January 16, 2023
Fact: Your toenails can give you clues about your overall health. That's right, the state of your nails, including toenails, can indicate an underlying health condition. Conversely, healthy nails can be a sign of a healthy lifestyle.
The state of our toenails can differ in a lot of ways. Toenails can splinter, thicken, thin, peel, dry out, break, and pit. Toenail pitting is the focus of this article.
Below, you'll learn about toenail anatomy, the basics of pitting, signs, treatment methods, and preventative measures to keep your nails in good shape.
Toenail anatomy
Before we delve into the details of toenails and pitting, we must understand their anatomy and the part it plays for our feet.
Toenails are the plate-like covers on our toes. Alpha-keratin, a type of protein, comprises toenails. Alpha-keratin is the same protein building block for hair and the outermost layer of our skin (the epidermis). Generally, the toenail is about 0.5 mm thick and slightly curved.
The toenail consists of several distinct components. The toenail includes the nail plate, the cuticle, and the nail folds surrounding the nail's perimeter. The part referred to as the toenail colloquially is the "nail plate."
What's toenail pitting?
Pitting, by definition, is an indentation. Toenail pitting follows the same logic. Pitting of the nail occurs when tiny dents or "pits" form in the nail plate. Toenail pitting is a type of nail abnormality.
Toenail indents can be shallow and only recognizable by touch. Deep toenail pits may be visible due to their concave nature. Within the grooves, some parts of the pitting may be deeper than others, just as there are deeper and shallow parts of a pit.
Nail pitting is generally more common for fingernails, but toenails are also affected.
What causes toenail pitting?
There are several causes for toenail pitting. Toenail pitting reasons range from external trauma to an underlying medical condition. Learn about the various causes of toenail pitting below.
Nail psoriasis
Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory disease that can cause toenail pitting. Those with nail psoriasis produce too many skin cells, causing nail irregularities. According to Healthline.com, approximately 80% of those with psoriatic arthritis experience nail irregularities or changes.
You may be able to recognize nail psoriasis because of two related symptoms: discolouration and nail bed separation. There are a few groups more likely to develop nail psoriasis. At-risk factors include:
People who are over 40 (though psoriasis may occur at any age)
Males
Genetics
Psoriatic arthritis
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, psoriasis can cause toenail pits "remarkably even in size and depth. Their distribution may be haphazard or sometimes arranged in parallel transverse or short longitudinal lines."
Though psoriasis is not curable, you can mask the effects of toenail pitting. You can buff or apply nail polish to hide the indents and improve the aesthetic.
Nail eczema
Eczema is a condition that causes itchy and red skin. The disease can cause nail thickening or pitting when eczema targets the feet.
Habit-tic deformity
Habit-tic deformity on the fingernail.
The habit-tic deformity is a nail condition similar to toenail pitting with several differences. When you constantly pick at your nails, external trauma can create pits in your nail. The habit-tic deformity is most common on the fingernails, specifically the thumbs, but it can also happen on your toenails. For instance, if you sit cross-legged or have your feet at arm's reach, you may develop a habit of picking at your toenails.
The defining features of habit-tic deformity are horizontal ridges across the nail and a slight depression in the middle of the nail plate. The habit-tic deformity is not severe and typically heals if left alone. The condition is known as "washboard nails" because of the horizontal nail ridges.
Reiter's syndrome/reactive arthritis
Those with reactive arthritis may experience toenail pitting. An infection or bacterial infection elsewhere in the body can cause reactive arthritis, also known as Reiter's syndrome. People with a specific type of gene are more likely to develop the condition, as it's believed to be genetic.
How do you fix nail pitting?
Toenail pitting fixes vary. In some cases, like psoriasis, there is no cure. Cosmetic procedures are an option to mask the effects. Removing external trauma can help reverse toenail pitting in cases like a habit-tic deformity.
