Why You Should Never Ignore Discoloured Toenails

In this weeks' blog post courtesy of Oakwood Podiatry, we offer you some free tips and advice on why you should never ignore discoloured toenails!

If you have noticed that one of your toe nails is a different colour from the others, it is easy to ignore the issue especially as in the beginning it offers no pain or discomfort. It's particularly easy to assume that your nails altered appearance is due to a recent injury, ageing process or perhaps because of your footwear.

Discoloured toe nails however, are often an early warning sign of a fungal nail infection beginning to occur. If this is left untreated, it sadly doesn't take long to cause some serious complications. If you notice that any of your toe nails look discoloured or abnormal, consulting a podiatrist is essential.

Fungal Infections Are A Major Form Of Nail Disease

Unfortunately Fungal Nail infections are among the most frustrating of foot health problems, not only because of the affect they have on the appearance of your toes often making them yellowish and unsightly, but also because Fungal Infections are he most prevalent form of nail disease. They are usually caused by fungi called dermatophytes, which feed off keratin which is the key component of nails.

Patient, the health information website estimates that between 3 and 8 out of 100 people in the UK will develop a nail infection at some point in their life, so it is not as uncommon as you may think.

Poor Foot Health Increases The Risk Of Infection

Although it is completely true that anyone can develop a fungal nail infection, some people are more vulnerable to the condition than others. Fungal nail infections tend to affect men more than women.

Poor circulation, damaged toe nails and sweaty feet increase the likelihood of an infection occurring. The ailment is also linked to athletes foot.

Even if your feet are healthy, you can become infected as a result of contact with someone who has fungal nail problems. Commonly this can include sharing a bed and sheets, shared footwear or toe clippers.

Spotting the symptoms of Fungal nail infection is key. During the early stages of a fungal nail infection it is common that parts of your toenail and nailbed turn white, yellow, green or black. The nail also often becomes thick and brittle, often difficult to trim. It then starts to flake rather than remaining tough and strong. If you don't check your feet regularly, these symptoms can often be overlooked.

An advanced fungal infection distorts your toenails shape. You're likely to feel discomfort when wearing your shoes and may notice an unpleasant odour. If you ignore this, you may also notice that the toenail becomes damaged, scaly and swollen. Allowing this damage to occur allows harmful bacteria to enter your body easily, putting you at risk of major health problems such as blood poisoning.

Diagnosing a fungal nail infection is a straightforward and painless procedure. One of our Podiatrists here at Oakwood Podiatry can advise you if an infection is present and furthermore advise you on the best treatment to suit your individual needs.

For mild infections, we can advise you of which treatments to apply alongside speeding up the healing process by remodelling your toenail at regular intervals.

For major infections, we will discuss other suitable treatment plans which can also include oral treatment.

It is very important to note that nails change and grow slowly, therefor the treatment and eradicating a fungal nail infection takes time. We will be sure to track your progress every step of the way. Early detection is vital for maintaining healthy feet.

If you feel you may be developing or already suffering with discoloured toe nails or a fungal nail infection, call us today on 01268 750 551 or book an appointment via our website www.oakwoodpodiatry.com