Toenail Fungus or Nail Trauma?
What causes nail thickening and yellowing?
Is it a fungal infection or nail trauma? Have a problem with your nails? Thickened or tainted in some way? You may question whether it's a fungal nail infection or something else. It's also possible that the discoloration of the nail is due to nail damage. The nail plate's thickening and curvature may indicate a condition called gryphotic nails or onychogryphosis, which are two terms used to describe this nail thickening. A past injury to the nail may be to blame for these changes to your nails. The cause may be a single traumatic event to the nail plate or the cause may be gradual and repetitive trauma.
Symptoms of Toenail Fungus vs. Nail Trauma
You may have noticed changes in the texture, quality, and color of your nails. Sometimes it is noticed after nail varnish or gels have been removed. Typical first signs are a yellowing or brown discoloration, nails may become thick, crumbly, or brittle. Nails can become distorted, misshapen, and may lift from the nail bed losing their healthy shine.
In response to stress and trauma, the nail becomes thicker and thicker. Fungal infections are often misdiagnosed because of the look of the nails. However, the discoloration isn't generally a sign of anything more serious. The thickness of the nail may also be to blame. The thickening of the nails obscures the pink nail bed. When the nail matrix (the tissue from which the nail develops) is more damaged, this might cause the nail to thicken and in rare cases fall off. Fungi may infect the nail matrix and affect the way the nail develops, causing fungal nail infections.
A podiatrist may guide you on whether it is a fungal infection based on your medical history and visually. However, the best way to determine if you have a fungal nail is through microscopy and culture with a sample sent to a lab. A quicker, but slightly less accurate way to diagnose fungal nails is with a quick and simple diafactory test in the clinic.
How to treat fungal nails vs thicker nails?
Thickened nails are treated by reducing nail thickness. A qualified podiatrist can conduct a medical pedicure (Medi-Pedi) in the clinic to make the nails comfortable and visually more appealing. It is impossible to re-invigorate the nail matrix once it has been damaged, it is essentially scarred.
Whether your nails be fungal or damaged, a podiatrist can help you figure out what to do about them and recommend the best course of action. Treatments include topical, oral, laser therapies, and more. We have more information here on how we assess and manage fungal nails.