Additional treatment options include medication applied to the nail itself. Options include steroids, salicylic acid, calcipotriol, cyanoacrylate adhesive (for the habit-tic deformity) and tazarotene.
Is nail pitting serious?
In most cases, nail pitting as a symptom isn't severe. Nail pitting is more often a cosmetic issue than a medical issue. However, the underlying conditions that cause toenail pitting can vary in severity.
October 20, 2022
Toenails aren't always something we pay attention to. They're hidden in our shoes all day long, and when we relax, we can often forget about our feet. But when we notice curled toenails or pincer nails, it's a whole new ball game.
When our toenails curl upward or downward, it can cause a lot of insecurity and self-consciousness. It can be a perplexing condition that occurs alongside other worrisome traits, and they just aren't what healthy toenails should look like.
The slight glimmer of good news is that curled nails don't just occur for no reason. You, your foot care specialist and your family doctor will be able to determine the cause by zeroing in on the additional symptoms. From that point, you can follow a treatment plan to address your curled toenails and your condition.
Here are some common reasons for curled toenails:
Fungal infections
Autoimmune disease
Medications
Diabetic toenail
Genetics
The Connection Between Curled Toenails and Ingrown Toenails
Curled toenails are almost always ingrown, and both conditions arise from the same causes. The growth pattern of an ingrown toenail causes it to curve over time, often curling inward along the sides of the toe (usually the big toe). Eventually, the curled toenail pierces the skin and starts to grow into the skin, causing tenderness, redness, and swelling.
Fungal Infections
Curved toenails can result from fungal infections. Onychomycosis is usually associated with a curling shape in the nails. Other symptoms include dry toenails, a greenish-yellow tint in the nails, thickening and total separation from the nail bed.
Fungal infections resulting in curled toenails usually arise in older people suffering from peripheral vascular disease and diabetes. Having a chronic immunological illness can also be a risk factor.
It's difficult to treat toenail fungus at home, so you should help from a specialist. Patients may take oral prescription anti-fungal pills for 12 weeks. A total nail avulsion performed by a foot specialist may be required in severe cases.
Autoimmune Disease
As we've mentioned, autoimmune conditions can degrade once healthy toenails in addition to curling them.
One example is nail psoriasis, which can completely alter your toenails' structure, colour and texture. Your nails can turn yellow or brown, and tiny red spots may even form. The toenail may also hurt, and grooves and ridges appear. The pain stems from debris formation that alters the direction the nail grows in.
Medications like corticosteroids (injections or potent oral medicines) and tazarotene (for tackling the nail shape) can be particularly useful in treating nail psoriasis.
Medications
The culprit behind your strangely shaped toenails could be drug-induced nail disease. This phenomenon usually causes pain and discomfort in addition to a drastic change in the nail's shape and colour, and nails become more brittle.
Countless drugs can cause curled toenails. Chemotherapy drugs, lithium and antibiotics are just a handful of examples.
Diabetic Toenails
A curved toenail may result from diabetes-related onychogryphosis, or "ram horn," when nails take on a severely curled and thickened appearance. There are also several other variations of diabetic curled toenails.
People with diabetes frequently neglect to cut their toenails because of the shame associated with the complications of their disease, but diabetic nail care should be a top concern.
Diabetic toenails can ultimately lead to irreversible damage like foot ulcerations, skin breakdown and severe infections (even gangrene).
Genetics
Families can pass down certain characteristics that contribute to curled toenails. Factors such as the shape of the nail, the amount of skin surrounding the nail, and even the shape of your toes can be hereditary, making you genetically prone to toenail growth issues. So if you're struggling to understand why you have this recurring problem, it may be a good idea to compare symptoms with your close family.
Remember, you can combat toenail conditions by taking the proper precautions, even when genetics are at play. Be sure to wear properly fitted footwear, take care of your nails, and prevent damage at all costs.
How to Fix Curved Toenails
It's not about fixing the curled toenails; it's about management. Frequently, curled toenails occur alongside another condition, so you may not be able to get rid of them entirely.
