So wash your hands after inspecting your feet, says Connolly. Wash Your Handsįungal infection can spread from your feet to your hands. The fungus digests the nail keratin, the protein that makes up the nail, causing the discoloration, which ranges from white to yellow and less often green to black. The reason? “Sweating makes matters worse, since it creates a warm, moist environment-perfect for spreading nail fungus,” he says. Use a quality foot powder-talcum, not cornstarch-and wear shoes that fit well and are made of materials that breathe, says C. “That opening can invite fungus inside.” Clip toenails straight across so that the nail doesn’t extend beyond the nail bed, he suggests. “Longer nails can get caught on things or rub against tight shoes, which can cause the nail to lift from its bed,” says Connolly. (Here's what really happens if you go barefoot at the gym.) Snip Nails Short So slip your feet into shoes or sandals rather than placing your bare feet in harm’s way. If you’re prone to developing fungal infections, walking barefoot in public facilities can expose your feet to the troublesome fungi, Kechijian says. This habit helps rid the feet of excess bacteria from shoes and gives them a full night of cleanliness before they are back into shoes. A strict regimen of washing the feet with antibacterial soap and water every night before bedtime, and remembering to dry thoroughly, is the best way to prevent an infection,” says Kechijian. By following proper hygiene and regularly inspecting your feet and toes, you can reduce your chances of the problem, or even stop the chain of events once it starts, says Paul Kechijian, MD. Keep Cleanīecause fungi are everywhere, including the skin, they can be present months before they find opportunities to strike. Here’s how to treat discolored nails, or keep these changes from happening to you. In addition, age alone-without fungal infection-can also cause your nails to become yellow, but in this case, the nails are just discolored, but not thick and misshapen. This whole process often happens more frequently with age, Connolly says. Toenails are affected more frequently than fingernails. The infection can spread to other nails and even the skin. Debris may collect beneath the nail, and a white area on the nail edge may form as the nail begins to lift from the nail bed. The nail often becomes yellow to brown, and then it gets thicker and may develop a bad odor. The first sign of a fungal infection is a change in color. Why so common? Toenails and fingernails and surrounding skin are prone to everyday wear and tear, which invites dirt, germs, and infection-causing fungi to take up residence there. According to the National Onychomycosis Society, 11 million new cases are diagnosed each year. This nail fungus occurs when organisms known as dermatophytes move in under your nails. Connolly, DO, the most common cause of discolored nails is a condition called onychomycosis. Smoking can stain nails a very unattractive brown, while the wrong nail polish can leave them tinged an unnatural orange-yellow.Īccording to Coyle S. “Nail discoloration can be caused by a variety of conditions, such as reactions to medications (blue discoloration), bacterial infection (green-black), fungal infection (yellow), or even melanoma (black or brown discoloration),” says Audrey Kunin, MD. Your eyes may be the windows to your soul, but your nails can reveal a lot about your body.
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