Someone inadvertently discovered that their toenails became thick and yellow. Many people didn't take it seriously, thinking it was temporary. Actually, thick and yellow toenails are caused by various fungi and may also indicate the state of one's health. Let's take a detailed look below!
What causes toenails to become thick and yellow?
Onychomycosis is the most common type of disease. The fungus first invades the distal lateral subungual keratin layer and then the undersurface of the nail plate, gradually causing discoloration and deterioration of the nail plate. The nail plate loses its normal smooth appearance, and debris from the keratin layer of the nail bed accumulates beneath the nail plate, causing the nail plate to separate and fall off, or be cut off by the patient, leaving behind a hyperkeratotic nail bed.
Some fungi can produce different pigments, such as Aspergillus niger producing brown pigment and Trichophyton rubrum producing black pigment. The pathogens for toenail infections include Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Microsporum canis, Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, Scopulariopsis, Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, Aspergillus flavus, and Trichophyton violaceum. The pathogens for fingernail infections include Trichophyton rubrum and Candida albicans.
White superficial onychomycosis is less common. The fungus directly invades the superficial layer of the nail plate, forming small, superficial white spots that enlarge and merge. Eventually, the nail becomes soft, rough, and amber-colored. The pathogens for toenail infections include Trichophyton mentagrophytes, Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Fusarium. Trichophyton rubrum is rarely the cause.
How to solve the problem of thick and yellow toenails!
1. Nail avulsion surgery
Under local anesthesia, the affected nail is removed. This method results in a large wound, bleeding, and is prone to infection. Generally, there will be pain after the surgery. Since this method only addresses the symptoms and not the root cause, the results are generally not satisfactory and reinfection is likely. In addition, patients with heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other diseases are not suitable for surgical treatment.
2. Oral medication
Taking antifungal drugs such as griseofulvin, fluconazole, and itraconazole has certain efficacy and convenience. However, these drugs need to reach the site of fungal infection on the nail plate to exert their antibacterial effects. Moreover, their solubility in water is low and slow, and they are rapidly absorbed and metabolized, so the dosage is large and the duration of treatment is long.
Tinea unguium is also a fungal infection, and it is highly contagious. So if you want to completely treat athlete's foot, you also need to thoroughly treat tinea unguium. Especially if you have tinea unguium on your toenails, wearing shoes and socks in the same environment increases the chances of mutual infection.
If the tinea unguium infection is not severe, antifungal drugs can be topically applied. But if your nails have turned completely yellow or white, you need to take antifungal drugs orally, usually for three months.
Daily maintenance, like athlete's foot and ringworm, involves avoiding dampness and maintaining hygiene. If it is tinea unguium on the hands, it is recommended to wear plastic gloves and avoid water as much as possible. If it is tinea unguium on the feet, after applying medication with your hands, remember to wash them with clean water to prevent the foot fungus from infecting the hands and developing into ringworm.
Using toenails to assess one's health!
1. White
Any changes in the body's organs will be directly reflected in the nails. Nails that are well-nourished are mostly pink to purplish-red in color. White nails are mostly caused by the nail partially or completely separating from the nail bed, which can be caused by injury, ringworm, or nail infections. If a large part of the nail is white, it may indicate a serious disease in one of the body's organs, such as liver disease.
2. Black spots
Most people think that black spots on toenails are caused by an unbalanced diet or malnutrition and think that increasing nutrition can solve the problem. However, in reality, these black spots may be a type of skin cancer, a highly dangerous melanoma that can spread to areas not regularly exposed to sunlight. These tumors appear as black spots. If you have such black spots on your feet, you should go to the hospital for examination in a timely manner.
3. Yellow
If toenails become yellow and thick, it indicates a fungal infection. Generally, such nails are a signal of a systemic disease, such as lymphatic edema or lung disease. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly.
