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Seeing glittering colorful toenails after your pedicure is sure to be happy. It's a different story if the toenails turn black and thicken. You must be absurdly anxious. Actually, what causes black and thickened toenails? Come on, find out the answer here.
Causes of black and thickened toenails
Healthy toenails should be clear in color, smooth, and free from itching. However, if what happens is the opposite; toenails are black, thickened, and experience other disturbing symptoms, this is a sign that there is a problem that needs to be fixed immediately.
Thickening of toenails and discoloration to blackness can be caused by:
1. Trauma
Blackened and thickened toenails can occur when your foot is injured or traumatized. For example, injuries while playing soccer, falling heavy objects right on the toenails, or using narrow shoes. These causes can occur repeatedly or suddenly but with great pressure.
Apart from thickening and discoloration of the nails, injuries to the nails cause pain. For several days you may have difficulty walking properly.
2. Yeast and fungal infections
The human body is actually home to many species of fungi, especially on the skin and toenails, but the numbers are so small that they don't cause a problem.
However, if your feet are consistently warm and damp, the fungus can continue to multiply and eventually cause an infection.
Well, this fungal infection of the toenails causes the color of the nails to blacken, thicken, feel itchy, and give off a very unpleasant odor. If not treated immediately, the toenails will become damaged over time and it is difficult to return to their normal shape.
3. Melanoma
Subungual melanoma is a type of skin cancer that attacks the toenails and hands. Initial symptoms are generally characterized by the appearance of bruises on the nails, then the color of the nails will turn darker, the nails will thicken and become brittle. In fact, in some cases it can cause bleeding.
Melanoma on the skin is more often caused by sun exposure. However, subungual melanoma most commonly occurs in people whose nails have been injured repeatedly. If you experience symptoms of subungual melanoma, see a doctor immediately before the cancer spreads to other tissues.
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