such as stubbing the toe or shutting a toe in a door) usually calls for medication only. More severe toe trauma (such as dropping something very heavy on your foot) will perhaps require surgery.
Be aware that toenail growth will most likely slow significantly after trauma. It may take six months to two years for the damaged toenail to fully grow back.
Whether your toenail conditions require an in-office treatment or a surgical solution, our team at Dr. Salma Aziz, Foot and Ankle Speciality Group Inc. has you covered. We are a modern, family-friendly podiatry office serving the Rancho Santa Margarita and Newport Beach area since 2001. Founded by American Board of Podiatric Surgery Fellow member Dr. Salma Aziz and with foot and ankle experts Dr. Petrina Yokay and Dr. Jessica Arneson, we are a professional, nurturing female doctor group serving families, individuals, and active people of all kinds. We follow up with care, and our practice is about getting people back to their activities and life.
