What is the medical term for thick toenails? Get the definition, see pictures, learn about the symptoms, and explore the different treatments for this nail condition.

Understanding Onychauxis: The Medical Term for Thick Toenails

Onychauxis is the medical term used to describe the abnormal thickening of fingernails or toenails. Over time, the nails may become curled, discolored, and separate from the nail bed. Though toenail fungus can cause similar symptoms, onychauxis is not caused by a fungal infection.

Causes of Onychauxis: Heredity, Trauma, and Underlying Conditions

The most common causes of onychauxis include hereditary factors, acute or chronic trauma to the nails, and underlying medical conditions such as acromegaly, psoriasis, diabetes, and Darier disease. Reduced circulation and certain skin infections can also contribute to the development of this nail disorder.

Symptoms of Onychauxis: Thickening, Discoloration, and Pain

Symptoms of onychauxis include abnormal thickening of the nails, separation of the nail plate from the nail bed, and discoloration ranging from yellow to white or red/black. The nails may also become brittle and crumble around the edges. In severe cases, the thickening can cause pain and difficulty trimming the nails.

Diagnosing Onychauxis: The Role of Medical Professionals

To diagnose onychauxis, your doctor will first need to rule out other potential causes, such as a fungal infection. They may conduct a physical examination, order lab tests, or perform a nail biopsy to determine the underlying cause of your thick toenails.

Treatment Options for Onychauxis: Medical and Home Remedies

Treatment for onychauxis typically involves addressing any underlying conditions that may be causing the nail thickening. In severe cases, a portion or all of the affected nail may be removed. Home remedies, such as using over-the-counter topical treatments or soaking the feet, may also provide relief.

Preventing Onychauxis: Protective Measures and Lifestyle Changes

To help prevent onychauxis, it’s important to wear properly fitting shoes, avoid trauma to the nails, and manage any underlying medical conditions. Maintaining good foot hygiene and seeking prompt treatment for any nail infections can also reduce the risk of developing this condition.

Is Onychauxis Contagious?

No, onychauxis is not a contagious condition and cannot be spread directly from person to person. However, individuals with onychauxis may be more susceptible to developing a fungal nail infection, which can potentially be transmitted through contact.

Can Onychauxis Lead to Other Complications?

If left untreated, severe cases of onychauxis can lead to additional complications, such as pain, difficulty walking, and an increased risk of secondary infections. Seeking prompt medical treatment is important to prevent these issues.

How Common is Onychauxis?

Onychauxis is a relatively common nail disorder, particularly among older adults. The condition becomes more prevalent as people age, with some estimates suggesting that up to 50% of individuals over the age of 70 may experience some degree of nail thickening.

Can Onychauxis Be Prevented?

While it may not be possible to completely prevent onychauxis, taking steps to protect the nails and manage any underlying medical conditions can help reduce the risk of developing this condition. Maintaining good foot hygiene, wearing properly fitting shoes, and seeking prompt treatment for any nail infections are all important preventive measures.

What Happens if Onychauxis is Left Untreated?

If onychauxis is left untreated, the nails can continue to thicken and become increasingly difficult to manage. The condition may also lead to pain, difficulty walking, and an increased risk of secondary infections. Seeking prompt medical treatment is important to prevent these complications.

Can Onychauxis Be Cured?

While there is no definitive “cure” for onychauxis, the condition can often be managed through a combination of medical treatments and lifestyle changes. Addressing any underlying causes, such as a fungal infection or a chronic medical condition, can help reduce the severity of the nail thickening and prevent further complications.

Definition, Pictures, Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Overview

Onychauxis is a nail disorder that causes fingernails or toenails to grow abnormally thick. Over time, the nails may become curled and turn white or yellow.

This thickening of the nail may force the nail plate (the part you paint with nail polish) to separate from the nail bed. Though toenail fungus can cause similar symptoms, onychauxis isn’t caused by a fungus. However, your risk for developing a fungal infection increases if you have this nail disorder.

Onychauxis, which is sometimes called hypertrophy of the nail, is more common in older adults. The older you get, the more likely you are to experience this condition.