Managing your curled toenails involves monitoring them around the clock and the proper nail care. You can figure out a system to help you cope and keep your nails as healthy as possible.
Nail and Foot Care
If you aren't sure how to properly cut curled toenails, don't try to do it yourself. Instead, seek help from a trusted chiropodist or partake in medical pedicures. If you do it yourself without the right knowledge, you are putting yourself at risk of developing an ingrown toenail.
Generally, it's crucial to keep your nails short and clean regularly. You should also use a file to keep your toenail edges smooth and use moisturizers for the cuticles.
Since pincer nails are usually ingrown, you'll want to take extra care and prevent painful, recurring ingrown nails. Wear shoes that fit correctly and leave ample space in the toe box. While everybody should adhere to these guidelines, those struggling with curled toenails must be extra vigilant.
OnyFix
OnyFix is a new, revolutionary, and pain-free way to treat ingrown and curled toenails. Performed by a chiropodist, the non-invasive procedure corrects the natural growth pattern of your toenails, so the experience isn't just a quick fix.
Chiropodists correct the nail growth path by using a composite material in the shape of a thin band. After applying it to the top of the nail, it ensures the rest of the nail grows in a straight direction. With OnyFix, you can enjoy a future without nail issues and relatively instant pain relief (usually noticeable soon after treatment).
October 13, 2022
Under normal circumstances, our toenails are a glassy, somewhat opaque colour. The protective proteins of our toenails, called alpha-keratin, create this consistency. Together with the skin below it, healthy toenails should be pink. Sometimes, however, our toenails change colour. But why?
You may experience toenail discolouration from damage to the toenail itself or from damage to the skin below the nail bed. In both instances, a black spot may appear. It can be a black spot below the toenail, or your toenail itself may change colour.
This article teaches more about black spots under toenails, different kinds of toenail discolouration, and treatments. First, let's explore the nail condition of a black toenail.
What's a black toenail?
Black toenails are a type of nail condition characterized by damage to the skin below the nail. In most cases, a black toenail is a subungual hematoma, especially if you see a black spot. The black area you see is a bruise (a blood vessel breakage causing bleeding near the skin surface.)
However, your toenail may turn black for other reasons. We break down the causes below.
Should I be worried about a black toenail?
Black toenails have several causes, some more common than others.
Common causes
A subungual hematoma is the most common cause of a black spot under your toenail. Trauma, whether acute or chronic, causes a black spot under your toenail. Instances like running with ill-fitting footwear, stubbing a toe, or dropping an item on your toe are common culprits. Due to its length and weight-bearing role, your big toe is the most common toenail for a subungual hematoma. Your toenail may fall off entirely, or you may experience a small black spot. If the latter, you can trim off the black area as your nail grows out.
You may associate a fungal infection with discolouration of the toenail. Although usually a yellow-green, your toenail may also turn black.
In rare cases, ingrown toenails can be the culprit for a black toenail. An ingrown toenail causing a black toenail is usually related to a complication of a previous toenail treatment.
Rare and more severe causes
Malignant melanoma can cause a black toenail: Cancer forms in the cells of our skin that give our skin colour, which causes a black spot.
A B12 deficiency: B12 keeps your nails strong and healthy. A lack of B12 may result in a blackish tint.
Kidney problems
Liver disease
Linear melanonychia can cause black and brown lines that run either with your toenail or horizontally across your toenail.
If you have doubts about the black spot under your toenail, book an appointment with a chiropodist for the next steps and a diagnosis.
What kind of discolourations of a toenail are there?
In addition to black toenails, you may experience other discolouration. Click here to learn about the various shades and causes of discoloured toenails.
How can I treat a discoloured (including a black) toenail?
