Do Your Toenails Have the Blues?

Many people feel frustrated with their “ugly” toenails. When over-the-counter medications and home remedies fail to produce results, it’s easy to wonder if anything will help. Because the first step to improving your toenails is to understand more about them, today, Dr. Joel Segalman, Dr. Stephen Lazaroff and Dr. Brittany Ciaramello at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC are sharing information regarding some of the conditions that may be affecting your toenails.

Stress: Toenails are thickened extensions of the top layer of skin created from keratin, found in other places of the body. The area located just under the nail is referred to as the nail bed. The toenail’s purpose is to defend the tip of the toe. By doing so, they are subject to a good deal of stress such as stubbing the toe, constantly being surrounded by bacteria and fungus, or hitting the front of your shoes. 

Fungus: Toenail fungus is a rather common infection of the nail bed that reveals itself as a brown, yellow, or white discoloration of the nail with eventual lifting and thickening. It is typically caused by the same type of fungus that causes athlete’s foot. It’s often difficult to treat because of its location, which is under the nail. The best treatment method is medication prescribed by your podiatrist, who can provide the most reliable medications to cure this infection. 

Ingrown Toenail: This is another common problem that for most people occurs when the nail edge of the big toe grows down into the skin. It results in pain along the edge of the nail and sometimes swelling, redness, and discharge from infection. When your nail becomes infected, it’s essential to visit your podiatrist to remove the harmful part of the nail and treat the infection. 

Injured Toenails:Injuries to toenails taken place in a variety of ways. Dropping an object on your toe, continually hitting your toe on the front of your shoe, or stubbing your toe, are all ways nails can be injured. Symptoms of toenail trauma include bruising and blood under the toenail, nail loss, or thickening. After having pain, swelling, or redness for a few days, it is time to visit your podiatrist. They will examine your feet for any broken bones, treat your injury, and take steps to prevent infection. 

If you are experiencing these or any other foot problems, contact the offices of Dr. Joel Segalman and Dr. Stephen Lazaroff at Performance Foot & Ankle Specialists, LLC to schedule an appointment. You can call our Waterbury office at (203) 755-0489 or our Newtown location at (203) 270-6724.