Hundreds of thousands ofpeople suffer from some type of toenail problems. Unfortunately, there is a wide range of nail problems, and some of them are much more common than the rest.
Depending on the exact condition, one of the symptoms is severe pain. There are some nail problems that don’t cause any pain while others can cause excruciating pain. Some conditions are more embarrassing than painful.
There are six common toenail problems that people need to be aware of. While some of these issues can be cured with simple remedies, others might require surgical or laser treatment.
Nail Fungus
Out of all of the different nail problems, fungus is easily the most common. Every day, dermatologists diagnose countless cases of nail fungus. Although it’s possible for fungus to develop on any type of nail, it’s likely to develop on toenails. The conditions inside of shoes facilitate the growth of fungus.
An obvious sign of nail fungus is discoloration. When toenails get attacked by fungus, they become a greenish/ yellowish color. Another sign that fungus is present is thick toenails.
If the fungus is given enough time to spread deep into the nail, it will cause the nail to become thick and crumbly. Inflammation and swelling can occur, and pain is a common symptom.
A severe fungal infection causes the nail to actually grow away from the nail bed. Although there are other types of treatment, the best way to get rid of fungus is laser treatment.
Leuconychia
This is another common toenail problem. After discovering a white spot on their toenail, many people believe they have some sort of vitamin deficiency.
People don’t realize that a gentle bump against a hard object can cause damage to cells found in the nail cuticle. This can cause the white spot to appear. Put simply, these white spots are the result of trauma, and there is no treatment for them because they will grow out with the nail.
Ingrown Toenail
Another common toenail problem is an ingrown nail. Out of the list of nail problems, an ingrown toenail is one of the most painful. The majority of ingrown nails affect the big toe. When an ingrown toenail occurs, it’s a nail that curls and grows into the skin of the toe.
A lot of people end up with a minor ingrown toenail, and they may never even notice the problem. However, in some cases, this problem can be severe and cause extreme pain. Aside from creating a wound and bleeding, an ingrown nail can pave the way for an infection.
Blue and Black Nails
This is another common toenail problem. This problem is easy to understand because it’s exactly what it sounds like. This problem occurs when the nail bed sustains serious injury.
If this happens, the nail bed will turn black, blue and red. When the injury first occurs, there can be severe pain, but it shouldn’t take long to subside. In some cases, treatment might be needed, but this problem will usually heal on its own.
Nail Trauma
Trauma is another common toe problem. And it’s possible for this problem to lead to permanent disfigurement of the nail. Standard podiatric care can help with nail trauma, which might include use of a specialized drill and filing.
Nail trauma occurs when a nail’s growth matrix is damaged. An acute injury can cause nail trauma. Or it can be caused by repetitive rubbing against a hard surface.
Miscellaneous Infections
This represents a range of different toe problems. Several different types of infections can cause inflammation of the toenail matrix (onychia).
Another condition, paronychia, causes tissue adjacent to the toenail to become tender and sore. While some of these issues disappear on their own, a toenail fungus should be cured with laser treatment.
