Thick skin under toenails can lead to separation of toenail from the nail bed. This comfortable and sometimes painful disorder is mainly caused by fungal infection.
Reports claim that about 10% of US population has this disorder. It is scientifically known as onychomycosis.
According to medical experts at Columbia University onychomycosis triggers thick dry skin along the outermost edges of the nail and continue to underneath toenails.
Though it’s not associated with a health problem, but the negative consequence of onychomycosis is not ignorable. Topical ointments and good hygiene are enough to get rid of thick skin under toenails.
Before discussing the actual remedy, let me first throw light on fungal infection.
Keratin Buildup Under Toenails: Causes
Your hair, skin, and nails are made of an identical protein called as keratin. These keratin cells combine to form nail plate.
Due to several factors, excess keratin is built under toenails resulting in nail discoloration or separation from the nail bed.
External trauma, thyroid problem, side-effects of certain medication or nail fungus may result in the build of keratin beneath the toenail.
Experts say that unhygienic practice will entice fungus and bacteria to invade your moist foot. Then the dermatophyte fungus triggers fungal infection, which may turn your toenails and skin underneath toe to yellow and thick.
How to Get Rid of Thick Skin Under Toenails: Home Remedies
Don’t despair if you experience this disorder, as it may result in foul odor, nail discoloration, and pain.
Regular application of ointment can effectively treat this disorder.
Step: 1
Wash your toenails with anti-bacterial soap to wipe dirt and impurities accumulated. Use luke-warm water for this purpose.
Pat dry toenails with a clean cloth and avoid moisture between toenails.
Step: 2
Trim your nails with a nail cutter and file the sharp edges. This will help to remove remaining dirt accumulated under the nail.
Step: 3
Topically apply anti-fungal ointment on your toenails and around it.
Home Remedies to Get Rid Of Thick Under Toenails
Instead of these steroid creams, you can try your own homemade recipe.
- Pour few drops of apple cider vinegar into a tub of water. Mix thoroughly and soak your affected feet into the plastic tub. Rinse it off with water after 15-20 minutes.
- ACV is acetic and packed with antimicrobial properties that can thwart infectious bacteria.
#1 Glycerin and Lemon Juice
- Glycerin is prominent for its healing and hydrating ability.
- Mix required an amount of glycerin with lemon juice.
- Apply it directly over the thick skin under toenails.
- Leave it to dry naturally.
#2 Epsom Salt
Assorted properties residing in this ingredient help to get rid of the thick skin and restrain infectious fungi.
- Add required amount of Epsom salt to water.
- Now soak your feet in the water tub for about 15-20 minutes.
- Pat dry and apply petroleum jelly to hydrate the skin.
- Try this simple remedy twice in a week.
#3 Lemon Juice and Warm Water
Acidic nature of lemon juice is perfect to remove impurities and thick skin. The antibacterial and anti-fungal ability can help to restrain the infection.
- Add lemon juice to lukewarm
- Soak your feet in the water tub for 20 minutes.
- Pat dry with a clean cloth.
#4 Tea Tree Oil
This is one of the most effective ways to combat fungal infection. Renowned for its moisturizing and healing abilities, tea tree oil can reduce major skin ailments.
- Drop few drops of tea tree oil over affected toenail.
- High concentration of this essential oil may irritate your skin.
- So beauty experts recommend blending it with a carrier oil to dilute the solution.
#5 Baking Soda
Alkaline nature of baking soda helps to inhibit fungal growth. You can mix baking soda with water to apply it over the toenails or mix Sodium borate (borax) with it.
- Mix these two ingredients with water to form a thick
- Apply it over affected toenails and leave it to dry for 15-20 minutes.
- Repeat this twice in a week.
Other remedies include coconut oil, lavender oil, oregano oil and olive oil.
There are many foot soak recipes to get rid of thick skin under toenails.
One of the most effective yet inexpensive home remedies is to use foot soak at home.
It’s really fascinating that you can work on your laptop while vinegar foot soak removes dead skin from your feet. I know time is precious and you can’t spend long hours in the soak. But, when you can try chemical filled creams why not try this home remedy?
Thick Skin Under Fingernails: Home Remedy
Naturally healthy nails are not surrounded by thick or dry skin. Like in the case of toenails, the skin under fingernails turns hard due to various internal and external factors.
- Fungal infection can be responsible for this unnatural texture of skin.
- Chronic skin diseases like psoriasis can show its effect over nail by making them thick.
- Ineffective blood circulation may turn soft skin under fingernails to thick.
Like in the case of toenails, you must initially diagnose with the help of an expert and accordingly start the treatment.
One common way to keep things at bay is to moisturize your hands with coconut oil or other essential oils. These oils are packed with antibacterial properties which can thwart infectious bacteria.
Bacteria grow in the moist and dark environment. So avoid wearing wet gloves, socks or shoes, and when you don’t use them keep it under the sun.
These simple tips to get rid of thick skin under the toenails and fingernails may not show instant results but surely you’ll see long-lasting results if you regularly practice it.
Tips: How to Get Rid of Thick Skin Under Toenails and Fingernails
Prevention is the best option than treatment.
- Wash your toenails and fingernails regularly with anti-bacterial soap.
- Cut your nails short and avoid moisture between nails.
- Prefer shoes that absorb sweat.
- Avoid wearing old shoes.
- Spat anti-fungal spray inside your shoes to inhibit fungal growth.
- Occasionally take off your shoes to reduce humidity.
- Wear rubber gloves to protect your fingernails from long exposure to water and chemicals.
- Avoid trimming skin around the nails, this will allow germs to invade your nail bed.
- Don’t trim or cut cuticles.
- Wear sandals while in public areas like locker rooms and swimming pools.
- Chemical incorporated nail polish must be avoided.
- Drink enough water and consult your physician regularly. (Source)
I hope this apple cider vinger soak works.? I have been useing coconut oil. It’s not enough ?
Clear the area, I have a pair of sharp eyebrow tweezers that use for this process specifically, that I utilize from angle to angle to get under and around the nail, also to pull the dead keratin/skin materials embedded within/underneath… if it’s too tough for the tweezers to grab I have nail clippers designated specifically for this process as well and use them as mini scissors to clear the area out. Use melaleuca (more commonly known as tea tree oil) when done… hold cuticle out so the drop(s) of oil can easily deep into and under the nail and cuticle- melaleuca is an extremely powerful anti-fungal essential oil and is way more gentle than oregano oil which would be an alternative. It should burn or irritate unless you’ve sliced yourself up which shouldn’t be part of the process. If you’ve got a small hole in the cuticle area from pulling out material Helicrysm is a great oil for healing skin quickly-apply that the next day- do not mix the two at once. Allow melaleuca to kill remaining fungus/bacteria and follow up with helichrysum next day to help heal quickly and close the area to potential exposure again.
It’s extrmely important not to use the same tools for other non-affected areas because it’s incredibly easy to transfer . I also take a lighter to the tips of both the tweezers and nail clippers after each use to kill bacteria and fungi. Be sure to keep a towel/wash cloth handy to wipe away the impacted materials that will be being scraped and pulled out of the nail bed and cuticle area.