Why are my toenails so ugly?

A: There are many reasons why a toenail can change appearance. They can become darkened, discolored, yellowed, thickened, curved, and deformed. As a foot doctor in Houston, I see people everyday who do not like the appearance of their toenails. Because of our warm climate, open toed shoes and sandals are commonly worn by both women and men. They want their feet looking nice.

The most common cause of ugly toenails is fungus. Fungus is present on our feet and in our shoes. If given an opportunity to infect, such as trauma, it will do so. Mild infections may show a white appearance to the nail surface. More advanced infections will lead to yellowing, thickening, and deforming of the nail. Toenails can also become ugly without fungus, such as repetitive trauma from running or injury, but fungus is the most common cause.

Tanglewood Foot Specialists

1011 Augusta Dr. Suite 202

Houston, TX 77057

713-785-7881

Houston foot & ankle specialist Dr. Andrew Schneider offers sports podiatry, diabetic foot care, and treatment and surgery of all foot and ankle problems to residents of Houston Texas and surrounding areas. Contact us today for an immediate appointment.