Toenail discolouration is a common foot problem that is highly prevalent among athletes. Adopting the right and early treatment is necessary.
Toenail discolouration refers to the change in the normal colour of your toenails. Like, the colour turns from clear or pinkish to yellow, green, blue, or black. This condition should not be ignored because it can lead to fungal infections. The key components of toenails are the nail plate, nail bed, and matrix. Lowered blood flow causes this problem. Also, keratin can turn your nail colour yellow.
Toenail onychomycosis (fungal infection) affects around 6.7% of Canadians. Therefore,
people must adopt the right treatment procedures. Well, you must be aware of the main symptoms and causes. In this blog, we will discuss the causes, treatment, and care tips for toenail discolouration.
What are the Common Causes of Toenail Discolouration?
Are you witnessing a change in the colour of your toenail? If so, you must adopt the right treatment. Let’s talk about the top toenail discolouration causes based on colour.
Yellow Toenails
Onychomycosis (fungal infection) is a primary cause of yellow toenails. This occurs due to dermatophytes that break down keratin. This is mainly seen among adults. Using cosmetic products on your nails can result in a toenail colour change. Ageing is a fundamental cause because a change in the colour, thickness, and shape of your nails is seen as you age.
Green Toenails
If you keep wearing sweaty shoes or wet socks for a prolonged duration, there is a chance of developing green toenails. Additionally, green nail syndrome can occur if you wear tight or poorly ventilated shoes. Your toenails can become green if you have any existing fungal infections or bacterial infection (Pseudomonas).
Black Toenails
Wearing poorly fitting shoes is one of the fundamental black toenails causes. Here, a risk of toenail discolouration occurs because of repetitive trauma. Black toenails also occur due to dried blood under the nail. In some cases, melanoma can cause black toenails. Hence, you must understand the Subungual melanoma signs.
Blue or White Toenails
Your toenails can become blue or white due to circulatory issues (cyanosis, Raynaud’s phenomenon, etc.). This also takes place when your toenails are exposed to cold or when you are dealing with an injury where blood has collected under the nail from trauma.
Let’s know the common cause and possible urgency level of different colours.
| Nail color | Most prevalent cause | Possible condition | Urgency level |
| Yellow | Fungal infection | Onychomycosis | Moderate |
| Black | Trauma | Hematoma | High |
| Green | Bacteria | Green nail syndrome | Moderate |
| White | Trauma | Leukonychia | Low to Moderate |
Table 1: Key causes and urgency level behind different toenail colours
What are the Main Symptoms and Risk Factors of Nail Color Alteration?
Along with knowing the probable causes, you must be knowledgeable of the symptoms and risk factors of toenail pigmentation issues.
Symptoms
Here are the common toenail fungus symptoms that you must understand.
- Brittle or crumbly nails
- White or yellow streaks
- Bad odour
- Change in shape
- Nail separation from the bed
Risk Factors
Your lifestyle and health condition can result in toenail discoloration. Let’s know the risk factors that you must know.
- Poor foot hygiene
- Diabetes
- Wearing non-breathable or tight footwear
Nail Discolouration Diagnosis: How to Identify the Cause?
If your toenails appear yellow, green, black, or blue, you need to seek medical help. From visual examination to dermoscopy, multiple tests are to be performed. Let’s discuss the steps a doctor goes through while tackling discoloured toenails.
| Test | Purpose | Conditions detected |
| KOH test | Detecting fungal infections | Onychomycosis |
| Fungal culture | Identifying organism | Fungal/Bacterial infections |
| Dermoscopy | Analyzing the visual pattern | Melanoma, trauma, etc. |
| Nail biopsy (when melanoma is suspected) | Tissue examination | Subungual melanoma |
Table 2: Diagnostic methods for toenail discolouration
Based on the above-stated diagnostic processes, a doctor understands what can be an ideal treatment method. However, treatment technique differs with causes.
How Toenail Discolouration Can be Treated?
Toenail discolouration is treated in different ways. Let’s talk about the treatment procedures based on cause.
Yellow Toenails
When talking about yellow toenails treatment, there are some home remedies. Like, you can soak your yellowish toenails in baking soda (due to strong antifungal effects) and water to eradicate fungal infections. You can use OTC antifungal nail creams and ointments to treat yellow toenails. If not treated by these options, you need to go for laser therapy.
Bacterial and Trauma-Related Discolouration
If your toenails appear green or white, then it is often due to bacteria or trauma. In such cases, doctors might recommend antibiotics to treat infections. Moreover, warm soaks are also effective in treating this condition. Relying on protective footwear is also a common treatment option for this condition.
Onychomycosis
Oral antifungal drugs are effective in treating onychomycosis. Some of the common ones are Terbinafine, Itraconazole, Fluconazole, etc. The other Onychomycosis treatment procedures are laser therapy and photodynamic therapy. Nevertheless, this is also treated via medicated creams and nail lacquers.
Here are the common treatment options by condition.
| Condition | Treatment type | Duration |
| Fungal infection | Oral/Topical antifungals | 6 to 12 months |
| Green nail syndrome | Antibiotic drops | 2 to 4 weeks |
| Trauma | Nail regrowth | 6 to 9 months |
Table 3: Common treatment options by condition
Nail Discolouration: Home Care and Prevention Tips
Adopting a proper foot care routine helps to prevent toenail discolouration. Let’s check out the effective tips that you need to follow.
- Keep your feet clean and dry
- Trim nails properly
- Avoid wearing tight shoes
- Don’t walk barefoot in public spaces
When to Seek Professional Help?
Often, people rely on home remedies to address foot problems. Well, there are some instances when you need to visit a podiatrist.
- Sudden black discolouration of toenails without injury
- Pain, swelling, or nail separation
- Nail pigmentation spreading to the surrounding skin
- No improvement in condition after home remedies
Final Thoughts
Toenail discolouration is a common foot issue that is caused due to yellow toenails, black toenails, green toenails, etc. The main symptoms are brittle nails, a bad smell, a change in shape, etc. Some of the common treatment procedures are OTC antifungal nail creams, topical antifungals, laser therapy, etc.
Treating Nail Discolouration the Right Way?
Choose a renowned podiatry clinic in Canada. Get a professional consultation to know the best possible treatment for you. Obtain it, and get your toenail discolouration treated before it becomes worse.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can I get toenail discolouration from using nail polish every day?
Yes, nail polish can result in the discolouration of toenails. This is because nail polish stains the keratin layers of the nail plates due to the reaction of pigment and nail proteins. This leaves a yellowish or brownish tint. Nail coating prevents oxygen from reaching your nails, and that contributes to discolouration.
2. How does toenail fungus spread?
Toenail fungus spreads when your feet contact with a contaminated surface. This infects your toenails. Also, people come into contact with fungal infections at salons. While using a professional nail service, be aware of their sanitizing process. If you have someone with a fungal infection in their home, you can also get it.
3. Are oral antifungal medicines safe?
Any medication comes with advantages and risks. You need to consume it as prescribed. You need to consult a podiatrist to find out which medicine suits your condition. If you witness any side effects, consult your doctor immediately.
4. How to select the right footwear to prevent nail discolouration?
While choosing footwear, ensure that it fits well and that your toes have adequate space to move. The provided sole must offer comfort to your entire feet. Remember, never compromise with comfort while selecting shoes.