Healthy toenails are smooth, free of ridges and grooves, and evenly pink. Toenail problems range from cosmetic changes, like discoloration, to painful conditions such as an ingrown or injured nail.
When you come in with a toenail problem, our podiatrists examine five parts of the nail:
Every visit also includes a full evaluation of your foot, so problems beyond the nail aren't missed.
Choose the problem that sounds most like yours to learn about its causes and treatment.
The edge of the nail grows into the skin beside it, causing pain, redness and sometimes infection.
A fungal infection that makes nails thick, discolored and brittle, and that can spread to other nails.
If you'd like to try treating a mild fungal nail at home first, this page covers common home remedies.
Home Remedies for Fungal Toenails
The sides of the nail curve inward, pinching the skin along the edges of the toe.
A nonsurgical device designed to treat pincer toenails and chronic ingrown toenails.
A toenail turns dark, usually from bleeding under the nail after repeated pressure or an injury. It's common in runners.
Stubbing a toe or dropping something on it can bruise, crack or loosen the nail.
Fungus usually changes a nail slowly, making it thicker, yellow or white, and crumbly, often on more than one toe. An injury tends to cause a sudden change, like a dark red or black spot under the nail after you stub your toe or drop something on it. A damaged nail can also pick up a fungal infection later, so if you're not sure, have it checked.
Warning signs include thickening; yellow, white or dark discoloration; brittle or crumbling edges; a nail lifting away from the skin; and pain or redness along the sides. A dark streak or spot that appears without an injury should be checked promptly, because in rare cases it can be a sign of melanoma.
Toenails grow about 1.6 millimeters a month, so a nail that's been lost or removed usually takes 12 to 18 months to grow back fully. Growth can be slower in older adults and people with poor circulation.
Toenail changes are usually easier to treat when they're caught early, so check your feet regularly and let us know if something looks or feels different. A podiatrist can tell you what's going on and how to treat it.
