Nails are horn protective formations on the fingers of a person. Their main function is protective. They protect the terminal phalanges and nerve endings from damage. Sometimes, due to mechanical damage, fungal infection or inflammation, toenails hurt. What to do and how to eliminate the disease, we will talk more in the article.
What should a healthy nail look like?
Nails are the hallmark of our state of health. A healthy color of the nail and its shiny surface indicates complete care and excellent health.
A normal nail is determined by 3 criteria:
- smooth surface without any seals;
- pink color;
- when pressed, there is no pain.
A change in at least one of these signs indicates that negative changes are occurring in the body. Pain, deformation of the nail plate are alarming signals of a serious illness. Perhaps a change in the shape and color of the nail plate is the only symptoms of its appearance. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately respond to the problem in order to avoid serious complications.
Toenails hurt: what is it
The pain of the nail plates can appear both at rest and when walking. The nature of the discomfort can be different: burning, numbness, tingling and aching pain. If these pains occur, immediately pay attention to the condition of the nail. Is the nail plate damaged? What is her color?
Why do my toenails hurt?
The occurrence of pain on the nails can characterize various diseases. If your toenails hurt, the reasons may be the following:
- mechanical damage;
- infection;
- fungal infection;
- non-fungal diseases.
It is necessary to consider in detail each of the causes of pain on the nails.
Mechanical damage
Often, toenails hurt for reasons beyond our control. So, damage can be mechanical. They are divided into two types:
- Due to injury. Most often it is this reason that causes severe nail pain. With each physical impact, the fingers take on the main load. As a result, the nail plate may tear, you can pinch your finger. If the damage is severe, then the nail may darken or completely die out.This can only happen if the bruise takes 1/3 of the nail. A new plate grows only 3-4 months later. Moreover, the natural color of the nail also does not return immediately.
- Onychocryptosis - the so-called disease when the plate grows into the nail shaft. This phenomenon is often found on the big toe. This is an extremely unpleasant disease. The main symptom is that the toenail grows with the accompanying pain, bleeding and inflammation of the soft tissue are possible. Pain can be aggravated by wearing narrow, uncomfortable shoes while walking. Purulent discharge from damaged inflamed tissue is not uncommon in such a disease.
The nail can grow in such cases:
- incorrectly done pedicure;
- when wearing very tight and narrow shoes;
- due to fungal disease;
- congenital predisposition;
- orthopedic pathology of the feet.
Onychocryptosis is dangerous for those who have diabetes and suffer from vascular disorders. As a result, blood stagnation in the lower extremities occurs. An ingrown nail is a provocateur of the development of gangrene.
If the pain is on the big toes
With severe pain of the big toe in the area of the nail, we can safely talk about the inflammatory process. Most often, this is a manifestation of panaritium or scleronichia. Perhaps the pain is caused by mechanical damage or the process of exfoliation of the edge of the nail plate. A color change is evidence of infection with a fungal infection.
If sharp pain is felt in the joint area of the big toe, then this is a specific symptom of gout, psoriatic arthritis, or polyosteoarthrosis.
With injuries or mechanical damage, the big toe most often suffers. Infection with a fungal infection is almost never observed on only one nail plate. In most cases, the fungus will spread to neighboring fingers. With this pathology, not only does the nail hurt, but the skin can peel off in the periungual space and between other fingers.
Under the nail
If the nail hurts, you need to make sure: does the plate grow into the skin. Onychocryptosis is very difficult to treat, especially in advanced cases. Therefore, it is better to stop the process in time, until the nail plate has grown completely throughout the lateral part.
If the corner of the nail on the foot hurts, then this is the first alarm signal about the ingrowth of the nail. So, you incorrectly cut the nail corners, the pedicure technique is not respected.
Fever, pulsation, purulent discharge, sharp pain under the plate are the symptoms of the subungual panaritium.
When you press
Toenail hurts when pressed. Pay attention to the color of the nail plate. If deposits of white, yellow colors are noticeable, thickening is noticeable, nail tissue grows, an unpleasant smell - a fungal infection on the face.
