Types of Toenails

Paronychia is an infection of the skin around your fingernails and toenails. The infection can be caused by bacteria or a type of yeast called Candida. The infection can be caused by bacteria or a type of yeast called Candida.

One instance of Candida can spread to the toe or finger nails, causing a type of onychomycosis or nail fungus. Candida can cause a lot of health problems and some of them can be very serious. This is mostly due to the fact that it can stay for a long time in a person’s body before it gets detected and during that time the infection can spread.

Paronychia is an infection of the skin around your fingernails and toenails. Bacteria or a type of yeast called Candida typically cause this infection. Bacteria and yeast can even combine in one infection.

In distal lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO), the nail plate is thick with a cloudy appearance (opaque), the nail bed underneath the nail thickens (becomes raised) and hardens (nail bed hyperkeratosis), and the nail separates from the bed underneath (onycholysis).

Onycholysis is the loosening of the nail plate from the nail bed. Toenails are more commonly involved in toenail fungus than finger nails; largely due to the damp conditions associated with the use of shoes (Tosti & Piraccini, 1996).

What Is an Ingrown Nail? Ingrown nails -- when the nail grows into the flesh instead of over it -- usually affect the toenails, particularly the big toe. People with curved or thick nails are most susceptible, although anyone can suffer from ingrown nails as a result of an injury, poorly fitting shoes, or improper grooming of the feet.

Nails may also appear lightened to a whitish-yellow color if there has been separation of the nail from the nail bed, termed onycholysis. The skin, mucous membranes, and nails may appear blue when there is inadequate oxygenation of blood , but this is not true discoloration of the nail itself.

Some diseases or even nail injuries can also cause vertical toenail ridges. If there is a single vertical ridge, it may be a cause for concern. Furthermore, if vertical toenail ridges are accompanied by symptoms like brittle nails, jagged edges, or splitting, you might have a condition known as onychorrhexis.

Toenails that have become thicker over time are a likely sign of a fungal infection. Other symptoms that may go along with your thick nails include a change in color of your nail or a foul odor from your toes. Prevent thick toenails by practicing good foot hygiene like using foot powder and investing in shower shoes.

Distal lateral subungual onychomycosis (DLSO) is the most common form of fungal nail infection. In DLSO, the fungus generally spreads from the skin and invades the underside of the nail where the nail meets the nail bed.

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Onychomycosis Treatment-White Superficial Symptoms White Superficial Onychomycosis Treatment If you have recently looked down at your toenails and realized that they are no longer bright and clear, what are extremely yellowish or powdery white, it could be that you have developed some form of nail fungus in your toenails, something that can also happen with your fingernails, and is the result of growing fungi.