Isn’t that the trending topic post Carnival? It most definitely is! So is it a damaged nail bed or toenail fungus? If you have discoloured or thickening toenails, you may immediately think that it’s a fungal toenail infection. Although this is normally the case, it could also be that your nail has suffered a trauma of some sort. This will also cause thickening of the nail and can cause it to change colour. So there is that question again, is it toenail fungus or a damaged nail bed?

It can be difficult to tell the two apart. A very mild case of toenail fungus, can show the same signs of a damaged nail bed. You will learn how to differentiate the two, to treat each condition, as well as how to avoid it happening again in the future.

What is Toenail Trauma?

An obvious reason for a damaged nail bed from trauma would be if you ran into something with your toe, or dropped something on it. It will turn yellow, or thicken, because your body is trying to heal it.

Other reasons, though, aren’t so obvious. Nail trauma can happen when you wear slip-on shoes or slippers, as your feet always slide and constantly hit the sides of the shoes. This repetition causes the nail to thicken, as your body is trying to protect itself. People who wear steel toe shoes a lot can also experience this type of trauma. This is because the big toe is hitting the steel plate in the shoe/boot. Trauma can be confused with fungus because they both cause the toenail to change colours and become thicker. Sports or high impact exercise can also be the contributors to trauma.

What is Toenail Fungus?

Onychomycosis is a contagious fungus, spread easily in warm and moist conditions.  It can be found in public places such as gym showers  and swimming pools, for example. Once the fungi have found a new home, they are hard to remove. This is why you see many people wearing water sandals, or flip-flops, in these sort of places.

After you come into contact with the fungus, you won’t see any signs of damage until sometime later. The early signs of toenail fungus are discolouration of the nail, thickening of the nail, and sometimes a foul odour.

If you don’t treat it now, it will get worse to the point that you may lose your nail. It will fall off, or you’ll have to get it removed by a podiatrist. That is only in the worst case scenario, though.

How to Treat and Avoid Future Toenail Trauma

Continued nail trauma, such as wearing shoes that your feet move around in, can easily be avoided by wearing your proper size in shoes. Your feet wouldn’t move around, so your nail won’t bang against the side of the shoe much, or at all. To treat a thickened nail from such trauma, you can use a foot soak to soften the nail and file it down gently. It will take some time, but you don’t want to cause any more injury to it.

If you want it filed down fast, a drill can be used.  It may take a more than one session, depending on the nail. A foot soak helps soothe. To avoid future trauma, wear well-fitting shoes, especially if you have to wear steel toe boots for work.

 How to Treat Toenail Fungus and Avoid Recurrences

Onychomycosis, on the other hand, it not so easy to treat, but it is treatable. If you see a podiatrist, they will usually advise that you use an antifungal treatment. They don’t like to give prescription medicines for toenail fungus, because of the side effects. The worst is liver damage;  unless your nail is badly infected, it just isn’t worth damaging vital organs, just to do something that you can do yourself.

There are hundreds of products available to treat toenail fungus. Not all are good. Products that work well for some people may not work at all for others, so some trial and error is inevitable. One of the best essential oils that treats onychomycosis is tea tree oil. It has natural anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and antibiotic properties. All of these help to kill the fungus and prevent further infection.

Whether you have toenail fungus, or a damaged nail bed, your nail is going to look bad. Fortunately, though, there are ways to treat both conditions. Remember that they are going to take a while to heal, but by taking the time to treat them correctly, your nail can and will become healthy again.

Your feet mirror your general health . . . cherish them!