Toenails growing up: causes and treatments

Curvature of the nail plates on the feet can occur in both adults and children. Such nails not only look unattractive, but can also indicate serious diseases that require timely treatment. To know how to eliminate this problem or prevent the appearance of curved or concave nails, first of all, it is worth understanding the causes of their deformation.

The nail is designed to protect the end of the finger, so it is quite hard and consists of horny plates. Its growth is provided by a special area hidden under the skin and called the root of the nail. As the plates grow, the body of the nail and its free edge are formed, which must be cut off in time.

If the nail is healthy, then it will be pink in color, with a smooth shiny and necessarily even surface. Under the influence of any internal or external factors, the plate may bend.

Upward-growing, wavy nails are quite common. In this case, sometimes the entire plate is bent, and in some cases only its outer corners are twisted. In addition, curvatures can occur on only one finger (most often on the thumb), or they can be present on all nails.

The deformation can be caused by a number of reasons, which will be discussed below.

Because of this, the nail begins to grow unevenly.This happens with a finger injury affecting the base of the nails, as well as with improper pedicure, when the cuticle leaves the matrix unprotected.

Such a shortage can be provoked not only by a poorly balanced diet, but also by various diseases in which digestion and absorption of vitamins deteriorate, for example, anemia or gastroenteritis.

The plate can become thinner and distorted when using cheap varnishes and products containing acetone. Incorrect cutting can also lead to problems with nails, if not sharp enough scissors are used, and the nail itself is not cut in a straight line, but with a rounding (it is categorically not recommended to do this on the legs).

If it is of poor quality, made of artificial materials or too tight, then this negatively affects the condition of the nails and can provoke bending. It is unacceptable to wear tight and tight shoes, because they will injure the nails and cause them to deform.

Poor hygiene or excessive sweating contributes to its appearance, as a result of which the feet become wet and fungi develop more actively. The defeat of the toenails by the fungus is manifested not only by deformation, but also by discoloration, the appearance of spots and stripes, thickening and other signs. A dermatologist should confirm the presence of a fungus-provoked infection by examining a part of the nail.

For example, the thyroid gland or the heart. With such pathologies, nail changes are only one of the symptoms, therefore, for a correct diagnosis, you should contact a pediatrician or a therapist, and then a narrow specialist who will treat the underlying disease.

Eczema or psoriasis can lead to waviness of the nails. In this case, the problem is treated under the supervision of a dermatologist. Another cause of curvature is antibiotic or chemotherapy, as well as poisoning. If you suspect exposure to toxic substances or side effects of drugs, you should immediately consult your doctor.

Although very rare, deformation of the nails is caused by congenital pathology. This is usually detected at an early age.

Uneven nails not only spoil the look, but can also cause discomfort or pain, for example, if they cling to shoes. In this case, it is recommended to consult a doctor. If a child's or an adult's toenails grow upward, then it is necessary to influence the cause of this phenomenon.

If a dietary vitamin deficiency has been identified, the diet should be balanced or, as recommended by a physician, vitamin supplements should be included. They must contain vitamins A, H, E and B1.

For diseases of the digestive system, the patient should be referred to a gastroenterologist, who will prescribe the necessary treatment, after which the condition of the nails will return to normal.

If the curvature in adults is caused by improper care, you need to take a break from the pedicure, strengthen the nail plates with special varnishes, and make baths with salts or oils.

With a fungal infection, treatment aimed at pathogens is required. It can be both local (ointments, creams) and general (tablets or even injections), but a specialist should prescribe antifungal drugs.

If the cause is heredity, then no treatment is prescribed, but it is recommended to take vitamins, do warm baths and cut nails to a safe length.

In case of injury, you need to observe the damaged plate until it is renewed naturally.

In some cases, surgical intervention is indispensable, in which the entire nail or part of it is removed.

If the nails are just beginning to deform and bend upward, the situation should not be allowed to worsen. This should be done with careful maintenance and regular hydration. Such measures are also needed after treatment, when the cause of the growing up nails is found and eliminated. The following actions can help prevent nail diseases:

• timely shearing, in which the plates are not cut very shortly;
• the use of comfortable shoes made of high-quality material - it must fit in size;
• regular pedicure at home or with a trusted master using a disinfected and sharpened tool;

• performing a foot massage for better blood circulation;
• daily hygiene and regular change of socks, which will not allow favorable conditions for the growth of fungi;
• the use of rubber individual shoes when visiting the pool, sauna or bath;

• the use of high-quality varnishes and means for their removal;
• prevention of toe injuries;
• a balanced diet with sufficient amounts of protein, calcium and iron;
• sufficient physical activity - frequent walks in the fresh air and a good night's sleep, because these factors are important for the health of the body as a whole.

Adults can also use the recommendations of cosmetologists and various folk remedies to strengthen their nails. For example, they include rubbing in healthy oils - almond, jojoba, olive and others - twice a week, you can also use periodic treatment of the plates with iodine. A good effect is given by lotions with herbal infusions (for example, based on chamomile, elecampane, string, calamus or celandine).

The nuances of aligning nails growing up are described in the video.