Set out below are self-help suggestions and useful information relating to conditions connected with damaged and infected toenails. However, if you have any concerns that last for more than a few days, they should be reported to your doctor.

Damaged and Infected Toenails

Toenails take about 12 month to grow. If they are damaged by trauma or infection, then it will be a full year before you have a healthy nail again. The commonest injury to a toenail is stubbing it or dropping something on it. This can cause a haemorrhage under the nail. The toenail will be exquisitely tender with a blood clot visible underneath. You can get instant relief by making a small hole in the nail and releasing the blood. If you are brave, you can do this yourself with a needle. Most GP surgeries would do this during opening hours. The next commonest injury is bruising caused by repetitive injury in bad footwear, for example after a long walk or an energetic game of squash. This black toenail will take about a month to drop off and a year to grow back again.

Fungal toenail infections are very common, affecting about 1 in 10 people. The toenail will be yellow and crumbly and the surrounding skin may be inflamed. The commonest cause is T. rubrum which also causes athlete’s foot. It can be treated by a special nail varnish which can only be obtained on prescription. It must be painted on the nail twice week for a whole year and is not cheap. You must only start treatment if you are prepared to carry on for a year. Alternatively, there is now a tablet containing terbinafine which can be taken daily for 3 months which does the same job. It is a prescription only medicine which is very expensive. Diabetics should certainly treat toenail infections which cause cellulites if left unattended.

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