It’s easy to think of our fingers and toenails as being similar to claws on other animals, but these evolutionary tools are more flexible and practical in use. A common trait among primates, nails serve multiple functions, including enhancing fine motor skills, improving sensitivity, strengthening the fingertips, and protecting against various forms of infection.
Unfortunately, like your skin, your nails are constantly exposed to the elements, and the risk of damage, injury, and infection can cause problems. When it comes to your toenails, which often stay trapped in footwear and remain exposed near the ground, various nail diseases can cause unpleasant symptoms. But what toenail conditions cause them to turn yellow?
To manage toenail problems and other foot and ankle issues in the Tarzana and Inglewood, California, area, you can rely on Drs. Ashkan Soleymani, Michael Salih, Arash Jalil, Saman Tabari, and the Cedars Foot and Ankle Center team.
Several conditions can damage or weaken nails, including:
These diseases compromise nail function and cause infection and other problems.
Fungal infections commonly cause toenail yellowing, and onychomycosis, a type of fungus, often occurs, affecting approximately one in ten people in America. Anyone can contract the fungus, but problems arise when it overgrows.
Causes of overgrowth include wearing sweaty or damp socks, tight-fitting shoes, going barefoot in public areas like pools, a lack of proper foot hygiene, and sharing clippers, towels, or shoes. The types of symptoms you encounter vary with the stage of the infection:
The discoloration typically begins in the early stages and can also appear as a whitish or brownish hue. In later stages, the nails can become more discolored, thick, brittle, and crumbly, leading to mild pain, discomfort while walking, and complete nail detachment.
To manage fungal infections in toenails, we have different methods available to help alleviate symptoms and resolve the issue. Topical or oral antifungal medications effectively eliminate the fungus; however, debridement to remove infected parts of the nail may be necessary if nail damage has progressed to a later stage and become more severe.
To stop fungal toenail infections in their tracks, make an appointment with Drs. Soleymani, Salih, Jalil, Tabari, and the Cedars Foot & Ankle Center team today.
