Your toenails serve a purpose, which is to protect your toes. They’re made from keratin, which is the same protein that makes up your skin, hair, and fingernails. It’s keratin that makes them tough and resilient to daily wear and tear.
Additionally, what your toenails say about your health?
Your toenails tell a lot about your overall health. A fungal infection often causes thickened yellow toenails. Thick, yellow nails also can be a sign of an underlying disease, including lymphedema (swelling related to the lymphatic system), lung problems, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
Just so, what is wrong with my toenails?
Common causes of fingernail problems include injury, infection and skin diseases such as eczema and psoriasis. Causes of toenail problems include trauma, ill-fitting shoes, poor circulation, poor nerve supply and infection. Problems with toenails can be successfully treated by a podiatrist.
What are signs of diabetic feet?
Signs of Diabetic Foot Problems
- Changes in skin color.
- Changes in skin temperature.
- Swelling in the foot or ankle.
- Pain in the legs.
- Open sores on the feet that are slow to heal or are draining.
- Ingrown toenails or toenails infected with fungus.
- Corns or calluses.
- Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel.
Why do toenails get thick?
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 does poor circulation in your feet look like?
People with poor circulation may notice their feet feel cold or numb. They may also notice discoloration. The feet may turn red, blue, purple, or white. These symptoms may worsen in certain situations, such as when a person sits still for long periods of time or goes outside in cold weather.
What are the signs of unhealthy nails?
Abnormalities of the fingernail
- discoloration (dark streaks, white streaks, or changes in nail color)
- changes in nail shape (curling or clubbing)
- changes in nail thickness (thickening or thinning)
- nails that become brittle.
- nails that are pitted.
- bleeding around nails.
- swelling or redness around nails.
- pain around nails.
Why are the bottom of my feet black?
In some instances, red blood cells may leak outside the varicose veins. These cells carry some red pigment that, over time, may turn black in color. When these cells end up in your feet, they may contribute to the darker skin color.
Does Vicks Vapor Rub soften toenails?
One common thing that comes up are products that contain menthol. So Vicks VapoRub is a common nail remedy for nail fungus. It probably won’t help. But it won’t hurt anything either.
Does Vicks VapoRub cure toenail fungus?
Vicks VapoRub
Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment. Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients (camphor and eucalyptus oil) may help treat toenail fungus. A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a “positive clinical effect” in the treatment of toenail fungus.
What is the white hard stuff under my toenails?
Keratin is a protein that promotes the development of the skin and nails. 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.
Can deformed toenails be fixed?
Treatments for the disease vary, but the most common are steroid-based creams that are rubbed directly onto the affected area(s). Although psoriasis is prevalent, it may not be the reason for your deformed toenails.
What are spoon nails a sign of?
Spoon nails (koilonychia) are soft nails that look scooped out. The depression usually is large enough to hold a drop of liquid. Often, spoon nails are a sign of iron deficiency anemia or a liver condition known as hemochromatosis, in which your body absorbs too much iron from the food you eat.
Can poor circulation affect toenails?
The symptoms that often accompany poor circulation can include a tingling and numbing sensation in the hands and feet, swollen toes, and toenails may be brittle and discolored.