Toenail abnormalities can indicate issues with your health. Usually, they are a sign of a toenail fungus or infection that can often be treated by laser therapy. However, they can also indicate a more serious underlying disease. If your nails have a change in shape, thickness, texture, or color, see your doctor right away.
Common Toenail Abnormalities
There are some common nail abnormalities people suffer from:
Spoon Nails (Koilonychia)
This is when the nail flattens out. Instead of being convex, the nail becomes flat with raised edges. The nail will also lose the natural coloring and become brittle.
Causes:
- Injury
- Iron deficiency
- Renal Disease
- Malnutrition
- Excessive use of oils and soaps
Prevention:
- Avoid nail injury
- Do not bite nails
- Do no wear tight shoes
- Reduce exposure to moisture and nail polish
White Nails (Leukonychia)
This is when there is a white discoloration on the nails. Causes include the use of cytotoxic drugs and a side effect from chemotherapy. This condition can also happen with renal failure, arsenic poisoning, pneumonia, or heart disease. Most commonly, it is caused by an injury to the nail at the base.
Signs and Symptoms:
- Hammer toes
- Skin cysts
- Gingivitis
- Deafness
Keep in mind that diet has nothing to do with this condition. If caused by injury, this condition is harmless and the nails will return to normal once the nails grow.
Nail polish can be used to hide the condition, though use caution as these products can cause an allergic reaction of the skin.
Brittle Nails (Onychorrhexis)
This is when nails become brittle and peel or break easily. Sometimes people are naturally born with thin nails.
Women are mostly affected by this condition, and the most common cause is age. It can also be caused by eczema, psoriasis, fungal nails, and anemia. Other factors include:
- Exposure to cold weather
- Sunburn
- Frequent washing
- Exposure to nail polish remover
Treatments include moisturizers and protecting the hands and feet when using chemicals or when being immersed in water.
Nail Spitting (Onychoschizia)
This is when the nail splits horizontally. It is commonly caused by getting the nails wet frequently and then letting them dry. This dries them out and makes them delicate.
Causes:
- Vitamin deficiency
- Injury
- Psoriasis
- Repetitive wetting and drying of the nails
The best treatment is to avoid wetting and drying the skin. Keeping the nails short and using lotions can also help. Using gloves when doing housework that requires wetting the skin can also help.
