Why is my big toenail so thick?

Nails are part of the human body. By observing the condition of the nails, you can see a person's overall physical condition. This is not superstition, but very scientific. Only when a person is in good health and has adequate nutrition can the nails grow normally. Otherwise, many health problems will arise. Doctors sometimes infer some diseases based on the condition of the nails. So, what is the reason for thick big toenail?

Nails are a barometer of human health. Normal nails are rosy and subtle, tough and curved, smooth and shiny, and the half-moon at the root of the nail is grayish white. If the shape and color of the nails change, it indicates that the human body may have a certain disease. Onychomycosis refers to changes in the nails caused by fungi parasitizing the nails. It is named because clinically the toenails become thick and slightly yellowish-gray.

As long as the fungus parasitizes in the toenails, it will form gray toenails. Usually, it is caused by long-term tinea pedis that is not properly treated, and the fungus gradually spreads to the toenails. Another common cause is nail deformation caused by trauma, which makes the toenails more likely to harbor dirt and create a breeding ground for fungus.

Onychomycosis generally has no symptoms. Clinically, the toenails can be seen to become coarser and thicker, and turn yellow. Sometimes the toenail will bend further, deform and insert into the adjacent toe flesh, causing acute paronychia, at which time there will be local redness, swelling and pain.

To prevent onychomycosis, the method is the same as that for preventing tinea pedis. In addition, if you already have tinea pedis, you should actively treat it to prevent the fungus from spreading to the toenails.

Treating onychomycosis requires both patience and intelligence. How do you say this? Because the toenails are gray and thick, the local medications used to treat tinea pedis are not strong enough to penetrate the toenails and kill the fungus; therefore, even with the strongest penetrating medication, after nine months of continuous application, the cure rate is only about 10% to 20%.

Because the effects of topical medications are so poor, the medical community is actively developing drugs that can be taken orally but have high concentrations in the toenails. Today's oral medications can effectively cure onychomycosis. Taking the medicine for six weeks on fingernails and twelve weeks on toenails is enough to eradicate the fungus in onychomycosis.

However, since these drugs are metabolized by the liver, people with poor liver function will not be able to metabolize and excrete these drugs out of the body. Over time, the drugs accumulate in the body and affect the function of the liver. Therefore, it is not recommended for people with poor liver function.

A thick big toenail is a sign of reduced immunity. Patients should pay more attention to nutrition, wear appropriate shoes, and be careful not to go to the bathhouse as this will easily lead to infection. The condition of the nail is only a reference for judging the physical condition and is not 100% normal. You still need to go to the hospital for a check-up to be sure.