What makes cuticles thick

In extreme cases, your doctor may choose to remove a portion or all of the thickened nail. Keep neat, trimmed nails. Trimming your nails frequently will help with their appearance.

It may also ease some pain if nails rub against shoes and cause discomfort. Eventually, you may need to see a podiatrist, a doctor who specializes in the treatment of conditions and diseases of the foot, ankle, and lower limbs.

Wear comfortable shoes. Tight shoes may cause onychauxis, and they may make symptoms, especially pain, worse. A professional shoe fitting can help you decide if you need a wider shoe option so your toes have plenty of room. Wide-toe shoes may be a smart option if you frequently experience pain from toenails rubbing against your shoes. Paint with a polish.

Nail polish may help cover the discoloration, but it will not end or stop the abnormal growth. Move more. Boost circulation in your lower extremities by walking, riding a bicycle, or otherwise moving more.

The increase in blood, oxygen, and other nutrients may end the unusual nail growth issue. In some cases, onychauxis can be treated. This is especially true when the abnormally thick nails are the result of an underlying condition, such as an infection or trauma. If onychauxis is left untreated, you may eventually experience complications like curled toenails, thick nails that cannot be trimmed, and pain.

Psoriasis is a skin condition where skin cells grow too quickly. It can affect any part of the body, including the nails. Nail psoriasis involves many parts of the nail. In the hyponychium and nail bed, the skin cells grow excessively, causing scaling and buildup.

This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. If the skin becomes very thick, it can cause onycholysis , which is separation of the nail plate from the nail bed.

Another possible cause is a fungal nail infection , also known as onychomycosis. It occurs when a fungus on your skin infects the fingernail. It can thicken both the nail and skin tissue beneath the nail. The most common form is distal and lateral subungual onychomycosis DSLO. It starts in the hyponychium and then spreads to the nail plate and nail bed. This type of doctor specializes in skin and nails. Be sure to consult a doctor instead of a nail technician.

Some people are more prone to fungal infections than others. Some of the leading causes of fungal infections in the toenails include:. Toenails can thicken as a result of sudden or repeated trauma or injury.

Mostly, this happens to people involved in sport or exercise, such as soccer players, runners, and dancers, but also to people with ill-fitting shoes. This less-common cause of thick nails affects both fingernails and toenails. The condition causes the nails to yellow and become curved and thickened.

A person with yellow nail syndrome often experiences respiratory problems and swelling in the arms and legs due to a buildup of fluid around the lungs and in the limbs.

Although doctors do not know the exact cause of yellow nail syndrome, some believe there is a strong genetic connection. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that typically causes red, scaly patches on the skin.

Psoriasis of the nails often accompanies the skin disorder, affecting both the fingernails and toenails. When psoriasis is the direct cause of thickened nails, a person is likely to develop ridges on the nails, and the nails may loosen and separate from the nail bed. Paronychia is a skin condition that causes redness and swelling around the nail. Over time and multiple infections, both fingernails and toenails may become thick.

A person may notice that layers of the nail start to peel off. People are more likely to develop paronychia from frequently sucking on their fingers, dishwashing, and trimming the nails or cuticles too much. Several occupations are also more of a risk for developing thick nail due to paronychia. These jobs include:. Aging may cause the toenails, as well as the fingernails, to thicken. Often, as a person ages, the nails on their toes start to thicken.

Though the condition is most common on the toenails, it is possible for the fingernails to thicken also. It is thought that the nails thicken as people get older because the body is not as able to renew itself as it was at a younger age. The thick nails and the ridges that form on the nail as a result of aging are not treatable. They can be buffed slightly, however, to smooth out their appearance.

Chronic paronychia often affects people who have their hands in water for long periods, or come into contact with chemicals, such as cleaners, bartenders, canteen staff or fishmongers.

It may start in one nail fold but can affect several fingers. The affected nail folds are swollen. They may be red and sore from time to time, often after exposure to water. The nail plate gradually becomes thickened and ridged as it grows. It may become yellow or green and brittle. See your GP if the condition is severe. They may prescribe antibiotic creams or tablets.

In some cases, they may refer you to a dermatologist skin specialist. It can take months for chronic paronychia to clear.

It can take up to a year after that for your nails to return to normal. Keeping your hands dry and warm, using emollient hand cream often and not biting or picking your nails can help. We will not reply to your feedback. Don't include any personal or financial information, for example National Insurance, credit card numbers, or phone numbers. The nidirect privacy notice applies to any information you send on this feedback form.

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