There are plenty of reasons that toenails may begin to change color or discolor and some of them may be directly related to toenail fungus or infection.
Common Causes for Toenail Discoloration
Knowing what common causes there are for toenail discoloration may be enough to help users determine if they need medical attention or if the causes are simply superficial. Determining the cause of toenail discoloration is the first step toward remedying the problem and getting feet healthy again.
Injury or Outside Action
In some cases discoloration appears after an injury or after wearing a certain type of shoe or sock or even painting toenails. For simple solutions like painting of the toenail users generally understand that as nail polish seeps into the soft cells of the nail it can cause a staining that may be present until the nail has grown out or been cut.
With things like injury there are distinct colors to watch for, purple, black, blue, and red are colors to consider. With injury the most common causes of discoloration are not in the nail itself but rather in the nail bed. When a foot is injured, blood will often pool at the back of the toenail in the nail bed causing the appearance of discoloration that may be centered in the nail bed rather than in the nail itself. In this case the only remedy is to wait for the bruising to go away on its own or for the nail to separate and fall off.
Infection or Fungus
In other cases fungus or nail bed infection may be the cause of discoloration. In this case yellow, greens, and browns are the common discolorations of nails. With an infection the discoloration is generally infection trying to work its way out of the nail bed and into the rest of the foot. Infection is generally characterized by several other symptoms like smell, pain, swelling, and redness.
With discoloration caused by infection it may be necessary for individuals to see a doctor about removal of the nail or even topical or antibiotic ointment to help fight the infection and kill off the fungus. Fungus and infection can be caused by any number of different factors including contact with an unsanitary surface, ingrown toenails, lacerations or breaks in the skin, and even improper footwear.
If someone suspects infection it is always best to visit a doctor to see if the infection is serious enough to require ointment or other medical intervention. Generally, the signs of infection appear early enough for the patient to see a doctor and save the nail. However, waiting for a long period of time can result in spread of the infection and even loss of the nail if it is not treated quickly.
Clear Toes Clinic Can Help!
If you are experiencing toenail fungus and are looking for a truly effective cure to remedy this ailment, Clear Toe Clinic’s laser removal services has been proven to achieve lasting results and deter the reformation of the fungal infection. Contact us for more details.
