Are your toenails growing thicker than before? Perhaps your toenails are turning yellow or crumbly. Beyond cosmetics, do you have cause for concern? 

From underlying causes to treatment and prevention, here is the Canyon Oaks Foot & Ankle guide on coping with thick toenails. 

Causes of Thick Toenails

If you notice that one or more toenails are growing abnormally thick, you may wonder what is causing the condition. Multiple factors can lead to developing thick toenails.

Common causes of thick toenails include:  

• Age – As we grow older, our toenails naturally thicken. 
• Fungal Infection – Also known as onychomycosis, fungal infections are often the root cause of thick toenails. 
• Injury – Thick toenails often develop after a patient sustains a toe injury, such as dropping something heavy on their toe or cracking their toenail. Bruised toenails can eventually fall off and grow back thicker. 
• Ill-Fitting Shoes – Pressure from poor footwear can eventually cause toenail thickness. 
• Underlying Health Problems – “A common skin condition that causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin (psoriasis)” can lead to thick toenails, according to Mayo Clinic. Additionally, other diseases such as diabetes or circulatory problems can result in developing thick toenails. 

The appearance of your toenails may change over time due to hormones and other factors. While thick toenails may not always cause concern, it’s vital to seek professional input from your podiatrist since the condition may link to a more severe or treatable problem. 

Treatment for Thick Toenails

Since there are many causes of toenail thickness, treating them must be done on a patient by patient basis. While it’s impossible to change some factors such as age, it is possible to treat many conditions that cause thick toenails.

“Those who have problems with the thickness of their toenails should consult a foot and ankle surgeon for proper diagnosis and treatment,” advises the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons.

Your foot and ankle surgeon will help you to identify the cause of your thick toenails and walk you through the road to recovery. 

For example, if you are suffering from a fungal infection, your podiatrist may prescribe an antifungal medication. If an infection is not present, your foot doctor may recommend trimming or grinding the nail. He may also provide tips on better footwear choices. If your nail thickening is due to underlying health problems, your podiatrist will work with your team of physicians to treat the condition.  

How to Prevent Thick Toenails

As with nearly all health matters, the best medicine is prevention. Thankfully, several preventative steps can minimize the risks of growing thick toenails. 

Taking these steps can help prevent you from developing thick toenails: 

• Avoid Fungal Infection – Since thick toenails sometimes result from fungal infection, steer clear of fungal infection by always wearing shoes in public areas. 
• Wear Well-Fitting Shoes – Since ill-fitting shoes can lead to thick toenails, be sure to find shoes that fit your feet comfortably, especially when walking. 
• Avoid Toe Injuries – Since thick toenails often develop after a toe experiences blunt trauma or a lesion, try to protect your feet as much as possible from toenail injuries. 
• Treat Underlying Health Conditions – Since thick toenails can be a sign of an underlying health problem, it’s vital to seek professional diagnosis and receive treatment. 
• Trim Nails Properly – Since poor toenail grooming can affect toenail thickness, always follow your podiatrist’s recommendations on how to trim your toenails properly. 

Talk to your podiatrist for more personal recommendations on how to prevent thick toenails. 

Best Fresno Foot Doctor

Here at Canyon Oaks Foot & Ankle, we work hard to live up to our reputation as the most trusted podiatrists in Fresno, Visalia, and Porterville. Our team of medical staff cares for the needs of each patient as an individual. 

If you are coping with thick toenails or another foot-related health problem, please contact us to set up an appointment.