Symptoms of onychauxis include:

• abnormal thickening of the nail
• separation of the nail plate from the nail bed
• yellow or white appearance
• red or black coloring if left untreated
• brittle crumbling around the edges of the nail
• pain

Symptoms may become more severe if onychauxis is left untreated. The nails may begin to curl, and they may become so thick it’s impossible to trim or maintain them. That, in turn, can make treating the nail disorder more difficult.

Onychauxis may be the result of several conditions or issues. Your doctor can diagnose what the underlying issue for your abnormal nail growth is.

The most common causes for onychauxis include:

• Hereditary causes. If one or both of your parents have this nail condition, you’re more likely to develop it.
• Acute trauma. Stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it can cause trauma to your nail bed and nail plate. The trauma may cause nail thickening. In some cases, this may be temporary until the nail heals.
• Chronic trauma. Individuals who inflict a good deal of pressure on their feet for long periods of time, such as athletes, dancers, or runners, may be more likely to develop this nail disorder. The long-term stress on the nail beds and nail plates may trigger the unusual growth. Wearing shoes that are too tight or too small can also cause this condition.
• Acromegaly. This hormonal disorder is the result of too much growth hormone. Though rare, it can cause nails to growth denser.
• Psoriasis. This skin condition causes thick patches of scaly skin, and it can cause nails to grow thicker and more brittle. More than half of people with psoriasis will experience nail psoriasis, too.
• Reduced circulation. Without a proper supply of nutrients, your nails may be unable to grow properly.
• Diabetes. People with diabetes commonly develop thick nails. This may be a complication of the disease, or it may be the result of reduced circulation, which is also common with diabetes.
• Darier disease. A genetic skin disorder, Darier disease causes wart-like blemishes that may be yellow, emit a strong odor, and are hard to the touch. This condition can also cause nail abnormalities, including white and red stripes in the nail plate and unusual thickness.
• Infection. A yeast or fungal infection in the nail bed or around the nail plate can cause symptoms, including discoloration and thicker nails.
• Pityriasis rubra pilaris. This rare skin condition causes chronic inflammation and reddish-orange scales or blotches on the skin. It can also lead to nail thickening, discoloration, and shedding.

Onychauxis isn’t contagious, and it can’t be spread from person to person directly. It’s possible you could inherit the gene that increases your risk for this condition from a parent. However, touching the nails of a person with this disorder will not increase your risk for developing it.

That being said, people who have onychauxis may be more likely to develop a toenail fungus as a result of this condition. Some types of toenail fungus can be spread through contact with another person.

Treatment for onychauxis falls into two main categories: medical treatments and home remedy options. There isn’t standard treatment for this condition. Instead, your doctor will decide a course of action based on a suspected cause and your specific symptoms.

It’s important to note that you don’t have to treat this condition unless it becomes painful and interferes with your day-to-day activities. However, many individuals will seek out a treatment or diagnosis for an underlying condition because the nails may be unsightly.

Medical treatments for onychauxis

Treat underlying conditions. If you have this nail growth issue, your doctor may want to identify potential issues that could be causing it. In some cases, there isn’t an underlying issue, but if one can be found, it can be treated. Treatment means the thick growths and discoloration may stop.

Removal of the affected nail. In extreme cases, your doctor may choose to remove a portion or all of the thickened nail. This is an option when the nail becomes so thick you experience severe pain and can’t properly care for it on your own anymore.

Home remedy options

Keep neat, trimmed nails. Trimming your nails frequently will help with their appearance. It may also ease some pain if nails rub against shoes and cause discomfort. If your nail clippers aren’t thick enough to tackle the job, talk with your doctor about any special tools you may need. Eventually, you may need to see a podiatrist, a doctor who specializes in the treatment of conditions and diseases of the foot, ankle, and lower limbs.

Wear comfortable shoes. Tight shoes may cause onychauxis, and they may make symptoms, especially pain, worse. A professional shoe fitting can help you decide if you need a wider shoe option so your toes have plenty of room. Wide-toe shoes may be a smart option if you frequently experience pain from toenails rubbing against your shoes.

Paint with a polish. Nail polish may help cover the discoloration, but it will not end or stop the abnormal growth.

Move more. Boost circulation in your lower extremities by walking, riding a bicycle, or otherwise moving more. The increase in blood, oxygen, and other nutrients may end the unusual nail growth issue.

Onychauxis may seem worrisome, but it’s rarely dangerous and unlikely to cause serious side effects.