If you can connect the cause of a black toenail to a common cause—for instance, a stubbed toe—then at-home treatments are sufficient. However, if you haven't had any trauma or damage to your nail, consult a medical professional for treatment options. Here are some ways you can treat a discoloured toenail:
Let it grow out
If your toenail isn't damaged or at risk of falling off, the most effective action is to let the toenail grow out. Expect to wait between 6-9 months to allow your toenail to grow out thoroughly and to be able to trim the black area away.
Cover the toenail
If your toenail dies and falls off, you should cover any exposed parts of the nail bed for 7-10 days. Coat the area with a non-stick bandage and wait for the skin underneath to harden. Once the skin hardens, you can leave the nail and allow it to grow back or use an artificial nail to improve aesthetics.
Visit a chiropodist or foot doctor
If you have damage to your toenail from trauma and need guidance and treatment, visit a chiropodist. Our team of dedicated licensed chiropodists is committed to providing quality care and services for all your foot and ankle needs. They can diagnose, treat and help manage various foot conditions, from callus removal to ingrown toenails to bunions.
Over-the-counter creams and ointments
Ointments and creams are usually effective and can help treat fungal infections. You can also use a prescription antifungal treatment for severe cases of toenail infections.
Buy a new pair of shoes
If you have poorly-fitting shoes causing stress to your toenail, invest in proper footwear for your feet.
October 6, 2022
It's no mystery when you have a stubbed toe. It usually results from a sudden hit or jam into furniture or another foreign object. Tripping over something or getting your toe stuck can also cause this painful nuisance.
The sudden pain from a stubbed toe can be both alarming and momentarily debilitating. While most stubbed toes come and go, it's important to look for signs of a more serious injury and how you can relieve it.
Stubbed Toe: What to Look Out For
Since stubbed toes are so common, most people assume that they don't cause complications or can't be serious. However, stubbed toes can range in severity. It's even possible to confuse a broken toe for a stubbed toe.
Here are some signs to pay attention to:
If your stubbed toe is turning purple: Internal bleeding under a stubbed toenail can cause bruising and blood pooling, or a subungual hematoma. Typically, a purple or blueish tint in a stubbed toe will go away. But if it doesn't go away within a few days or the colouring spreads, you may have a broken toe.
If you've stubbed your pinky toe: Your pinky toe is more vulnerable than its counterparts since its placement and small size leave it more susceptible to injury. Despite this, you should follow the same steps to healing your pinky toe as any other toes.
Stubbed toe and nail damage: Sometimes, stubbing your toe can lead to a cracked toenail. The sudden impact to the toenail may also be enough to break deep into the nail plate and cause bleeding. It may be painful and difficult to walk for a while as the broken portion of the nail regrows. It's important to pay close attention to an open, externally bleeding toenail as it is vulnerable to infection.
Stubbed toe vs. broken toe: If you notice discolouration and pain that does not subside, deformity, and stiffness, you may have broken your toe.
Swelling and difficulty walking: See a doctor or foot specialist if you notice swelling and an inability to put weight on your foot.
How to Relieve a Stubbed Toe: Stubbed Toe Treatment
To prevent stubbed toes as much as possible, wear orthopedic slippers or other footwear indoors. Going barefoot at home is second nature for many of us, but protective footwear can prevent many minor injuries.
The RICE method is one of the most effective ways to handle sudden minor injuries.
Rest: If the pain from your stubbed toe is lingering, stop physical activity and rest your foot. Many healthcare professionals suggest staying off your toe for at least 48 hours.
Ice: Applying ice to the toe can reduce pain and swelling.
Compression: Light compression also reduces pain and swelling. Try using a medical bandage or gauze.
Elevation: Raising your foot can reduce swelling, pain and throbbing. You can easily elevate your foot by stacking a few pillows on top of each other and placing your foot on top of them while laying down.
You can try nonprescription medication, like Ibuprofen to help relieve throbbing pain. Additionally, if you have a cracked toenail, you can try soaking it in an Epsom salt foot bath.
