Treatments may include remedies like antifungal medications and foot soaks.

Psoriasis can make your nails weak.

They may even fall off completely.

Podiatrist cutting toenails and examining a foot

pedro arquero / Getty Images

If the skin around the nail thats been injured is also hurt and gets infected, its calledparonychia.

The big toenail is most often affected.

Who Is at Risk of Developing Thick Toenails?

You may need testing done to reach a diagnosis.

While you might be reluctant to show your toenails, don’t worry.

Medical providers are comfortable looking at and evaluating all kinds of health concerns.

Do thick toenails have an odor?

Most of the time, toenails should not have an odor, especially if they are healthy.

Some fungal infections may lead to anabnormal odorin the feet or nails.

Cutting Thick Toenails

Thick toenails can be challenging to cut.

Repairing thick or damaged toenails takes a long time because they grow slowly.

It can take up to a year to fix some toenail problems, even with ongoing treatment.

check that yourshoes fit welland do not put pressure on your toes.

You may also want toavoid putting any nail polishon your toenails while theyre healing.

As a new, healthy nail grows out, you’re free to see if it gets better.

Medical Care

Don’t give a shot to thin your toenail yourself.

Some of these include:

What specialist treats hard toenails?

Apodiatristis a provider who specializes in foot and leg conditions.

Some even specialize in the treatment of toenail conditions.

Consider sanitizing your nail clippers with rubbing alcohol each time you use them.

Support Healthy Toenail Growth

Toenails are an important part of your bodys natural outside barrier.

They grow an average of 1 millimeter per month.

Overall, nail growth tends to slow as you get older.

They are rarely a major health problem but can cause discomfort.

Sometimes, they can be a sign of a condition that needs treatment.

Properly fitting shoes and good foot hygiene will go a long way in preventing and fixing thick toenails.

Still, you should see your healthcare provider.

They can help you understand any changes to your toenails and recommend a complete plan of care.

Richert B.The aging nail and related disorders.Baran & Dawber’s Diseases of the Nails and their Management.

2019:337-48. doi:10.1002/9781119323396.ch11

Vlahovic TC.Onychomycosis: Evaluation, treatment options, managing recurrence, and patient outcomes.Clin Podiatr Med Surg.

2016;33(3):305-318. doi:10.1016/j.cpm.2016.02.001

Muth CC.Fungal nail infection.JAMA.

2017;317(5):546. doi:10.1001/jama.2016.20617

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections basics.

Hay R.Therapy of skin, hair and nail fungal infections.J Fungi (Basel).

2018;4(3):99. doi:10.3390/jof4030099

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Psoriasis.

Ko D, Lipner SR.Onychogryphosis: Case report and review of the literature.Skin Appendage Disord.

2015;1(1):44-54. doi:10.3390/jof1010044

American Academy of Dermatology.Twelve ways to prevent another nail infection.