Why Are My Toenails So Ugly? 7 Common Causes & Treatment Options

An example of an ugly toenail, affected by a hematoma.

The word "ugly" can be something that means something from person to person. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder. But at times, there can be changes that happen to our toenails, or maybe were even born with certain types of toenails that one would consider ugly. If this is you, and your toenails are causing embarrassment, even anxiety, there can be some reasons why. As a foot doctor, I discuss patients' toenails concerns every day. Continue to read below for my 8 Reasons for Ugly Toenails.

7 Reasons For Your Ugly Toenails

Toenail Trauma and Bruising (Subungual Hematoma)

Another example of an ugly toenail affected by bruising/hematoma

Probably the most common cause of an ugly toenail that the majority of people will deal with at some point in their lifetime is a brusied toenail. A bruised toenail is caused by bleeding underneath the toenail due to trauma, or injury. This brusing of a toenail is also known as a hematoma.

This trauma can be caused by dropping something on the toenail, from shoes being too tight, from running, dancing, or other activities that cause repeate pressure of your toenail inside footwear or a shoe. Even a pedicure that is too agressive can be a source of nail trauma, and even a black toenail.

Most cases grow out, but if the nail remains thick or damaged, we can restore its appearance with KeryFlex Nail Restoration.

Toenail Fungus (Oychomycosis)

Another will known, and also common cause for ugly toenails is toenail fungus. Fungus is a type of organism, or living thing that can enter your nail and cause infection.

A nail infected with fungus a lot of times will suffer from toenail thickening. Fungal toenails can also change color, and can even smell.

Toenail fungus can be very difficult to treat, and requires a multi-angle approach including topical medications, oral medications, and optimizing your immune health through a integative podiatry approach that takes into account, diet, lifestyle, and stress, to get to the root cause of what specifically is in the way of you being able to clear this nail fungus, and removing those blocks.

Laser treatment for toenail fungus. is the icing on the cake to get you back to having clear, healthy nails

Pincer nails

Before & After with Onyfix Nail Correction

Pincer nails are nails that are extremely curved or curled at one or both corners. Pincer nails can be so severe that the nail grows in a U shape or even an oval, with both corners touching at the end of your toe.

Treatment options for pincer nails include surgery to remove the toenail, or Onyfix, a non-surgical toenail correction system that very slowly un-curves, or straightens the toenail without surgery.

An ingrown nail

An example of an ugly toenail caused by an ingrown nail.

An ingrown nail is when one or both corners of a nail grows into the skin of your toe. This can be very painful and even become infected. Some signs of an ingrown nail include redness, swelling, pain, and drainage. An ingrown nail, once it becomes infected should be removed surgically.

For an ingrown nail that is not infected, or has not broken the skin, Onyfix can be used to correct the growth of the nail slowly over time.

Psoriasis

Before & After of Keryflex Nail Restoration

When people hear the term psoriasis, they think of the skin changes that come with this disease. Psoriasis can also affect your toenails and be a source of ugly toenails.

Toenails affected by psoriasis will suffer from color change, pitting, crumbling, and even lifting. For toenails damaged by psoriasis, Keryflex Nail Restoration is a great option to get the appearance of healthy-looking nails again.

Onychogryphosis

One of the most shocking causes of an ugly toenail is known by the medical term onychogryphosis or Ram's Horn's Nail. The nail grows out very pinched, curved, and thick, just like a ram's horn.

Onychogryphosis can be very painful due to the shape of the nail.

We can gently reduce the thickness and reshape the nail with Onyfix Nail Correction, or surgically remove the nail

Lichen Planus

An example of an ugly toenail possibly affected by Lichen Planus

Lichen Planus is a skin condition, that also affects the nails. Nails impacted by lichen plaus involve inflammation and scarring of the nail root, causing pitting, ridges, and thin toenails. An ugly toenail cause by lichen planus can be surgically removed, or covered temporarily with Keryflex.

Schedule Your Appointment at Direct Podiatry Arizona

Do you need a podiatrist in Phoenix that can help you with your ugly toenails? My name is Dr. Tarr, and I am a board certified podiatrist and the owner of Direct Podiatry Arizona in Tempe. To view my avaliable appointment times, click here.