Long Toenails (2024)

FAQs

What happens if you don't cut your toenails for years? ›

Longer toenails become an increasing risk for podiatric problems as you leave them to grow. Long nails are more likely to break and provide opportunities for fungal infections to take root, or for hangnails or tears to lead to painful exposure of your underlying nail bed.

A good range is about 1-2 mm of white – enough so you're not cutting too deeply, but not extending past the toes and risking the nails becoming caught or torn. On average, toenails grow at about 1-2 mm per month. Clipping every 6-8 weeks tends to be a good rate for most people.

Causes of long (elongated) toenails

The main cause of long or elongated toenails in the failure or inability to cut or trim your toenails. Elderly patients often find it hard to get down to their feet and cut their own toenails with age as flexibility and muscle strength decreases.

Caring for children's nails is important for their health. Long nails can trap dirt and germs. But they can also hurt your child if he scratches a bug bite or arash — or the people in his orbit. Plus, toenails that grow too long run the risk of becoming ingrown, and that can really hurt.

Toenails thicken with age because the growth rate of the nail plate slows. Other reasons toenails may thicken include: A common skin condition called psoriasis. It causes cells to build up rapidly on the surface of the skin.

White Toenail Fungus

If the toenail fungus progresses, it can go deeper into the nail, causing discoloration, thick white stuff under the toenail (keratin debris), nail thickening and crumbling, and even transmission to surrounding nails.

Preventing ingrown toenails:

When the nails grow in the surrounding skin, it may cause ingrown nail development. It then leads to pain, infection and swelling. So, when you cut the sides, these may decrease the risk of ingrown toenails.

To reduce your chances of getting an ingrown toenail, cut straight across when trimming your toenails. Smooth uneven or rough edges using a nail file or emery board. Leave your cuticles alone. Moisturize after trimming to help keep your nails flexible.

Nail fungus is a common infection of the nail. It begins as a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, the nail may discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. Nail fungus can affect several nails.

Nothing kills toenail fungus right away. It can take at least 6 months to as long as 18 months to see your nail return to normal. What kills toenail fungus the fastest? A prescription medication like terbinafine will work faster than a home remedy, but you'll still need to take it for about 12 weeks.

Can I get a pedicure with long toenails? ›

No, if you are going to have a professional pedicure done let the technician trim your nails for you.

Thirty one percent of older people are unable to cut their own toenails because the following: Unable to reach their feet. Lack finger dexterity to the point they are unable to use the clippers.

Since 1982, Louise Hollis (USA) has been growing her toenails to exceedingly great lengths. When measured at their longest in 1991 the combined length of all ten toenails was 220.98 cm (87 in).

Periodically we see patients who have varying histories, yet a commonality of one or more of their toenails no longer growing, often for a duration of 4 or more months. While the causes of an absence of nail growth can vary widely, many of these cases are the result of some sort of repetitive trauma to the nail.

Start by making a habit of cutting your toenails about every six to eight weeks. Your nails might grow slower or faster than the average, so check your feet regularly to make sure your nails don't get too long before you cut them again.

Taking good care of your wound at home will help it heal quickly and reduce your chance of infection. The wound should heal within a few weeks. If completely removed, fingernails may take 6 months to grow back. Toenails may take 12 to 18 months to grow back.

Fingernails and toenails can be damaged by injuries. Even a minor injury to the finger or toe may cause changes in the nail. Severe damage to the nail bed (the soft tissue underneath the nail plate that attaches the nail to the finger), particularly from a crush injury, often results in permanent nail deformity.