Toenail Care for the Elderly
- Cut nails after a shower or bath, or use a foot soak to soften toenails.
- Sanitize nail clippers by boiling or cleaning with rubbing alcohol.
- Wash your hands before and after cutting your toenails.
- Trim nail straight across without curving down at the ends.
Additionally, do your toenails change as you age?
Some normal changes in the elderly include: Growth: on average, toenails grow at about 1 mm per month, but as a person ages, that growth rate can slow down up to . 5% per year! … Texture: nails can lose their smoothness, becoming more apt to split, crumble, or form ridges with age.
- Daily Cleansing. …
- Moisturize. …
- Frequent Trimming. …
- Filing. …
- Toenail Friendly Diet. …
- Wearing Proper Shoes and Socks. …
- Occasional Massage. …
- Treat Yourself To Foot Soaks.
Likewise, how do you get rid of thick toenails?
How are thick toenails treated?
- Clean the affected area with soap and water daily.
- Groom your nails regularly. …
- Apply an over-the-counter fungal treatment after you gently file your nails.
- Apply Vicks VapoRub on your toenail each day.
Will Vicks Vapor Rub kill toenail fungus?
Vicks VapoRub
Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment. 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.
Why do older people’s toenails get thick?
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. … Besides causing the toenail to thicken, a fungal infection may also cause the nail to yellow, become brittle, separate from the nail bed, and possibly emit a foul odor.
Why do older people’s toenails turn yellow?
Thick yellow toenails are usually caused by a fungal infection called onychomycosis. This can be irritating or painful. It’s less common, but the infection can affect your fingernails as well. Thick yellow toenails can be prevented by taking certain precautions.
What vitamin deficiency causes lines in nails?
If your body is low in protein, calcium, zinc, or vitamin A, a deficiency can sometimes be revealed by ridges in your fingernails.
Why do toenails turn yellow as you get older?
When toenails turn yellow, a fungus is usually to blame. This type of fungal infection is so common that you might not even need to see a doctor for treatment. Try an over-the-counter antifungal cream. If your nail is yellow and thick, gently file down the surface so that the drug can reach deeper layers.
Can leaving toenail polish on too long cause fungus?
The danger with keeping your nail polish on too long is that the pigment in the nail polish can soak into the top few layers of the nail and dry it out, Dr. Rowland says. When that happens, fungus, yeast, bacteria, mold and mildew can develop underneath the nail plate, which can lead to long-term problems.
Does Vicks soften toenails?
One common thing that comes up are products that contain menthol. So Vicks VapoRub is a common nail remedy for nail fungus. It probably won’t help. But it won’t hurt anything either.
What is the white stuff under my toenails?
Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. 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.
Is it OK to file down thick toenails?
Luckily, you can take several steps to provide relief and gradually get rid of thick toenails. … For nails that are still intact, it’s acceptable to gently file down the nail as long as you don’t file it too thin (this can increase the possibility of infection).
What causes thick toenails besides fungus?
Although there are many potential causes of thick nails, in the toenails a fungal infection is the most common cause. Other diseases, such as psoriasis or diabetes, may also cause thick nails to develop. The exact cause of thick nails will help decide the treatment a person has to correct the condition.
Can you scrape out toenail fungus?
Treatment usually begins with your dermatologist trimming your infected nail(s), cutting back each infected nail to the place where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may also scrape away debris under the nail. This helps get rid of some fungus.