In some cases, onychauxis can be treated. This is especially true when the abnormally thick nails are the result of an underlying condition, such as an infection or trauma. It may take time — nails do grow slowly — but it’s likely you can recover normal nail growth.

If onychauxis is left untreated, you may eventually experience complications like curled toenails, thick nails that cannot be trimmed, and pain. In this case, a doctor may have to help you trim and maintain the nails so that they don’t interfere with your day-to-day life.

Unfortunately, it may not be possible to prevent onychauxis. However, keeping your nails trimmed and clean, wearing light shoes with wide toes, and getting exercise may all help reduce your risk for this nail disorder. If you believe you may be developing onychauxis, make an appointment to see your doctor. Early treatment may help stop and reverse the condition.

Definition, Pictures, Symptoms, Treatment, and More

Overview

Onychauxis is a nail disorder that causes fingernails or toenails to grow abnormally thick. Over time, the nails may become curled and turn white or yellow.

This thickening of the nail may force the nail plate (the part you paint with nail polish) to separate from the nail bed. Though toenail fungus can cause similar symptoms, onychauxis isn’t caused by a fungus. However, your risk for developing a fungal infection increases if you have this nail disorder.

Onychauxis, which is sometimes called hypertrophy of the nail, is more common in older adults. The older you get, the more likely you are to experience this condition.

Symptoms of onychauxis include:

• abnormal thickening of the nail
• separation of the nail plate from the nail bed
• yellow or white appearance
• red or black coloring if left untreated
• brittle crumbling around the edges of the nail
• pain

Symptoms may become more severe if onychauxis is left untreated. The nails may begin to curl, and they may become so thick it’s impossible to trim or maintain them. That, in turn, can make treating the nail disorder more difficult.

Onychauxis may be the result of several conditions or issues. Your doctor can diagnose what the underlying issue for your abnormal nail growth is.

The most common causes for onychauxis include:

• Hereditary causes. If one or both of your parents have this nail condition, you’re more likely to develop it.
• Acute trauma. Stubbing your toe or dropping a heavy object on it can cause trauma to your nail bed and nail plate. The trauma may cause nail thickening. In some cases, this may be temporary until the nail heals.
• Chronic trauma. Individuals who inflict a good deal of pressure on their feet for long periods of time, such as athletes, dancers, or runners, may be more likely to develop this nail disorder. The long-term stress on the nail beds and nail plates may trigger the unusual growth. Wearing shoes that are too tight or too small can also cause this condition.
• Acromegaly. This hormonal disorder is the result of too much growth hormone. Though rare, it can cause nails to growth denser.
• Psoriasis. This skin condition causes thick patches of scaly skin, and it can cause nails to grow thicker and more brittle. More than half of people with psoriasis will experience nail psoriasis, too.
• Reduced circulation. Without a proper supply of nutrients, your nails may be unable to grow properly.
• Diabetes. People with diabetes commonly develop thick nails. This may be a complication of the disease, or it may be the result of reduced circulation, which is also common with diabetes.
• Darier disease. A genetic skin disorder, Darier disease causes wart-like blemishes that may be yellow, emit a strong odor, and are hard to the touch. This condition can also cause nail abnormalities, including white and red stripes in the nail plate and unusual thickness.
• Infection. A yeast or fungal infection in the nail bed or around the nail plate can cause symptoms, including discoloration and thicker nails.
• Pityriasis rubra pilaris. This rare skin condition causes chronic inflammation and reddish-orange scales or blotches on the skin. It can also lead to nail thickening, discoloration, and shedding.

Onychauxis isn’t contagious, and it can’t be spread from person to person directly. It’s possible you could inherit the gene that increases your risk for this condition from a parent. However, touching the nails of a person with this disorder will not increase your risk for developing it.

That being said, people who have onychauxis may be more likely to develop a toenail fungus as a result of this condition. Some types of toenail fungus can be spread through contact with another person.

Treatment for onychauxis falls into two main categories: medical treatments and home remedy options. There isn’t standard treatment for this condition. Instead, your doctor will decide a course of action based on a suspected cause and your specific symptoms.

It’s important to note that you don’t have to treat this condition unless it becomes painful and interferes with your day-to-day activities. However, many individuals will seek out a treatment or diagnosis for an underlying condition because the nails may be unsightly.

