Toenail care routine and product advice please.

elljay

Can anyone recommend a good toenail care routine, products etc? My toenails are mostly horrible, cracked, ridged, multicoloured (brown, grey, yellow etc). I'm barefoot most of the time in the house and garden so they get bashed but my feet are otherwise in good shape and get me from A to B fine.

I haven't really looked after them much all my life (I'm in my 60s), just chop them not very carefully when they press against my shoes in winter and paint them strong dark red to hide the imperfections in summer. I slap on some all purpose body lotion after my shower and that's about it.

Some of them are ok, pink with white bits on the end, and my fingernails are fine, so I don't think there's any underlying health problem, I just don't take care of them. I suspect however that a couple of them might have fungus infection, which is why they're dirty looking. I couldn't possibly go to a pedicurist, but maybe I need a podiatrist? However I think it's just a decent bit of care that would help and that I can do myself with advice from your goodselves.

Thanks

EJ

EmmyLou30

If they are yellow (and not from the staining of the nail varnish), flaky and cracked that to me suggests fungal nail infection. If it's in more than 1 nail on each foot then you may need stronger stuff than the over the counter remedies. Go to your GP in the first instance and get a diagnosis.

beckysheffield

EmmyLou30 wrote: »

If they are yellow (and not from the staining of the nail varnish), flaky and cracked that to me suggests fungal nail infection. If it's in more than 1 nail on each foot then you may need stronger stuff than the over the counter remedies. Go to your GP in the first instance and get a diagnosis.

It could also be her age and being barefoot.

I’m foot obsessed!

beckysheffield

elljay wrote: »

Can anyone recommend a good toenail care routine, products etc? My toenails are mostly horrible, cracked, ridged, multicoloured (brown, grey, yellow etc). I'm barefoot most of the time in the house and garden so they get bashed but my feet are otherwise in good shape and get me from A to B fine.

I haven't really looked after them much all my life (I'm in my 60s), just chop them not very carefully when they press against my shoes in winter and paint them strong dark red to hide the imperfections in summer. I slap on some all purpose body lotion after my shower and that's about it.

Some of them are ok, pink with white bits on the end, and my fingernails are fine, so I don't think there's any underlying health problem, I just don't take care of them. I suspect however that a couple of them might have fungus infection, which is why they're dirty looking. I couldn't possibly go to a pedicurist, but maybe I need a podiatrist? However I think it's just a decent bit of care that would help and that I can do myself with advice from your goodselves.

Thanks

EJ

Without seeing the nails I couldn’t tell you if they were “normal”.

There are plenty of products you can buy, and most relay on someone competent to use them correctly.

You don’t need a podiatrist unless you are diabetic, have an ingrowing toenail etc.

You could go to a nail shop and have a pedicure. But if your feet are really bad they could turn you away (the Asian places probably won’t).

If you could tell me what your main issues are, I could help! A foot file will help to keep the skin from cracking etc.

I’m excited haha.

sammyjammy

If you keep your toenails painted that could account for the discolouration - they need to breathe!