5 Conditions Often Mistaken For Toenail Fungus 8
If you’ve been keeping up with our blog, you’ve learned quite a lot about toenail fungus. You know that it’s unsightly and can be painful. You know that there are home remedies and products on the market that can help alleviate the symptoms. You also know that there are some surefire cures out there! And we’ll get back to that momentarily. But did you know that there are other problems that you may have with your toenails that aren’t necessarily a sign of toenail fungus?
Believe it or not, your feet are susceptible to a number of conditions that aren’t all that fun to deal with. But thankfully, not every one of them entails a fungal infection. As WebMD.com points out, there are actually a number of conditions that are often mistaken for toenail fungus. In today’s blog, we’ll review five of them in hopes to potentially quell any fears you may have about a current condition you may be facing.
1. Lines and ridges. According to the website, it’s quite common for us to see lines and ridges in our toenails. It goes on to note that the appearances of lines and ridges can be exacerbated by pregnancy. Sorry ladies! They can be seen in your fingernails as well – and if you happen to be a nail biter, your chances of developing large grooves down the centre of your nails are bound to worsen.
2. Senile nails. An unfortunate fact of life is that as we get older, our bodies start to deteriorate. Sorry again to break the news to you! WebMD.com reminds us that with age, our nails become more brittle, developing ridges and sometimes separation of the nail layers at the end of our nails. In order to help avoid this, you’ll want to stay away from cleaning solutions, says the site. Try to avoid soaking your nails in water as well.
3. Whitish or yellowish nails due to onycholysis. Onycholysis is the term used to describe the separation of the nail from the nail bed. But most people tend to refer to this occurrence as “Ow!” The discolouration that you see is due to the air finding its way in between the nail and the skin it is separated from. The website advises that to resolve this condition, you trim the nail short and avoid cleaning underneath it. You may also polish it if you want to hide the colour.
4. Red or black nails due to a hematoma. When we stub or hit our nails in any way, it’s common for blood to pool underneath them. This discolouration will eventually grow out of the nail as you trim it, informs WebMD.com. However, the site also warns that if you have not experienced any trauma to your nails and still see black spots underneath them, you should consult a doctor. You want to make sure that it is not melanoma.
5. Green nails caused by Pseudomonas bacteria. If you’re first reaction is “Ew!”, you’re not alone. When a nail is separated from the nail bed and bacteria makes its way in between, it can create a green pigment. Advises the website, “the treatment is to trim the nail short every four weeks, don’t clean it, polish if you want to hide the color, and wait two to three months. It is also advised to avoid soaking the nail in any sort of water…and to thoroughly dry the nail after bathing.”
So there you have it. Not all conditions involving your toenails are automatically fungus-related. However, if you do find that you have a toenail fungus problem, there is a solution that has been proven to destroy it. Remember those surefire cures we mentioned earlier? Zetaclear is considered to be the best of the bunch! A combination topical polish and homeopathic oral spray, Zetaclear effectively kills nail fungus dead. Learn more by visiting the Zetaclear website today!