Injury and fungus are two main causes for toenail falling off. This disorder is also caused by poor circulation of the blood and hyperthyroidism. The best possible approach to prevent this condition is by building awareness on the subject and taking good care of the feet and nails. This article tries to gain further insight on this topic medically known as onychoptosis.
How to Prevent Toenail Falling Off
Knowing the symptoms of this condition is the first step to avoid. Here are some of the signs to watch out for. They are:
- Yellowing of the nails
- Swelling
- Crumbling
- Thickening of the nails
- Streaks on the nail side
- Loss of the nail completely
- Foul odor
- Discharge coming from the bottom or sides of the nail
- Black toenail
- Extreme pain
- Blood getting collected under the nail
- Bleeding
- Loosening of the injured nail
Shower stalls, gyms and swimming pools are some of the public places which are dump and harbor lots of fungus. Exposure of the toenails in these regions for long can be abusive for them leading to the development of the above mentioned signs of onychoptosis.
The cause of this condition should be known precisely to seek the right treatment. A fungus known as dermatophytes eats away the vital protein keratin of the nails. As a result, infection is caused in these outer coverings. Severe infection can even require surgical intervention as treatment. Another unpredictable and unavoidable cause is injury.
Treatment of Onychoptosis
If fungal infection is the reason, then anti-fungal medications are prescribed by the doctor. Injury usually causes bleeding from the affected nail. Pressure should be applied on it to prevent further loss of blood. A professional podiatrist’s clinic can be visited. As a part of the treatment, excess blood or pus is drained by the doctor and the nail is applied a bandage. Some medications can be prescribed as auxiliary measure to prevent pain, infection or swelling. The fallen nail grows back in coming months.
It is important to clarify some of the doubts with the doctor right in the clinic. These queries are:
- What is the cause of the toenail to fall off?
- What to do in case the nail tears apart accidently either partially or completely?
- What bandage type should be kept at home for wrapping a wounded toenail?
- How often should the bandage be replaced?
- Are there any home remedies for the falling off toe nails?
- What are the first-aid steps to be taken prevent complications to the nail if injury happens?
- What is the time period after which normal activities can be resumed?
Toenail falling off can be avoided by following some of the precautions mentioned below
- Choosing shoes which provide stability, balance and protection
- Wearing clean socks along with the shoes on daily basis
- Be cautious while playing sports on the field
- Pat dry the feet after it is washed with water
- Following proper hygiene habits of the feet on regular basis
- As symptoms become apparent, bandage the nail and seek medical attention without delay
- Toenails should be trimmed regularly and straight across
- The toenails should taken extra care when they are healing post treatment