How to trim thickened toenails (2024)

FAQs

How to trim thickened toenails? ›

Start at the corner of the nail, and make small straight cuts all the way across your toenail. Taking small cuts helps prevent splintering. Don't use the nail nippers to round the edges of the nail. Cut straight across.

Thick toe nails can be managed using an emery board and filing your nails. This will stunt nail growth and keep them manageable. Gently file each nail across the thickened part 2-3 time weekly to reduce the thickness. The best time to do this is when the nail is dry, before a bath or shower.

Soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes to soften your nails, and then use a towel to thoroughly dry your feet and toenails. Using a nail clipper, make small cuts to avoid splintering the nail and cut straight across. To lessen the chance of the nail becoming ingrown, don't round off the corners.

Once your toenail grows thick, it will always be thick, this is a permanent change. There are only two main options when we have a thickened toenail: Conservative treatment where the foot specialist will debride (file) your toenails to their normal flat level.

Heavy duty podiatry-grade toenail clippers: We recommend ClipPro nail clippers for our patients.

If your nails are crusted with keratin debris, she scrapes it away with specialized tools. If your infection is severe, she may recommend toenail surgery to temporarily remove the infected nail and treat the nail bed topically. Clearing onychomycosis can take up to a year.

If the toenail fungus progresses, it can go deeper into the nail, causing discoloration, thick white stuff under the toenail (keratin debris), nail thickening and crumbling, and even transmission to surrounding nails.

Waldman recommends mixing one part white or apple cider vinegar to three parts warm water. Soak your toes for at least 10 minutes (but up to 40 minutes is better). Instead of vinegar, you can use Listerine, which contains thymol, the main compound in the herb thyme.

Soften your nails first by applying urea cream (Aluvea, Keralac) and wrapping your feet in bandages at night. Then, wash off the urea cream and use a nail clipper and nail file to trim your nails. Apply an over-the-counter fungal treatment after you gently file your nails. Apply Vicks VapoRub on your toenail each day.

Thick toenails are the common result of four different causes: injury, old age, fungal infection and psoriasis.

Why do my toenails grow super thick? ›

The most common cause of thickened toenails is aging. Toenails thicken with age because the growth rate of the nail plate slows. Other reasons toenails may thicken include: A common skin condition called psoriasis.

You absolutely can get a pedicure with a fungal infection, but it is important to honestly address the situation with the salon ahead of time. When doing so, find out if the salon has the proper sterilization practices and necessary tools to handle fungal nails.

Can You Scrape Out Toenail Fungus? No. You may be able to scrape a bit off the top of or from under your nails, but that won't cure the infection.

The fungus does not make the toenails thick; the pressure, type of injury, and patient's genetics determine how thick the nails will grow, resulting in conditions like thick black toenail or thick skin under toenail.

Pincer nail is a deformity characterized by excessive transverse curvature of nail, progressively increasing along its longitudinal axis. The curvature is greatest at the distal end, leading to an ingrown nail, producing pain, discomfort, and significant cosmetic alteration.

If you have pincer nails, you may be tempted to trim the free end very short. However, this can increase the risk of ingrown toenails, so it's a good idea to let the free end grow out a little bit. Your podiatrist can then fit you with a special orthotic to slowly straighten your nail plates.