What to do about busted up toenails?

Over the years, my big toenails have been abused with soccer, skiing, and hiking. Both have ';lifted up';.





Both big toes are healthy at the inner half where they are connected to the bed underneath. Whereas, both are fungused at the outer half where there essentially is an air space.





Vicks Vapor Rub kills off the fungus pretty quick, but leaves a yellow or black fungal residue.





Is there any way to get the outer half of the nail to rejoin the bed underneath?





Thanks.What to do about busted up toenails?
Hello,





It sounds as if you could clip the 'free-floating' outer nails off, just leaving the inside halves which are healthy. It's easy for me to say, I know digging into your toenail bed can be very painful !





The advantage of this would be, that you could be sure the skin under the 'floating' nails was not also infected with fungus, (or treat it if it was). One reason for newly-grown nail to remain 'floating,' might be that the skin of the nail-bed underneath it wasn't healthy.





If the fungus infection has grown down and into the nail-root, where new nail is being made, then it could be difficult to eradicate the fungus by topical applications, and you might need to ask for Griseofulvin tablets or Sporanox capsules or similar from your doctor. The fungus-antibiotic drug by mouth, would find its way into the nail roots and the freshly-made nails.





I am trying to say that I think the fungus needs to be eradicated in (a) the underlying skin of the nail-beds, (b) the visible nails, and (c) the hidden nail roots.





Sometimes the original 'lifting up' was caused by a bruise to the big toe, i.e. a blood clot collecting between the nail bed and the nail. It sounds as if you have the kind of sporting life that could cause toe-bruising quite often. When better I think you should consider more protection to your big toes. :-)





Hope this helps. Belliger (retired UK GP)What to do about busted up toenails?
I'd go get a pedicure (I know not to many men run and do this)


but it would help your 'dead' skin and cut your toe nails down -


and help them grow back 'properly' be sure to go somewhere with a good, clean reputation - or see a podiatrist - (foot MD)





If you feel funny about all that soak your feet in empsin salts and let them soften and cut your toe nails down to a length you enjoy (with a good clipper) clean nails/cuticles them out with a wooden 'stick' found in the manicure/pedicure section - and use a pumice stone around your callous areas -


I wouldn't use the vicks - stick to the dr. scholl type foot creams, and fungus things - to help heal you. (Tenatcin)


Do this a few times a week (soaking/pumice) and cut your toe nails about every 7-12 days.
Yes, your toe nails can be cut down very low and will grow back over time.





You need to make sure and take the extra time (20 sec max) to completely dry your feet when you get out of the shower. Let them air dry afterwards for a little while and use some gold bond or other product that will help them stay dry. You should also throw some of this along with an anti-fungal spray inside your shoes when you take them off.





Also, you need to keep your feet bare as often as possible inside your house so when your feet do sweat the moisture isn't trapped and just feeding more fungus and bacteria.





Good luck
Ew, I was trying to eat a cookie with my morning coffee and now my cookie doesn't sound too good =(. Maybe you should go to a podiatrist!