FOOT NAIL PROBLEMS

See also

Foot skin problems

Common problems

• Fungal nail infections - Nails change colour, and may or may not thicken, the infection can spread between nails.
• Ingrowing toenails - Painful, infected nail folds.
• Dysplastic nails - Thickened nails, particularly common in the elderly. May be too thick to cut.
• Psoriatic nails- Pitting of nails which may be associated with psoriatic arthropathy and/or psoriasis.

Danger signs

• Beware of diabetes or other causes, if suspected - Contact GP.
• Clubbing of nails can be associated with a wide range of diseases including neoplasm of bronchus, heart disease etc.
• Koilonychia (spoon shaped nails) - can be associated with anaemia.

General advice

• Fungal nail infections usually require oral or topical anti-fungals most are POM - Contact GP.
• Ingrowing toe nails may benefit from: correct nail cutting advice (i.e. straight cut across nail); cutting V shaped notch.
• Contact GP or Chiropodist.

Therapy

• Analgesia where appropriate.
• Topical anaesthetics - limited role in ingrowing toe nails.

Dictionary

Analgesic: a compound capable of producing analgesia.
Arthropathy: disease affecting a joint.
Koilonychia: a malformation of the nails in which the outer surface is concave.
Neoplasm: an abnormal tissue that grows by cellular proliferation more rapidly than normal.

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