Some people have a thing for feet. Call it a fetish. They like feet. Some people have a complete aversion to feet and want nothing to do with them, ever.
Regardless of what camp you’re in, there is nothing attractive about feet with sick toenails. So what causes toenail troubles? What can you do to fix them?
One Treatment For Most Nail Troubles?
While a consultation with your doctor is always advisable, one treatment seems to stand above the rest when it comes to alleviating fungus, inflammation, and pain, and healing tender, injured skin: DELTA-5 oil by SciaEssentials. It soothes and protects the skin and nails, preventing peeling cuticles and improving overall nail health.
It’s a topical oil that contains sciadonic acid (SCA), a fatty acid that has been proven to reduce inflammation and redness. Its unique mechanism of action displaces pro-inflammatory components, stopping the inflammatory cascade early in the biochemical process and having a positive effect on slowing or stopping fungal growth.
Developed from a naturally-occurring molecule found in special conifer seeds, it can improve the skin’s barrier functions, keeping bacteria and other irritants from penetrating the skin and causing even more complications.
Developed by nutritionist and biochemist Dr. Alvin Berger, it’s an organic, safe, and effective way to treat skin inflammation. Take a look at some of the common types of toenail troubles and what you can do about them.
Toenail Troubles
There are a host of problems out there that can plague your nails. Toenails especially, seem to get hit hard. They’re little more than thickened extensions of the top layer of our skin and are made up of the same protein, keratin. Acting as a strong barrier between the soft tissue of the nail bed under them and the environment beyond, they grow out from an area below the skin that is closely connected to the blood vessel and nerve-rich nail bed beneath it.
Because of the nature of the shoes we wear and the way we walk, our nails are under a great deal of stress- rubbing on shoes, stubbing our toes, or being subjected to large quantities of bacteria and fungi. Just imagine what the inside of your shoes look like under a microscope!
It’s no wonder toenails can develop troubles!
Toenail Fungus
Onychomycosis, or toenail fungus is a slow-growing infection of the nail and the skin beneath it. It’s caused by the same type of fungus as athlete’s foot. It can affect anyone, but is more often found with aging. People that frequent locker rooms, swimming pool areas, and showers are more prone to coming into contact. Certain conditions that affect limb circulation like diabetes, circulatory disorders, or suppressed immune systems make people more susceptible, since it affects blood flow to the nails.
Some people are more prone to fungal infections than others. Some of the leading causes of fungal infections include:
- Athlete’s foot spreading to the nail bed
- Constant exposure to wet areas
- Smoking
- Constricting footwear
- Weakened immune system
- Medical conditions like psoriasis, circulatory problems, and diabetes
- Damage to or next to the nail
Symptoms:
- Discoloration beneath the nail (brown, yellow, or white)
- Thickening of the nail
- Increase in white debris beneath the nail (keratin)
- Part of the nail may become loose or separate from the nail bed
- Nail appears to “crumble” or break down
DELTA-5 Treatment:
Apply topically to affected area(s) three times daily.
Ingrown Toenail
An ingrown toenail usually happens when the edge or corner of the toenail grows into the skin next to it (the lateral nail fold). This usually occurs in the big toe and is the result of a variety of things including: poorly-fitting shoes, odd toe shape, nail trauma, clipping the nails too short, fungal infections, or poor circulation.
Symptoms:
- Pain along the side of the toe
- Swelling
- It may become infected, causing redness, swelling, pain, warmth, or discharge.
DELTA-5 Treatment:
- Soak your foot in an Epsom salt solution using room-temperature water.
- Massage the side of your nail gently using DELTA-5 oil to soften the skin and nail and relieve inflammation.
Trauma to the Toenail
Trauma can come from anywhere; whether you drop a hammer on your foot, or just repeatedly rub your nails when hiking or running (wearing ill-fitting shoes). Usually repeated trauma happens to people involved in sports or exercise such as soccer players, runners, and dancers. Changes may be mild to severe including blood and bruising beneath the toenail, toenail thickening, or toenail loss.
DELTA-5 Treatment:
- Have your toe and nail evaluated by a podiatrist to see if removing the damaged toenail surgically is a good idea.
- Apply DELTA-5 oil topically three times daily to ease pain and inflammation, and prevent infection.
Psoriasis of the Nails
Psoriasis is an autoimmune disorder that typically causes red, scaly patches on the skin, but can often affect the nails.
Symptoms:
- Diagnosis of psoriasis
- Thickened nails
- Ridges on the nails
- Nails may loosen and separate from the nail bed
DELTA-5 Treatment:
- Apply DELTA-5 oil topically to affected area(s) two to three times daily to ease inflammation. Also apply to irritated patches of psoriasis on the skin.