If you're concerned about the severity of your stubbed toe, you can schedule an appointment with a chiropodist. They may be able to tape your toe, so it heals faster. Furthermore, they can determine if your toe is broken during a thorough foot assessment. If your chiropodist suspects a toe fracture, they may suggest x-rays.
How Long Does a Stubbed Toe Take to Heal?
In many cases, your toe will be momentarily painful but quickly feel better.
If the impact pain is excruciating, use the RICE method. See a foot specialist or your doctor if the pain doesn't subside within several hours.
If you have a toe fracture, the average recovery time is 4-6 weeks.
May 30, 2022
What belongings do you regularly clean? Your clothes? Your car? Household items? What about your shoes?
Cleaning and maintaining your shoes regularly has many benefits. For one, your shoes will last longer. They'll be more comfortable. And finally, they'll look great and maintain their out-of-the-box appearance. Whether it's preventative care or fixing blemishes like scuffs or dirt, occasional care for your shoes will help extend the life and quality of your shoes. This includes your athletic shoes, sandals, boots, heels, flats - you name it!
In this article, we’ll tell you how to clean and maintain your shoes, and keep them looking their best. You can consider these the 10 commandments for shoe care.
1. Polish leather regularly
Polish often. Polish thoroughly. For leather-based shoes, you'll want to polish them right out of the box, and then regularly after that. Even the most high-end, durable boots will benefit from a bit of polish, as it helps fend off dirt, and gives your shoes a fresh new look. Alternatively, you can use a Magic Eraser to avoid using a brush.
2. Save your suede
Suede footwear can be delicate. A protective spray can help protect against the elements, while a brush can help keep your suede looking good as new.
3. Store shoes in a cool, dry place
Where you keep your shoes influences their longevity and pristineness. You want to store shoes in a cool, dry place. Temperature and humidity can affect the material of your shoes in different ways. For example, hot temperatures and high humidity can make leather brittle and weaken the glue used in certain footwear. Additionally, shoes left in humid areas are more likely to grow mildew or mould, and hold odour.
For bright and colourful footwear, you'll want to keep them out of direct sunlight or you run the risk of bleaching them. Here are some storage do's and don'ts for your shoes:
Don't
Leave your shoes outside
Put your shoes in a shoe cabinet immediately after use
Continuing wearing shoes when they're wet
Use wire racks
Keep your shoes in a confined space, for example, a small plastic box with no ventilation
Do
Organize shoes accordingly (whether it's by colour, season, or popularity)
Use a shoe tree to help maintain the shape of your shoes (see more on that below)
Clean shoes before putting them away so the dirt and grime doesn't settle
Add silica packs to help absorb moisture
4. Dry your shoes
You should always allow your shoes to dry between uses. This allows the damp material in your shoes to recover, and also helps protect your feet.
Here are some best practices when it comes to drying your shoes:
Use a machine dryer if necessary. Always check the label to ensure machine drying is safe, and when doing so, use the lowest temperature setting (typically air dry)
Let your shoes air out for up to 24 hours
Avoid wearing the same set of shoes on consecutive days. This not only allows them to dry, but it also allows the rubber sole to recover to its original form (oftentimes, this is recommended for running shoes)
Avoid leaving your shoes out in direct sunlight, even if it means they're drying
Use newspaper inside your shoes to help draw out moisture
Can shoes dry rot?
Yes they can: Footwear needs fresh air. Otherwise, glue and adhesives can dry out, causing them to crumble, fall apart, or lose their purpose. The result: heels break down and the inside lining can flake away. This is dry rot. Storing shoes in airtight plastic boxes – where there’s no fresh air - for long periods of time can cause dry rot and permanent damage to the shoes.
