- Fungal Toenail Causes
- When To Seek Help
- Diagnosis
-
Comments
-
**COMMENTSTAGLIST**
-
More
-
**OTHERTAGLIST**
Healthy toenails are smooth, translucent, or pink, without any pits. Nails are made up of keratin (a protein) and comprise various parts, such as nail bed, nail plate, nail folds, cuticle, and lunula.
Yellow toenails are typically caused by a fungal infection called onychomycosis. Rarely, it can infect fingernails. This fungus causes the toenail to appear thick, yellowish-brown, become brittle (breaks easily), and distorted, which make them appear ragged.
Home remedies that can help treat yellow toenails include:
- Baking soda: Soak the affected nail in hot water mixed with baking soda. Make sure the water is warm and not too hot. This treatment is not recommended in people with diabetes (who are susceptible to burns due to undetected diabetic neuropathies).
- Vitamin E: Include a good amount of foods rich in vitamin E, such as sunflower or soybean oil, almonds, peanuts, spinach, pumpkin, and sunflower seeds.
- Over-the-counter antifungal nail creams or powders: Constant use may prevent the spread and growth of the fungus.
- Oils: Apply oil such as the following to the infected nail multiple times a day
- Olive oil leaf extract
- Coconut oil
- Tea tree oil
Thick yellow toenails can be prevented using certain preventive measures, such as:
- Wear shoes in pools or any other areas of wetness
- Sweat-absorbing socks can prevent the growth of fungus
- Clean and wash the feet regularly
- Pat dry the toenails after a shower
- Trim toenails often and keep the edges smooth
- Avoid walking barefoot in locker rooms or public showers
- Topical treatments, such as antifungal ointments, help stop further spread of infection
What does it mean when your toenails are yellow?
Fungal infections are common in toenails due to the moist and warm environment present around feet. Yellow toenails could be caused by cheap nail paints or nail paint removers.
Dermatophytes, yeasts, molds, and other fungi can cause toenail infections, giving them unpleasant odors.
Very rarely, yellow toenails can be a sign of a disease called yellow nail syndrome, characterized by a triad of thickened yellow nails, primary lymphedema, and respiratory manifestations.
A fungal toenail infection is more likely to develop due to:
- Athlete’s foot (ringworm of the foot)
- Occupational exposure to wet areas
- Smoke
- Weak immunity caused by the human immunodeficiency virus
- Wear occlusive footwear
- Diseases, such as diabetes and psoriasis
- Repeated nail injuries
- Hyperhidrosis (abnormal excessive sweating)
- Poor blood circulation due to peripheral vascular disease or autoimmune diseases
When to see a doctor
Mild infections can be treated using home remedies and over-the-counter antifungal medications. However, despite all measures, if the toenails continue to remain discolored and deformed, seek advice from a healthcare provider.
In case of bleeding, swelling, and pain in the toenails, if a person suffers from diabetes or psoriasis or the infection seems to be spreading, an immediate appointment with the doctor is necessary to rule out diabetic foot ulcers and gangrene.
Doctors can best analyze the reason for infection and decide a treatment plan accordingly, which may include oral or topical antifungal medications, such as terbinafine, itraconazole, and fluconazole, or removal of the affected nail.
How are yellow toenails diagnosed?
The doctor will examine the affected nail, ask questions about the symptoms, and confirm the diagnosis via a fungal culture.
- (A nail clip sample will be sent to a laboratory to be visualized under a microscope.)
SLIDESHOW
Common Causes of Foot Pain See SlideshowTosti A. Onychomycosis. Medscape. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1105828-overview#a3
American Family Physician. Treating Onychomycosis. https://www.aafp.org/afp/2001/0215/p663.html
Elewski BE. Onychomycosis: pathogenesis, diagnosis, and management. Clin Microbiol Rev. 1998;11(3):415-429. doi:10.1128/CMR.11.3.415
Cleveland Clinic. Toenail Fungus. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11303-toenail-fungus
Top How Do You Get Rid of Yellow Toenails Related Articles
Can a Nail Grow Back if Removed?
Yes, nails have good regeneration capacity, but they grow slowly. Fingernails may grow one-tenth of a millimeter each day, so completely removed fingernails usually grow within 6 months. Toenails may grow at about one-half or one-third the rate of the fingernails, so completely removed toenails may grow within 18 months.
Foot Pain
Foot pain may be caused by many different diseases, deformities, biomechanical conditions, improper footwear, or injuries. Pain and tenderness may be accompanied by joint looseness, swelling, weakness, discoloration, and loss of function.
Ingrown Toenails: Infection, Causes, Prevention, Surgery
How are ingrown toenails removed? What about ingrown toenail infections? Get informed about the causes of ingrown nails, as well as prevention tips for ingrown toenails. Pain and swelling can be the initial symptoms of an ingrown toenail. Learn about ingrown toenail surgery and the best medications.
Fungal Nail Infection Picture
Nails that are infected with a fungus may become discolored (yellowish-brown or opaque), thick and brittle, and may separate from the rest of the nail. See a picture of Fungal Nail Infection and learn more about the health topic.
Fungal Nails
Fungal nails (onychomycosis) may be caused by many species of fungi, but the most common is Trichophyton rubrum. Distal subungal onychomycosis starts as a discolored area at the nail's corner and slowly spreads toward the cuticle. In proximal subungal onychomycosis, the infection starts at the cuticle and spreads toward the nail tip. Yeast onychomycosis is caused by Candida and may be the most common cause of fungal fingernails.
How Do You Fix a Laceration on a Nail Bed?
Nail bed injuries are the most common type of fingertip injuries seen in emergency rooms. If you get injured on your nails, you must remove jewelry, clean the area with soap and water, trim the nail, stop the bleeding, apply ice and elevate the area. Seek help in the ER for a more serious nail bed injury.
Ingrown Toenail
Ingrown toenails are caused by the growth of the toenail into the surrounding nail fold. Symptoms and signs include toe pain, swelling, redness, and yellow drainage. Treatment at home involves soaking the affected foot in diluted white vinegar or Epsom salts, elevating the foot, and trimming the nails straight across. Surgery is also an option for severe cases. Prevent ingrown toenails by wearing shoes with a wider toe box and avoiding repeated injury to the toenails. Avoid curving or cutting the nails short at the edges.
Nail Disorders: What Nails Say About Your Health
Nail disorders and diseases may be a sign of problems in the body. Nails can be spoon-shaped, blue, or have white lines. Some nail disorders may indicate diseases ranging from psoriasis to squamous cell carcinoma.
Perfect Pedicure Guide
Explore tips for a perfect pedicure. From cuticles and calluses to nail polish and tools, strive for perfect toes and feet with these tips on how to get the most out of your pedicure and prevent infections.
silicon
Silicon is taken as a dietary supplement to strengthen bones and improve hair, skin, and nail health. There are no known side effects from oral ingestion of silicon supplements. Inhaled silicon can cause: liver disease, kidney injury, increased risk for tuberculosis, and autoimmune disease. Consult with your doctor if pregnant or breastfeeding.
What Does It Mean if Your Nails Are White?
White nails are indicative of any or a combination of the conditions including anemia, overuse of nail polish, weak nails, kidney disease, heart disease, diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and liver disease.
What Does It Mean When Your Toenails Are Yellow?
If the toenails are turning yellow, it could be a result of multiple issues. Some may be less serious such as aging or chemicals in nail polish. However, it could also mean there is a more serious systemic medical condition for which medical treatment is required.