Nail Care | The toenail

Nail Care

The basis for beautiful and above all healthy nails is their regular and appropriate care. It is especially important that the nails are cut correctly: This means: Nails that are too long can bump against the shoe on the feet, for example, and thus lead to bruising. Nails that are too short do not protect the nail bed sufficiently, which promotes the development of nail fungus and inflammation. In addition, it is advisable to care for the nails with a nail protection preparation, i.e. a cream or oil, which has a soothing effect and helps to regenerate the toenail.

• The use of a sharp and stainless cutting tool and
• Trimming back to the correct length.

Nail changes and nail diseases

Changes in the nail can have very different causes. Either they are purely cosmetic and only indicate poor care or even wrong footwear, but they can also be the expression of local or even whole-body diseases. Here are just a few common examples:

• White spots on the nails indicate a lack of fusion of the individual nail plates.

  This can have various reasons, including injuries or the taking of certain drugs. Whether a calcium or magnesium deficiency can lead to these changes on the nails is still controversial.

• Brittle nails indicate a lack of biotin, a vitamin that is necessary for the formation of the horn substance keratin.
• Brownish discolorations under the toenail can either be caused by bruises or by skin cancer (malignant melanoma), which is why long-lasting dark discolorations should be clarified by a doctor. Drugs can also be the cause.

  In some cases, psoriasis also causes so-called oil stains, which can be difficult to distinguish from the above-mentioned changes.

• If the nails are yellowish discolored, this is an indication of the presence of psoriasis or nail fungus.

In case of an infestation with nail fungus, the nails are usually additionally thickened and sometimes the toenail even comes off. Nail fungus is not uncommon, especially on the toenails. According to estimates, about one third of German adults suffer from nail fungus (onychomycosis) on their toes.

Since the nail mycosis does not necessarily disappear on its own contrary to the widespread opinion, it is always advisable to consult a doctor if you suspect this. If nail fungus remains undiscovered for a long time, it can spread further and further and also attack surrounding nails. In the worst case, it can destroy the entire nail plate.

The treatment of nail fungus is now quite possible, but can be a lengthy process; it can take up to half a year before a completely healthy new toenail has grown back. However, the therapy is very effective and can nowadays be either local or systemic. Preparations containing active ingredients (e.g. Ciclopirox) are applied directly to the nails locally, while other substances are used systemically, such as Terbinafine or Itraconazole.