Dark Toe Nails
Everything You Need To Know About Dark Toe Nails
Dark toe nails are often associated with a fungus or injury. In addition to toe nails turning dark, they can also turn yellowish and can become brittle, flaky and thickening can often occur. In some cases, dark toe nails can cause mild to severe pain.
If your dark toe nails are caused from a fungus then it may help to understand what a toenail fungus actually is. It is technically a living organism that loves damp and dark environments like your toe nails. When it attacks your nails it can cause them to be quite unsightly, leaving you feeling very embarrassed and sometimes in pain.
Some people are more susceptible to acquire fungus related to dark toe nails than others. If your skin has an abnormal pH level, have had trauma to the nail or poor foot hygiene, you are at a higher risk.
Since dark nails can be caused from a fungus, it is best to avoid situations where you can pick the fungus up or at least take precautions to protect the toes. Public pools and showers, spas, saunas and locker rooms are a breeding ground for fungus so wearing sandals at places like this can reduce your risk. After you have been in one of these places always wash your feet very well and dry them completely.
Be sure that your shoes allow ample moisture and air exchange like shoes that have side air-breather holes or mesh. Plastic shoes should always be avoided. Additionally, nail polish can encourage fungal growth resulting in dark toe nails. Sharing towels, shoes and other personal items should also be avoided.
Clean your toenails on a daily basis and use a nail brush and pay attention to the underneath section of the toenails. Keeping your toenails short will help avoid dark toe nails since this gives fungus less room to grow.
Dark toe nails can also be caused by an injury. Runners often suffer from this problem and it is similar to if you stub your toe hard. Bleeding occurs under the toe nail however since there is not an actual cut, the blood does not have anywhere to go. The accumulation of the blood under the nail can cause you to have dark toe nails.
Many runners actually feel it is a great honor when they finally get their first dark toe nails meaning they have moved to a more intense level of training. Beginner runners usually get these from improper fitting shoes but seasoned runners get them from intense training. Each step produces friction damaging a few blood capillaries. The dark toe nails will usually in this case fall off but this is completely normal and they will eventually grow back. Hot weather usually causes this to happen more often as well because your feet swell resulting in your shoes fitting a bit more snug. Unfortunately, there really is no cure for this kind of injury except rest them and keep them clean to avoid any type of infection.
If your dark toe nails are caused from a fungus there are plenty of remedies to treat them and only your doctor can give you a proper diagnosis. There are a few home remedies that you can try until you can see your doctor though. Tea tree oil or olive oil can alleviate any soreness or dryness and soaking them in Listerine mouthwash or apple cider vinegar can clean the fungus area well. Chances are, you are not suffering from anything serious with your dark toe nails but it is still a good idea to get them checked out.