Do toenails darken with age?

Thickness: nails may become thicker – or thinner. Texture: nails can lose their smoothness, becoming more apt to split, crumble, or form ridges with age. Coloring: many seniors find that their nails become yellowed with age, or opaque in color.
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What causes toe nails to turn dark?

Black Toenail: Common Causes

If your toenail turns black, it's most likely a bruise under the nail, technically called a subungual hematoma. You can get it from stubbing a toe or from footwear that cram your feet into the front of the shoe.
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Do toenails discolor with age?

As you age, your toenails, as well as your fingernails, may begin to turn a light shade of yellow. Nail discoloration is a normal part of the aging process.
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What happens to toenails as we age?

As we age, our toenails - and fingernails - slow their growth rate, and the nails thicken because the nail cells, called onychocytes, sort of pile up. Fingernails appear to thicken less, probably because we tend to them more often with filing and buffing, which thins them.
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How do I keep my toenails healthy as I age?

How to keep your toenails looking great as you get older
  1. Look for irregularities. Take a good look at your feet and see if you notice any changes. ...
  2. Stay warm and dry. ...
  3. Cut toenails properly. ...
  4. Keep elevated. ...
  5. Avoid nail polish. ...
  6. Use lemon. ...
  7. Treat your toenail fungus with mouthwash. ...
  8. Take a walk.
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Tell-nail Signs of Your Health



Why do old people's toenails get so thick?

Both fingernails and toenails thicken as we get older. We only notice it with toenails because they're usually not filed and buffed as often as fingernails. The growth rate of nails decreases when people get older. This results in thickening because nail cells pile up.
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How do you get rid of dark toenails naturally?

Diluted in water vinegar can be used as a foot soak. Soaking your feet in a vinegar foot soak daily can treat black toenail fungus. The ratio can be one part vinegar and two parts of water.
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How do you get rid of discolored toenails?

The only way to get rid of nail polish-related discoloration is to take a break from painting your nails. Even a break of just two or three weeks can resolve the issue.
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How do you lighten dark toenails?

White Vinegar

White vinegar is another one of those handy household ingredients in everyone's kitchen cabinet that can work to eliminate dark toenails for good. Simply fill a plastic bowl with equal parts warm water and vinegar. Dip your toes into the solution for around 20-30 minutes, then rinse.
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What can your toenails tell you about your health?

Yellow Toenails

Your toenails tell a lot about your overall health. A fungal infection often causes thickened yellow toenails. Thick, yellow nails also can be a sign of an underlying disease, including lymphedema (swelling related to the lymphatic system), lung problems, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
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Why are my toenails dark and thick?

Over time, debris builds up beneath the nail, causing it to darken. Nails can grow brittle, crumbly, or ragged. Toenails are an ideal environment for fungal infections because they are moist and warm. A fungal infection can also cause your toenails to thicken or become distorted.
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How can I make my toenails clear again?

Treatment
  1. mixing tea tree oil with a carrier oil and applying it to the affected nail.
  2. soaking the affected nail in hot water mixed with baking soda.
  3. applying vinegar to the affected nail.
  4. including a sufficient amount of vitamin E in the diet.
  5. soaking the affected nail in a mixture of hydrogen peroxide and hot water.
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How do I make my toenails not black?

Over-the-counter medication
  1. Non-prescription nail polishes.
  2. Antifungal creams, ointments, and powders for athlete's foot or ringworm. These products contain clotrimazole or tolnaftate and aren't effective for toenail fungus. But you can use them alongside other medications if you have both skin and toenail fungus.
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What color are toenails supposed to be?

A healthy toenail is a shade of pale pink, much like your fingernail. Any yellowing or tinges of black color means something is not right. For example, if your toenails become yellow, you probably have a fungal infection. Yellowing can also be the result of smoking or a side effect of diabetes or a liver condition.
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Will black toenail grow out?

Repetitive trauma

In mild cases, the black toenail will grow out naturally over time without treatment. In severe cases, such as when the nail begins to detach from the nail bed, a person should seek medical treatment.
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Is a black toenail serious?

The most noticeable symptom of toenail fungus is simply the discoloration of the affected nail tissue. Malignant melanoma. Fortunately, skin cancer isn't usually the cause of a black toenail, but melanoma is a serious condition in the rare cases it is present.
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What is the white hard stuff under my toenails?

This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.
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What does Vicks VapoRub do for toenails?

Vicks VapoRub

Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients (camphor and eucalyptus oil) may help treat toenail fungus. A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a “positive clinical effect” in the treatment of toenail fungus.
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Can thickened toenails be reversed?

Thick toenails can be reversed if the underlying cause is addressed or proper preventative measures are taken. Polishing rough surfaces to make them smoother is a great way to treat thick toenails. Avoid pedicures because they may cause fungal infection to flare up when cuticles are removed.
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Can toenail fungus look black?

Nail fungus can cause the nail to become thick or ragged and appear yellow, green, brown or black. An infected nail may separate from the nail bed. Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail.
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What do Covid toes look like?

COVID toes: One or more toes may swell and turn pink, red, or a purplish color. Others may see a small amount of pus under their skin. Sometimes, people who have COVID toes have other symptoms of COVID-19.
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What are the signs of diabetic feet?

Signs of Diabetic Foot Problems
  • Changes in skin color.
  • Changes in skin temperature.
  • Swelling in the foot or ankle.
  • Pain in the legs.
  • Open sores on the feet that are slow to heal or are draining.
  • Ingrown toenails or toenails infected with fungus.
  • Corns or calluses.
  • Dry cracks in the skin, especially around the heel.
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Can your feet show signs of heart problems?

Here are some signs relating to the legs and feet that may be a sign of heart disease: Absent hair growth on the feet. Dry, thinning, and/or shiny skin on your legs and feet. Unexplained atrophy (decreased muscle size).
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What are the first signs of a weak heart?

Signs of a Weakened Heart Muscle
  • Shortness of breath (also known as dyspnea), particularly when you lie down or exert yourself.
  • Chest pain, especially a heavy sensation in your chest indicative of heart failure caused by a heart attack.
  • Fatigue.
  • Swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet (also known as edema)
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Which toe is connected to which organ?

Reflex areas of central organs such as the spinal column and stomach are in both feet; the organs on the right side of the body (e.g. the liver) are on the right foot, those on the left side (e.g. the spleen) are on the left foot; lungs and kidneys are on both feet; the toes correspond with the brain and its organs.
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