Toenails grow from the matrix. The nails are composed largely of keratin, a hardened protein (that is also in skin and hair). As new cells grow in the matrix, the older cells are pushed out, compacted and take on the familiar flattened, hardened form of the toenail.Are...
Although Terry's nails may suggest a serious condition, it can also appear in seniors as a normal part of aging. And some people have all-white fingernails or white toenails like this throughout their lives, which suggests a harmless genetic trait. To rule out more serious causes, ask your...
A pain in the ball of the foot that is sharp, burning, numbing, and/or tingling with radiation into the toes may be from a neuroma. Neuromas develop from irritation and inflammation around the nerve, causing the surrounding tissue to thicken and scar. It most commonly occurs between the thi...
A pain in the ball of the foot that is sharp, burning, numbing, and/or tingling with radiation into the toes may be from a neuroma. Neuromas develop from irritation and inflammation around the nerve, causing the surrounding tissue to thicken and scar. It most commonly occurs between the thi...
The nails thicken upward but can also sprawl outward and may be yellowish to white, with crumbling edges in some patients. The thickness of the nails makes them difficult to trim safely and evenly. As a result, the nails are often allowed to grow out and they can start to curl as they...