is the thickening of toenails considered nail fungus? 2 podiarists could not confirm fungus, what is the cause?

Toenail infection causes 

Toenails thicken either because of some sort of injury or because of fungus. If you injured your toe, or have been wearing ill fitting footwear,  that may be the problem. Try cutting your toenail straight across and then filing the edges with a nail file.

If the problem is fungus, then you will see some sort of discoloration. The nail may turn yellow or brown. It may smell bad.  Since your problem appears to have been around for a long while, it is most likely fungus. You need to tackle it at once or it may spread to the nail bed and cause inflammation. A good home remedy for this is to make up a foot bath containing vinegar in diluted form, bleaching powder or hydrogen peroxide and soak your feet for 15 minutes or so. Keep doing this until the infection goes away. This can take months to work, so have patience.

Tea tree oil is another excellent remedy. Apply it directly on the affected finger nail/nails and the fungus should disappear in a short while. Try taking Garlic, Olive leaf extract or  Grapeseed extract as they are all natural antifungals. In future, wear open toed footwear and don’t leave your foot in moist and sweaty conditions. Hope this solves your problem.

answered by S E

Home remedies and causes of toenail fungus

Thickening of toenails could be caused due to injury or fungus. For thinning your nail you can consult your podiatrist and for curing fungus, try the following home remedies. 

• Toenail fungus can develop due to dampness or being in contact with affected people. Wearing tight shoes, synthetic socks or excessive sweating may cause toenail fungus.
• Soak your feet in Listerine mouthwash for 15 minutes everyday before you go to bed at night.
• Apply tea tree oil in an undiluted form 3 to 4 times a day. You can also mix it with olive oil or apply it directly by rubbing on the affected toe.
• Mix equal quantities of apple cider vinegar and water and pour this in a bucket. Soak your feet for 15 to 20 minutes everyday in this solution. Take out your feet and wipe them with a soft cotton cloth and dry with a hair dryer.
• Mix 1 tsp of olive and 2 drops of Oregano essential oil. Apply this regularly to the infected toe for a period of 3 weeks.
• Keep your nails short and trim them regularly. Never cut your toenails too closely from the corners.
• Immerse your feet daily in distilled vinegar and dry your feet properly.
• Wear sandals and slippers as often as you can. Tape your toe at night to protect it from getting hurt further and wear short night wears.

answered by D D