Why is My Toenail Changing Color?

Have you taken a look at your toes lately, a really good look at them? The color of your toes can give you a huge warning sign to your health. The variation of color changes ranges from the most common yellow to sometimes black toenails. Those different colors can mean a variety of different things. Here is a quick guide to what those colors mean, but I am not a doctor the best way to find out for sure is to go to your doctor or podiatrist.

The different colors can result from different infections and conditions of the skin. In about 50% of cases, discolored nails are a result of infections with common fungi that can be found in the air, dust, and soil.

·      Pseudomonas is a type of bacteria that infects the nail bed and results in a greenish color to the nails.

·      Red or black nails may result from a hematoma -a collection of blood aka bruise- under the nail as a result of trauma possibly an ingrown toenail

·      Other specific color changes in the nails can be suggestive of diabetes or of liver, kidney, heart, or lung conditions. This is why doctors pay specific attention to nails during a routine physical examination.

·      Nail pigment bands, discoloration that appears as a brown vertical line on the nail bed are called melanonychia. Melanonychia that is found to be skin melanoma. These bands are most common in people who have darker complexions. It is an overproduction of melanocytes in that area of the nail. An estimated 70% of African Americans over 20 have nail banding, nearly all over 50 have it also.

·      Yellow toenails could result from stained nail bed from dark colors or most commonly a fungal infection.

Preventative action for all these fungal infections can be as simple as not wearing the same shoes and socks everyday. Fungi love warm, moist, dark places such as close-toed shoes. Non-breathable material and sweat is a great mix for bacteria to grow. If you work out often allow your shoes some time to air out and switch out your shoes every once in a while.

Tips to help you prevent infected toenails:

• During treatment, follow your doctor’s instructions completely.
• Avoid walking barefoot in areas that are public and damp.
• Avoid coming into contact with anyone with a fungal infection.
• Avoid sharing towels, bathmats and clothes while having or healing from a fungal infection or if someone else has a fungal infection.
• Clean and dry your feet and toes thoroughly and daily.
• Talk with your doctor about all possible treatment methods before using the product.
• Talk with your doctor at the first sign of discoloration.
• Maintain proper foot and toenail hygiene.
• Never cut your nails too short, and always cut them straight across.

Fungal infections are much easier to treat in the beginning, SO PAY ATTENTION. It is much less expensive to apply a topical remedy like tea tree oil, an essential oil of the tea tree that has been shown to have antifungal properties. Other natural remedies include an oral herbal treatment to aid the topical preparation. The hardest part of treating a toe infection is the penetration of the nail before the fungus changes the nail into a thick distorted version of itself, so treat it fast.

Pay attention to your body it only benefits you.

SuperbCoutureFootwear is a premiere online retailer that sells quality footwear and foot care products to women. They seek to inspire and educate women about proper use of footwear and foot care. To learn more about the products offered and the informative articles provided, go to superbfootwear.com