The word "ugly" can be something that means something from person to person. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. But at times, there can be changes that happen to our toenails, or maybe were even born with certain types of toenails that one would consider ugly. If this is you, and your toenails are causing embarrassment, even anxiety, there can be some reasons why. As a foot doctor, I discuss patients' toenails concerns every day. Continue to read below for my 8 Reasons for Ugly Toenails.
8 Reasons For Your Ugly Toenails
Brusing/Hematoma
Probably the most common cause of an ugly toenail that the majority of people will deal with at some point in their lifetime is a brusied toenail. A bruised toenail is caused by bleeding underneath the toenail due to trauma, or injury. This brusing of a toenail is also known as a hematoma.
This trauma can be caused by dropping something on the toenail, from shoes being too tight, from running, dancing, or other activities that cause repeate pressure of your toenail inside footwear or a shoe. Even a pedicure that is too agressive can be a source of nail trauma, and even a black toenail.
An ugly toenail caused by bruising will usually go away on its own. The bleeding that causes the bruise stains the toenail. Because of this, you'll have to wait for the nail to grow out, to get rid of the bruise. This can take several months, if not closer to a year if the bruise is big enough.
Fungus
Another will known, and also common cause for ugly toenails is toenail fungus. Fungus is a type of organism, or living thing that can enter your nail and cause infection.
A nail infected with fungus a lot of times will suffer from toenail thickening. Fungal toenails can also change color, and can even smell.
Toenail fungus can be very difficult to treat, and requires a multi-angle approach including topical medications, oral medications, and optimizing your immune health through a holistic podiatry protocol.
While the fungal nail is growing out, Keryflex can be used during your treatment to give a healthy, normal appearance to your toenail.
Pincer nails
Pincer nails are nails that are extremely curved or curled at one or both corners. Pincer nails can be so severe that the nail grows in a U shape or even an oval, with both corners touching at the end of your toe.
Dealing with a pincer nail can be very painful.
Treatment options for pincer nails include surgery to remove the toenail, or Onyfix, a non-surgical toenail correction system that very slowly un-curves, or straightens the toenail without surgery.
An ingrown nail
An ingrown nail is when one or both corners of a nail grows into the skin of your toe. This can be very painful and even become infected. Some signs of an ingrown nail include redness, swelling, pain, and drainage. An ingrown nail, once it becomes infected should be removed surgically.
For an ingrown nail that is not infected, or has not broken the skin, Onyfix can be used to correct the growth of the nail slowly over time.
An ingrown nail, especially due to the inflammation, and other symptoms that come along with this, can make a toenail potentially look ugly. Thankfully, treatment options are available for an ingrown toenail.
Psoriasis
When people hear the term psoriasis, they think of the skin changes that come with this disease. Psoriasis can also affect your toenails and be a source of ugly toenails.
Toenails affected by psoriasis will suffer from color change, pitting, crumbling, and even lifting.
Aging
As we age, growth and regeneration slow down in so many areas of our body. Our toenails are no exception. Toenails do grow slower and slower as we age. Because of this, keratin the type of cells that make up your toenails, has more of a chance to stack on top of one another as the new toenail is being made, which can lead to thickened, ugly toenails.
Aging as well can also lead to color changes in the toenails as well.
Onychogryphosis
One of the most shocking causes of an ugly toenail is known by the medical term onychogryphosis or Ram's Horn's Nail. The nail grows out very pinched, curved, and thick, just like a ram's horn.
Onychogryphosis can be very painful due to the shape of the nail.
Management of onychogryphosis is either reguular nail trimming, or surgical removal of the toenail.
Lichen Planus
Lichen Planus is a skin condition, that also affects the nails. Nails impacted by lichen plaus involve inflammation and scarring of the nail root, causing pitting, ridges, and thin toenails. An ugly toenail cause by lichen planus can be surgically removed, or covered temporarily with Keryflex.
Key Takeaways
This post just begins to scratch the surface of the many causes of an ugly toenail. These top 8 causes, in my experience as a practicing foot doctor are the most common causes of this. If you have an ugly toenail that would would like to be treat, find a local foot doctor in your area that specializes in this.
Schedule Your Appointment at Direct Podiatry Arizona
Are you need of a podiatrist in Phoenix that can help you with your ugly toenails? My name is Dr. Tarr, I am a board certified podiatrist and the owner of Direc Podiatry Arizona in Tempe. To view my avaliable appointment times, click here.
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