5. Hand wash your footwear (when applicable)
There are some instances where washing your footwear in the washing machine is OK, and in other instances, it's not. Shoes solely made of canvas, nylon, cotton, or polyester sometimes can be machine-washed if they are durable enough to withstand a spin cycle. Plus, they won't be damaged by detergent. Footwear made of leather, suede, rubber, or vinyl is a no-go for the washing machine. In any case, you should refer to the care guide for your shoes to determine the best way to clean your shoes. If you no longer have the care guide for your shoes, go to the manufacturer’s website.
Which shoes are machine washable?
Yes to machine washing:
Nylon
Cotton
Polyester
Generally, you'll want to place your shoes (without their laces and insoles) in a garment bag before putting them in the wash. This protects both the washing machine itself and the footwear. Then, machine wash on delicate. Once complete, you should air dry your shoes to allow them to properly drain out.
No to machine washing:
Leather
Suede
Rubber
Vinyl
For these materials, use a mix of cold water and vinegar (generally 50:50), and use a brush to gently remove any dirt or stains.
6. Add a layer of rubber to the soles
Using rubber on the soles of your shoes can help preserve the life of your shoes if your shoes’ soles are worn out, or don’t already have a good quality rubber outsole. For high heels, a rubber plastic cap can help preserve the life of the heel cap itself. For dress shoes or leather shoes, a rubber sole can help prevent your leather soles from holes, and other damage. A rubber sole can also be easily replaced. This means that you can swap in a new sole for a worn-out one while preserving the top half of the shoe, which may well be in pristine condition.
Note: Many high-quality shoes already come with well-constructed rubber soles. If your shoes already have a good rubber outsole, there’s no need to add an additional layer of rubber unless the existing outsole wears out.
7. Wear socks
Our feet can get very sweaty. In fact, there are more than 200,000 sweat glands in our feet - more than in any other part of our body. Wearing socks helps absorb moisture from your feet instead of going directly into your shoe's materials. This helps reduce odour and will lessen the need to regularly wash your shoes. Plus, dry feet are happy feet. Reducing excess moisture build-up around your feet helps prevent conditions like a fungal toenail or athlete's foot.
If you want to go sans socks, consider wearing open-toed footwear like Birkenstock, Mephisto, or Naot. Also stick to sandals with breathable, moisture-wicking materials like cork and properly treated leather. In other words, go sockless in footwear designed for bare feet.
8. Treat your shoes like you do skincare
In the same way, you make sure your skin is well taken care of, shoe care is very similar. Clean, moisturize, repeat. There are a number of different products you can use to help lengthen the life of your shoes. For example, cream polish, wax polish, shoe cream, and conditioner all exist for footwear. All serve a different purpose, whether it's for conditioner moisturizing the leather, or cream polish leaving your shoes with a nice shine. Fortunately, many of these products are $10-20 and can be used on occasion, so they should last you a while.
9. Take your shoes off properly
Yes, slipping your shoes on and off can be convenient. But it also damages the footwear. There's a better way! Tie and untie the laces of your shoe each time. You won't wear down the heel this way. You can also use a shoehorn for easy slip-on, and slip-off situations. For regular shoes or even high heels, refrain from taking one shoe off with the other, as it crushes the heel, or in the case of high heels, the heel cap.
10. Use a shoe tree
Shoe trees are inserts for your shoes that help them maintain their shape while not being worn. This helps extend the life of the shoe and prevent some of the issues that can occur when you store shoes for long periods of time. These devices, most often made of wood or plastic, also reduce footwear moisture thanks to increased airflow. By extension, shoe trees can also help reduce odour (via the shoe trees' material) and leave your beloved pair smelling fresh. Aesthetically, these affordable devices — with costs typically between $20 - $30 — can also reduce wrinkles in the shoe's material.
April 28, 2022
Yikes! It can be downright scary when one of your toenails starts falling off- especially if it comes with discoloration or puss. But rest assured, a falling toenail is more common than you think. Read on to discover ways to treat and heal a broken toenail.
Why is my toenail falling off?
The first step in treating your lifted nail is to find out why this is happening. Here are a few possibilities and how to treat these causes.