Medical treatments for onychauxis

Treat underlying conditions. If you have this nail growth issue, your doctor may want to identify potential issues that could be causing it. In some cases, there isn’t an underlying issue, but if one can be found, it can be treated. Treatment means the thick growths and discoloration may stop.

Removal of the affected nail. In extreme cases, your doctor may choose to remove a portion or all of the thickened nail. This is an option when the nail becomes so thick you experience severe pain and can’t properly care for it on your own anymore.

Home remedy options

Keep neat, trimmed nails. Trimming your nails frequently will help with their appearance. It may also ease some pain if nails rub against shoes and cause discomfort. If your nail clippers aren’t thick enough to tackle the job, talk with your doctor about any special tools you may need. Eventually, you may need to see a podiatrist, a doctor who specializes in the treatment of conditions and diseases of the foot, ankle, and lower limbs.

Wear comfortable shoes. Tight shoes may cause onychauxis, and they may make symptoms, especially pain, worse. A professional shoe fitting can help you decide if you need a wider shoe option so your toes have plenty of room. Wide-toe shoes may be a smart option if you frequently experience pain from toenails rubbing against your shoes.

Paint with a polish. Nail polish may help cover the discoloration, but it will not end or stop the abnormal growth.

Move more. Boost circulation in your lower extremities by walking, riding a bicycle, or otherwise moving more. The increase in blood, oxygen, and other nutrients may end the unusual nail growth issue.

Onychauxis may seem worrisome, but it’s rarely dangerous and unlikely to cause serious side effects.

In some cases, onychauxis can be treated. This is especially true when the abnormally thick nails are the result of an underlying condition, such as an infection or trauma. It may take time — nails do grow slowly — but it’s likely you can recover normal nail growth.

If onychauxis is left untreated, you may eventually experience complications like curled toenails, thick nails that cannot be trimmed, and pain. In this case, a doctor may have to help you trim and maintain the nails so that they don’t interfere with your day-to-day life.

Unfortunately, it may not be possible to prevent onychauxis. However, keeping your nails trimmed and clean, wearing light shoes with wide toes, and getting exercise may all help reduce your risk for this nail disorder. If you believe you may be developing onychauxis, make an appointment to see your doctor. Early treatment may help stop and reverse the condition.

Thickening of the nail plate.

The main causes of thickening of the nail plate

Much more often we hear about the problems of thinning of the nail plate. This also applies to the arms and legs. And more and more often it provokes such thinning – the regular wearing of coatings with gel polish, without interruptions for the rest of the nails and for their restoration. But there is another opposite problem – thickening of the nails. And the work to solve it should be no less effective than the actions that prevent the thinning of the nail plate.

Like any other nail problem, thickening of the nail plates is a consequence that leads to:

• Hereditary features. The solution may be problematic, but not hopeless.
• Diseases not related to podology and medical manicure and pedicure. Thickening of the nails here is a manifestation of these very diseases. For example, autoimmune diseases. Treatment of nails, in this case, is carried out in parallel with the medication, selected by the attending physician.
• Missing care. Unfortunately, quite often, nail care begins when visible problems appear. In this case, you should choose a remedy that not only cares, but also heals.
• Choice of nail care products – pacifiers. Often, beautiful packaging ranks first when choosing nail care products, but not composition. The same applies to the price. When choosing an all-in-one tool at a very low price, it is worth doubting the quality of the components and the declared action of the product.
• Infection, including fungal. A pedicure made by an unscrupulous master who does not pay due attention to the processing of tools, visiting places of increased risk of fungus infection without using nail and skin protection products (pool, sauna, beach). Wearing slippers that are not your own, for example, at a party. A fungal infection is one of the most common causes of thickened nails.
• Onycholysis. The process by which the nail plate separates from the nail bed.
• Choosing shoes with the wrong size. There is a compression of the nail plates and their deformation.
• Nail injuries. As a result, the fresh keratin layer may not grow along the growth line.

Self-diagnosis in case of nail thickening can lead to a more serious progression of the problem. If your problem of thickening of the nail plates is not related to health and is not an external manifestation of a disease of the internal organs, a podologist and a medical pedicure master will help you.

Consequences of lack of care

A thickened nail may change color and translucency. It can crumble, crack, break easily. And such a nail can have a negative effect on the skin around it and begin to grow into the side ridges.

