Why are my toenails getting thicker?

Why do I have thick toenails? This is one of the most common questions we're asked at Capital Podiatry.

One of our patients asked about thick toenails last week.

She said her husband had strong, quick growing thick toenails, while hers were more fragile.

She wondered if this was part of the difference between being male and female.

We thought that this was a great opportunity to explain the reasons why people have thick nails.

And no - thick or thin nails are not related to being either male or female.

As podiatrists, we see a broad range of problems that affect the feet and lower limbs, nails included!

Curved claw-like nails

There are a number of explanations for thickening toe nails.

Sometimes, your nail thickens evenly. It's called Onychauxis and it's most commonly caused by trauma or a fungal infection.

Sometimes, nails thicken in an un-even curved way, more like a claw. In these cases, it's called Onychygryphosis. And again it's commonly caused by trauma or a fungal infection.

Red, itchy skin

Your thickened nails could also be related to a skin condition such as psoriasis.

People suffering from psoriasis have patches of abnormal skin, which can be red, itchy and scaly.

Fungal nail infections

Up to 14 per cent of adults have a fungal nail infection at least once in their lives.

The fungus lives within the nail itself and feeds off the keratin the nail is made of.

These nails often have white, brown or yellow streaks or spots on them and can sometimes be very crumbly or chalky.

And just to be confusing, nails don't always get thicker if they have a fungal infection. 

Laser therapy - the most effective treatment

Currently the most effective treatment for fungal nails is laser therapy.

Laser therapy is a non-invasive way to kill the fungal spores in the nails. This means that you're not taking tablets, for example, which can interact with other medicines you're taking.

Our laser therapy cures about 80 per cent of our patients. And this fits in with the statistics being collected world wide by ARC Laser, who designed our laser.

Compare this to the 40 per cent effectiveness of the harsh tablets and the mere 20 per cent effectiveness of the often tedious nail paints and its benefits soon become apparent.

What is nail trauma?

Nail trauma is a nail injury. It can be a major injury, like having a horse tread on your toe. Or it can be a smaller, more repetitive injury like wearing shallow, tight, ill-fitting shoes.

These traumatic injuries can damage the nail bed, where the new nail emerges.

The nail bed can end up producing a thicker nail to try to protect itself and the toe from further damage.

Unfortunately there is no cure for nails that thicken after an injury. However, we can improve their appearance and your level of comfort with regular nail filing and care.

If you think you have fungal nails and you're in the Canberra region, call Capital Podiatry on 
6293 3300 or email us at admin@capitalpodiatry.com.au.

By Nick Hepple, Capital Podiatry