What are the causes of thick toenails?

In summer, the weather is relatively hot, so many friends will pay more attention to their feet, because their feet will be exposed. Often at this time, a problem is likely to occur, that is, the toenails become thicker. Moreover, this not only has a great impact on one's image, it may also be caused by some diseases. Let's take a look at the reasons why toenails become thicker.

1. Congenital thickening of toenails

The toenails are yellow-green in color, extremely hard and thick, overly curved, with barrel or horseshoe-shaped free edges, and more than one toenail has this symptom. After falling off, they still grow thicker when they grow back. This type of toenail thickening is congenital.

2. Thick toenails

The nail plate becomes noticeably thicker and the thickness is regular, which is a typical case of thick toenails, which is mainly caused by the involvement of the nail matrix.

3. Chronic diseases

Chronic respiratory, thyroid, or lymph gland diseases can cause a chain reaction of thickening toenails.

4. Hyperkeratotic tinea pedis

Hyperkeratotic tinea pedis is one of the causes of thickening of toenails. The specific symptoms include thickening and roughening of toenails, deepening of skin lines, and diffuse redness of most parts of the soles of the feet.

5. Age Issues

Thickening of toenails is common among the elderly. As they age, the metabolism of the cuticle of the nails slows down, causing the toenails to become thicker.

6. Onychomycosis is the main cause of thickening of toenails

The above thickening of toenails is only an additional manifestation caused by some diseases, but most of the time, the main cause of thickening of toenails in the elderly is onychomycosis.

7. Why do toenails become thicker when suffering from onychomycosis?

After suffering from onychomycosis, the fungus can easily enter the nail plate or nail bed and multiply rapidly, causing the toenails to thicken, and the accumulation of keratin aggravates this condition. As the toenails become thicker, the opacity of the nail bed will deepen, and the toenails will be 1 to 3 times thicker than normal nail plates.

8. Thickening of toenails caused by onychomycosis is very harmful

If the thickening of the toenails is not controlled in time, the toenails will become thicker and more turbid when the nail plate is lifted up in the later stage, and eventually the nail plate will fall off. If the nail fungus that causes thick toenails cross-infects tinea pedis, the simultaneous occurrence of both will be much more difficult to treat than thick toenails.

If patients experience thickening of toenails, they must seek timely treatment and not ignore it. Patients with more serious conditions are more likely to develop onychomycosis, so everyone must pay attention to this. You should also trim your nails more often. Regular nail trimming can also improve the phenomenon of thickening nails. You should also pay more attention to hygiene!