The problem of thick nails should not be thought of only as a problem of wearing open shoes. The problem is serious. If you think about the primary function of nails, then their negative change can cause a number of problems. After all, the nails prevent mechanical damage to the tips of the fingers and toes, the nails serve as a solid reinforcement of the phalanges of the fingers and allow you to hold the items in your hand. That is, the nails perform a protective function.

VseDlyaNog.RF, a branded online store of professional cosmetics for feet, highlights this problem, emphasizing that you can solve it yourself. To do this, you need to buy a nail product that will return the nails to their natural state, transparency and beauty.

And the sooner you start treating nails that are thickened due to factors other than diseases that cause thick nails, the sooner you can restore their beauty and move on to maintenance treatments as part of your regular home care routine.

Solving the problem of thick nails

A podiatrist who has information about the problem of thick nails as an aesthetic imperfection will be able to determine the degree of damage to the nail without any problems and suggest a remedy that will really help to cope with the problem and contribute to the growth of a completely healthy nail. For these purposes, experts choose professional foot cosmetics with effective formulations and proven action.

What is a tool supposed to be able to do?!

• Soften thick and hard nails for painless cutting without chipping or chipping;
• Nourish and soften the skin around the nail, as a thick nail may damage the lateral ridge or begin to grow into it;
• Promote healthy nail growth;

For this purpose, podologists recommend the use of a softener for thick and hard nails:

Nail and cuticle softener with allantoin Baehr Nagelweicher

After trimming and trimming the skin around the nails, you should use the base product, which will promote the growth of strong, elastic and healthy nail thickness with a set of powerful moisturizing and nourishing functions.

Regular nail care product recommended by podologists and pedicurists, including medical:

Baehr Nagel-Pflege nail care oil

Nails are dense horny (keratin) plates that tend to change under various negative factors. And it is not always possible to prevent this or that problem that contributes to their thickening in time. But, having at hand the means recommended by specialists, you can solve the problem on your own and without consequences.

Onychomycosis (nail fungus) – causes, treatment, prevention

What is onychomycosis?

Onychomycosis is a disease of the nails, commonly known as nail fungus. Caused by pathogenic fungi

Onychomycosis may affect one or more of the nails on the hands and/or feet. However, the symptoms can be exactly the same.

IMPORTANT! Information from the article cannot be used for self-diagnosis and self-treatment! Only a doctor can prescribe the necessary examinations, establish a diagnosis and draw up a treatment plan for a consultation!

Causes and ways of infection with nail fungus

Mushrooms get on the skin and nails of all of us, but they do not cause disease in everyone. The scales of the skin and nails of people with onychomycosis contain spores of fungi – the sources of the disease. Both in healthy people and in people infected with a fungus, scales that are not visible to the eye peel off and fall on various surfaces and objects – a bath, towels, washcloths, rugs, etc.

However, in order to develop onychomycosis, predisposing factors are needed. For example, a violation of the blood supply or innervation of the nail plates.

This situation often occurs when wearing uncomfortable or unsuitable shoes, with sports and domestic injuries of the nail.

The presence of certain chronic diseases (eg diabetes mellitus) can also contribute to the development of onychomycosis.

You can become infected with nail fungus in swimming pools, showers in gyms, baths and saunas – that is, in those places where many people stand or walk barefoot. In addition, infection with onychomycosis is possible when wearing impersonal shoes (for example, slippers at a party, bowling shoes, rental skates, etc. )

Advanced nail fungus

Treatment of nail fungus is best started at the first symptoms of the disease. But people rarely go to the dermatologist because of the first changes in the structure of the skin and nails. Running forms are easy to identify just by looking at your nails. A serious reason for contacting a dermatologist is the discovery of the following symptoms:

• deformed thickened or thinned nails;
• destruction, flaking, crumbling of the nail;
• discoloration of the nail to gray, yellow, white, brown, sometimes green or black

An advanced form of onychomycosis leads to a decrease in immunity and the development of mycotic eczema.

Treatment of onychomycosis (nail fungus)

In the initial stage of the disease, you can limit yourself to local treatment, using varnishes from nail fungus and solutions. But such measures will be effective only if less than a quarter of one nail plate is damaged.