Only a qualified doctor can determine the type of fungal pathogen.
Also, pain when pressed can occur if you regularly wear tight, uncomfortable shoes. Therefore, when you press the nail at rest, you will feel pain.
After nail polish removal
Toenails after nail polish hurt? Often such a complaint can be heard from girls. Regular nail polish removal using acetone thins the nail plate. Her condition is noticeably worsening. The likelihood of developing a fungal infection is growing. The situation is correctable if you use moisturizing oils and a complex of vitamins. Doctors recommend temporarily abandoning the pedicure with the use of chemicals.
Infectious and fungal diseases
Inflammatory processes are accompanied by changes within the body - all this indicates fungal diseases. Microflora is disturbed. Nail pain can be caused by such fungal diseases:
- Onychomycosis - damage to the nail plate by the fungus. The disease is caused by damage to dermatophytes and microspores. The color of the nail changes, the plate thickens, partially can be destroyed. Stripes and spots may appear. The localization of the lesion is different: all nails or part of them may be infected.
- Infection of the nail grooves. The reason is the splitting of the nail plate in the longitudinal and transverse directions.
- Rubromycosis is caused by red trichophyton. The disease leads to a thickening or thinning of the nail plate. The nail becomes brittle.
- Candidiasis may occur after cuts during the pedicure procedure. As additional signs: inflammation and swelling.
- Panaritium - pyogenic bacteria enter the nail through small cracks or wounds, causing inflammation.
- Ringworm is an infectious disease that spreads from the edge to the end of the nail. The infected parts of the plate become colorless and compact.
- Epidermophytosis is a disease in which the fungus affects not only the nail, but the skin around it. This changes the color and shape of the nail plate. An inflammatory process appears.
Epidemiologists have identified the transmission of such infections: contact-household through household items. The level of sanitary culture is determined by the person himself.
The cause of pain in the toenails can be hidden by skin and sexually transmitted diseases (gonorrhea, syphilis, psoriasis, etc.).
What to treat?
When toenails hurt, the treatment should be an experienced doctor, based on the individual characteristics of the patient's body. With neglected domestic dermatosis with a fungal infection, a specialist prescribes potent drugs orally.
Medicines are indicated for such diseases:
- With onychomycosis and fungal infections: antimycotic ointments: "Lamisil", "Exoderil", "Canizon"; antifungal ointments: Fluconazole, Mycozoral.
- With panaritium: local antibacterial therapy: Amoxiclav, Ciprolet.
- For ringworm, corticosteroids, heparin, and antihistamines are prescribed.
It is important to start treatment on time, even if your toenails just hurt. The consequences of onychocryptosis and other diseases are quite serious. Perhaps the development of purulent inflammation and swelling of the soft tissues. Moreover, this kind of inflammation can lead to the loss of the finger and its motor function. With the wrong treatment or ignoring the problem, complications can be for the whole organism. The most dangerous is sepsis (blood poisoning). This disease can be fatal. With purulent inflammation of the thumbnail in pregnant women, the risk of infecting not only your body, but also the fetus, increases.
Prevention
By observing simple hygiene rules, serious diseases can be avoided. To prevent the integrity of the nail plate and the development of fungal diseases, you must adhere to such rules:
- regularly cleanse the skin of dead cells with pumice;
- use moisturizing lotions and oils after the pedicure to strengthen the nail plate;
- Do not go to unverified pedicure masters, otherwise you can become infected by using a dirty tool;
- when visiting swimming pools, beaches and nail salons, observe safety measures and use antifungal agents;
- choose comfortable shoes according to size;
- monitor the diet (saturate the diet with fish, fruits, vegetables, pork);
- maintain your immunity, especially with stress and overload of the body.
Do not use acetone to remove the varnish. Since it leads to damage and delamination of the nail plate. Drink at least 1.5 liters of water per day.
May your nails be always healthy!