Changes in your toenails may be a symptom of an underlying condition. Toenails that grow thicker over time likely indicate a fungal infection, also known as onychomycosis.

剩下的未治疗，厚实的脚趾甲可能会变得痛苦。及时治疗可能是治愈指甲真菌的关键。真菌感染可能难以治愈，可能需要几个月的治疗。

A change in the thickness of your toenails may be just one symptom of a fungal infection.

Other symptoms ofnail fungusinclude:

  • 将颜色变为黄色，棕色或绿色的脚趾甲
  • 脚趾甲带来的恶臭
  • toenails that can lift up from the nail bed
  • toenails that split or crumble
  • toenails that look scaly or chalky
  • 脚趾甲与污垢和其他碎屑

您可能会注意到感染的早期阶段没有不适。随着症状的增加，脚趾甲可能会变得痛苦。

Around 1 percent to 8 percent 人口有诊断八链球菌, and its occurrence grows. This condition happens when a fungus or yeast enters your toenail:

  • where your toenail and nail bed meet
  • in a crack in your toenail
  • 在皮肤的切割中，触摸脚趾甲

真菌或酵母在指甲床下生长，那里是潮湿的。感染最初是很小的，但是随着时间的流逝，您的脚趾甲可能会越来越厚，这可能导致其他症状。

由于暴露于湿区域，您的脚趾通常可能会受到真菌感染的影响。水分有助于真菌扩散。

You might be likely to get toenail fungus from:

  • 赤脚在湿地板的公共场所，例如游泳池，淋浴和健身房
  • frequent or prolonged exposure to water
  • shoes that constrict your feet
  • sweaty feet and shoes
  • damage to a toenail
  • athlete’s foot散布到你的脚趾甲
  • 抑制免疫系统的药物
  • 遗传学
  • 抽烟

You might also be likely to get toenail fungus if you have a preexisting medical condition, such as:

癌症treatments may increase the likelihood of developing nail fungus. If you have a preexisting condition and develop fungus, it’s very important to treat it as soon as possible.

如果您注意到指甲的外观发生变化，请致电医生。在早期治疗真菌感染可能有助于防止病情恶化。

Your doctor will typically look at your nails to diagnose the condition. The doctor may also take a swab underneath the nail or take a toenail clipping to diagnose the condition.

Untreated toenail infections can cause some complications. Over time, the infection can get worse, and symptoms may become more severe. Toenails might thicken to the point that they cause discomfort when you try to wear shoes, or even make it more difficult to walk.

如果您已经存在医疗状况，则可以至关重要，因此该真菌不会导致继发感染或并发症。

Although not all cases of toenail fungus need treatment, thick toenails may be a symptom of worsening fungus.

Several methods are available to treat your toenails. You can try some home-based treatments first and then talk with your doctor about prescription-based options. Topical and oral medications are the mainstays of therapy.

家庭治疗

您可以尝试各种基于家庭的方法来治疗指甲真菌。但是，在直接去家疗法之前，与您的医生交谈总是一个好主意。您可以尝试以下家庭疗法：

  • Clean the affected area with soap and water daily.
  • 定期修饰指甲。首先通过申请软化指甲尿素霜（Aluvea，Keralac）并在晚上将脚缠绕在绷带上。然后，洗净尿素霜，并使用指甲剪子和指甲文件修剪指甲。
  • Apply an over-the-counter fungal treatment after you gently file your nails.
  • Apply Vicks VapoRub on your toenail each day. This可能会有所帮助感染消退。
  • Apply茶树油每天两次。

医疗治疗

Toenail fungus may require medical interventions that involve prescriptions and recommendations from your doctor. These include:

  • topical medications
  • 口服药物
  • 激光治疗
  • 去除脚趾甲治疗指甲床

如果您服用口服药物处方，则可能需要常规的血液检查，因为其中一些药物可能会影响肝脏。

Treating toenails for fungus may require you to stick to the treatment plan for several months. Toenails grow slowly, and they can take12 to 18 monthsto grow out.

治疗后，您可能会经历脚趾甲真菌的复发。如果您经历了慢性真菌感染，请确保与医生交谈

您可以通过多种方式降低脚趾甲的风险或脚趾甲真菌的复发：

  • Keep your feet clean by washing them with soap and water regularly. Dry them off with a towel afterward.
  • Keep your feet as dry as possible: Change your socks a few times a day, wear cotton socks that remove moisture from your feet, rotate your shoes so they can dry out, and purchase shoes that breathe and don’t constrict your feet.
  • Try a foot powder that keeps your feet dry.
  • 当您在更衣室或游泳池里时，穿拖鞋或其他淋浴鞋。
  • 正确修饰脚。
  • 修剪指甲时，请确保使用消毒工具。
  • Purchase new footwear if your nail fungus has recently been cured.

Toenails that grow thicker over time may indicate a fungal infection. The good news is that if an infection is diagnosed, prompt treatment can help cure it.

Additionally, there are simple ways to help lower your risk of toenail fungal infection, including wearing sandals or shoes in locker rooms, keeping your feet as dry as possible during the day, and practicing good foot hygiene.