Unsightly Toenails
What Is It?
Having changes to the appearance of your toenails that leave them looking unattractive and damaged is a big concern for many people, especially when they’re forced to hide their toenails beneath socks or closed-in shoes.
Some common causes of nails that deteriorate in their structure and appearance include:
- Fungal nail infection: fungal nail infections often start with small spotting or streaking in the nail and progressively worsen over time. Fungal nails may thicken, become flaky or brittle, develop a yellow or white discolouration, have a build-up of debris beneath the nail, and the nail may even lift from the nail bed.
- Damage to the nail: nail damage can occur in either a short time frame, such as when something heavy lands on your toe or you stub it, or your nail may worsen over time from repeated damage, such as from tight footwear that presses on the nail with every step. While some trauma causes damage to the toenail itself meaning the nail may grow thick or distorted, other trauma can lead to bleeding beneath a large portion of the nail. Over time, the effects of the dried blood beneath the nail can cause it to separate from the nail bed, and require it to be trimmed very far back for hygiene purposes, leaving only a small amount of the toenail behind.
- Ingrown toenails: having repeated ingrown toenails can lead to your toe often looking red, swollen, having discharge and more. These symptoms can also lead to maceration of the skin surrounding the nail, and weakening of the nail itself.
Can You Fix It?
Yes, our podiatrists are highly experienced in treating toenails that have become unsightly or damaged, and you don’t have to damage your toenail further in the process by covering it up with salon pedicures.
How Can You Fix It?
Depending on the cause of the change in appearance of your toenails, we have a range of treatment options available, which include:
Thinning and trimming the toenails
As part of our skin and nail care appointments, we use medical-grade instruments to easily trim even the toughest and thickest toenails. Afterwards, we use a burr to reduce the surface thickness of the nail down to a more comfortable and often more aesthetically pleasing level, which also removes any surface level discolouration, spotting or streaking if present.
Lunula fungal nail treatment
The Lunula laser is an anti-fungal nail treatment that uses two, rotating low-level laser beams to destroy the nail fungus. The wavelengths of the laser are cold, meaning that there is no pain or discomfort during your treatment. Lunula has a very high success rate, much higher than any anti-fungal nail cream or lacquer, and higher than antifungal oral medications.
Ingrown toenail surgery
For those whose nail appearance is affected by the presence of one or recurring ingrown toenails, we offer ingrown nail surgery called a partial nail avulsion. This is a safe, effective and permanent solution where a small portion of the edge of the nail is removed and doesn’t regrow. The procedure is painless as it’s completed under local anaesthetic and is done within one hour.
Total nail avulsion
Some toenails are very badly damaged by a range of conditions or problems, so it may be best to remove the entire toenail and start with a ‘blank slate’, with the hope that the nail will regrow healthy and clear. This procedure is also performed under local anaesthetic.
FAQs
What are some other less common causes of unsightly toenails?
Aside from the causes we’ve mentioned above, other causes may include psoriasis (a chronic skin condition that can affect the toenails, causing them to become thickened, discoloured, and pitted), diabetes (which can cause damage to the blood vessels and nerves in the feet, which can lead to thickened, discoloured toenails) and just the natural ageing process, given that our toenails naturally become thicker and more brittle over time, which can make them more prone to cracking and discoloration.
How can I prevent unsightly toenails from developing?
This really depends on the cause of your unsightly toenails. Some causes, like ageing or accidentally trauma to the nails, is difficult to prevent. You can take steps to reduce your likelihood of getting a fungal nail infection or an ingrown toenail by following good nail cutting principles and keeping your feet protected in public areas like changing rooms and showers.
Are unsightly toenails contagious?
Again, this really depends on the cause. If the cause is a fungal nail infection, then yes, this is contagious. Fungal infections can spread from one person to another through direct contact with contaminated surfaces or by sharing items like towels or socks. It’s important to take precautions such as wearing jandals in public areas like communal showers or locker rooms, and not sharing footwear or nail clippers with others, to prevent the spread of toenail fungus.
If the unsightly toenails are due to other causes such as trauma or psoriasis, they are not contagious. It’s always a good idea to practise good hygiene habits like washing your feet regularly, keeping your toenails trimmed, and wearing clean socks and shoes to prevent the development of unsightly toenails regardless of the cause.
Are there any home remedies for treating unsightly toenails?
Again this depends on the cause, but you can do things like washing your feet regularly and drying them well, applying tea tree oil which is a natural antifungal and antibacterial, moisturising your feet daily, and avoiding tight shoes that press on the nails.
Can I still exercise with unsightly toenails?
The only times it may be unsafe to exercise with unsightly nails is if they’re being caused by something like an ingrown toenail, which can cause serious pain and discomfort. Always exercise in clean, dry socks and supportive footwear.