Treatment for ingrown toenails depends on the condition of the nail. In case of infection, oral antibiotics may be prescribed. 

Other treatment options include the following:

• Onyfix is a nonsurgical treatment option for involuted and ingrown toenails. It is an innovative nail correction system that provides painless treatment of almost all forms of involuted and ingrown toenails. 

The system is versatile, allowing your foot care expert to adapt the system individually and affix it to your nail. Onyfix uses a hardened composite to help ingrown or involuted toenails grow back to their natural shape through normal growth without any tension or pain.  

Follow these tips to prevent ingrown toenails:

• Trimming Nails Properly – To avoid ingrown toenails, cut your toenails in a straight line and file down the edges on the side. When you finish, you should still be able to get your fingernail under the sides and end of the nail.
• Wearing Well-Fitted Shoes - Don’t wear shoes that are short or tight in the toe area. You should also avoid shoes that are too loose because they too cause pressure on the toes, especially when running or walking briskly.

Toenail fungus is a common condition that can affect people of any age. Fungal infections can grow in toenails because fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, such as the insides of your shoes.

You may have toenail fungus if your:

• Toenails appear discolored, usually white or yellow
• Toenails become thickened or misshapen
• Toenails are brittle or crumbly
• Toenails have a foul-smell

Toenail fungus can spread from one toe to another and surrounding skin.

Toenail fungus can be caused by:

• Athlete’s foot spreading to the bed of the toenail
• Fungal infection on your foot
• Weakened immune system
• Smoking
• Constricting footwear
• Walking barefoot where someone else with an infection has walked, such as saunas and locker rooms
• Wearing the same sweaty shoes and socks every day
• Working in wet conditions

Toenail fungus can be challenging to treat, and it can take several months for the fungal infection to go away completely. Treatment options may include prescription creams or ointments, oral medications, removal of the toenail to treat the nail bed underneath, or laser therapy.

There are steps you can take to prevent toenail fungus, including:

• Keeping your feet clean and dry
• Avoiding walking barefoot in saunas, locker rooms, pools, and public showers
• Avoiding sharing nail clippers

Patients with diabetes should properly manage their blood sugar levels, as they are at high risk for toenail fungus.

Trauma to your toenail usually results from some form of injury, such as stubbing your toes, dropping something heavy onto your foot, wearing ill-fitting shoes, and picking at your nails. Other traumatic injuries to the toenail may result from a poorly done pedicure or from activities such as running or ballet dancing.

Any significant trauma to the toenail is bound to result in pain or throbbing. Some people may also experience some bleeding or a collection of blood under the toenail.

Other symptoms may include:

• Discoloration
• Thickening of the toenail
• Nail lifting away from the skin

Sometimes injuries to the toe could also cause the toenail to separate completely or partially from the nail bed or cause injury to the underlying bone.

Treatment for toenail trauma depends on the type of injury and can include surgery and /or oral or topical medication.

Clubbed toenails refer to changes under and around the toenails that cause the toes to take on a widened, club-like appearance.

Clubbed toenails are often the result of underlying medical conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and cancer. For some people, it is an inherited trait.

Symptoms of clubbed nails may include:

• Widening and rounding of toenails
• Downward curving of the toenails
• A pronounced angle between the cuticles and nails
• Softening of the nail beds
• Floating appearance of the nails
• Bulging of the tips of the toes

Treatment for clubbed nails requires treating the underlying medical condition.

There are several causes for thick toenails, including toenail fungus, psoriasis, type 1 or 2 diabetes, sudden or repeated trauma or injury to the toenails due to sports activities (e.g., running, dancing, etc.), as well as ill-fitting shoes.

Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that usually causes red, scaly patches on the skin. It can also cause fingernails and toenails to thicken. If psoriasis is the cause of your nail thickness, you are likely to develop ridges on the nails, and the nails may become loose and separate from the nail bed.

Additionally, aging can cause your toenails to thicken.

Over time as the toenails get thicker, you might start experiencing some symptoms, such as:

• Nails become brittle and easy to break
• Nails have a bad odor
• Nails lift from the nail bed easily
• Nails become difficult to cut or trim
• Nails split or crack easily
• Nails become painful

Thick toenails may also change in appearance by taking on a yellow, green, or brown hue and start looking gnarly or have some scaling on the surface.

If thick toenails are left untreated, they can get worse and cause pain. It is, therefore, important to seek medical advice when you notice any discoloration or thickening of the nails. There may be some underlying medical conditions causing these issues that need to be addressed.

The treatment for thick toenails depends on its cause. Your doctor will look at your medical history and examine your nails to determine the appropriate treatment.

For instance, if nail thickening is due to psoriasis, your doctor may prescribe additional medication or recommend topical steroids or injections to help the nails heal.

If you have issues with toenail problems, schedule a consultation with Dr. Tea Nguyen at Pacific Point Podiatry. Call us at (831) 288-3400 or request an appointment online.