1. Injury
Have you stubbed your toe recently? Or dropped something heavy on it? Maybe you've taken up long distance running? After an injury, blood can collect under the toenail, creating a dark blue-black spot on the nail known as a subungual hematoma. These bruises are also common with runners who wear ill fitting shoes, due to their toes repeatedly hitting the inside of the shoe over time. Regardless of cause, this collection of blood can cause your nail to lift out of its bed, and eventually fall off.
Treatment: While the nail is still partially attached, soak your foot in cold water for 20 minutes a day. You could also wrap an adhesive bandage around it to prevent infection and protect the nail from catching on something and tearing off (the toenail will fall off naturally on its own). To relieve pressure, you can also elevate the foot or take an anti-inflammatory medication, like Ibuprofen. Make sure you are also wearing properly fitting running shoes for every run. You may also want to If your dark spot covers more than a quarter of your nail, you may need to see a chiropodist to have the hematoma drained.
2. Fungus
Have you noticed any white or yellowish discolouration on your toenails? What about thickening nails or pus? You may have a fungus growing between your nail bed and your nail, causing your nail to lift and fall off. Fungus in the nail is called onychomycosis. There are a variety of different fungi that can affect your toenail, but a common one is dermatophytes, which can be picked up from locker rooms, swimming pools, and other moist, barefoot areas. If you have diabetes, you may be more prone to fungal infections due to poor circulation. Fungal infections can also lead to serious complications for people with diabetes.
Treatment: While some fungi can clear up on their own, they tend to be very persistent, especially toenail fungus. You can try applying a topical antifungal cream to your toe and nail bed; however, the nail itself often prevents antifungal cream from reaching the actual fungus behind the nail. It’s a good idea to see a chiropodist to for fungal testing and further treatment if your symptoms persist. A chiropodist can safely debride the nail and apply a prescription-strength antifungal medication directly to the fungus underneath the nail. Click here to learn more about how a chiropodist can help treat fungal treatments.
In the meantime, keep your foot dry, change your socks often, and wear breathable shoes and footwear to allow fresh air to access the nail and prevent moisture buildup (fungus thrives in moist environments).
3. Psoriasis
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease that causes a build up of skin cells to form red, scaly spots, know as plaques. It's a chronic condition where the immune system starts attacking healthy cells, creating flare up. Psoriasis can cause pitting and weakening of the nail. If a plaque forms under your toenail, that build up of cells can push the damaged nail off.
Treatment: As tempting as it is, do not try to remove the cell build up under your nail. Any plaque removal is delicate and needs to be handled by a professional, like a dermatologist or chiropodist. Chiropodists can also help with psoriasis by removing any dead skin and soothing inflammation on the feet and toes. While you're at home, try soaking your feet in warm water daily, then follow up with a good moisturizer to keep your feet hydrated. Everydayhealth.com recommends looking for thicker moisturizers that contain a lot of emollients; try to avoid lightweight moisturizers. If you're in need a recommendation, check out our favourite moisturizers here.
What can I do about my falling toenail?
As a general rule of thumb, try to keep all remaining nail edges smooth and cut short, as well ensure any exposed part of the nail bed is clean. While your toenail is falling off but still attached, you should also put a bandage over the toenail to prevent infection. This will also prevent anything catching on the toenail and ripping it off as you go about your day.
Once the nail does fall off, put a bandage on the fresh nail bed until the skin hardens - about 7 to 10 days. Biotin supplements can also help speed up the regrowth, as biotin is filled with amino acids that help nails grow. Most importantly, try not to stress. If your toenail falls off, it will likely grow back within 6 months to 2 years. Click here to learn more about toenail grown and what will happen when your toenails grow back.
If your toenail becomes painful, grows back ingrown, or shows signs of infection, it's best to book an appointment with a chiropodist to ensure the nail grows back healthy and infection-free.
