Toenail Care for the Elderly

1. Cut nails after a shower or bath, or use a foot soak to soften toenails.
2. Sanitize nail clippers by boiling or cleaning with rubbing alcohol.
3. Wash your hands before and after cutting your toenails.
4. Trim nail straight across without curving down at the ends.

How do you treat an Ageing toenail?

Soften your nails first by applying urea cream (Aluvea, Keralac) and wrapping your feet in bandages at night. Then wash off the urea cream and use a nail clipper and nail file to trim your nails. Apply an over-the-counter fungal treatment after you gently file your nails. Apply Vicks VapoRub on your toenail each day.

What causes thick toenails in elderly?

The growth rate of nails decreases when people get older. This results in thickening because nail cells pile up. The process of nail cells piling up is referred to as onychocytes. Another reason why fingernails don’t thicken as much is their growth rate is smaller than the growth rate of toenails.

Why do old people’s toenails turn yellow?

When toenails turn yellow, a fungus is usually to blame. This type of fungal infection is so common that you might not even need to see a doctor for treatment. Try an over-the-counter antifungal cream. If your nail is yellow and thick, gently file down the surface so that the drug can reach deeper layers.

What is a home remedy for thick toenails?

Baking soda has strong antifungal effects. Soaking your thick yellow toenails in baking soda and water can combat fungal infections. Applying 100% tea tree oil to affected toenails twice daily can help ease symptoms. Olive leaf extract has both antibacterial and antifungal effects.

What is the white hard stuff under my toenails?

Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.

What cream softens toenails?

Gehwol Nail Softener works quickly and painlessly to soften hard and difficult to trim nails. It makes an excellent home treatment for corns and calluses around toenails, as well as uninfected ingrown toenails.

How do you trim thick toenails?

Soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes to soften your nails, and then use a towel to thoroughly dry your feet and toenails. Using a nail clipper, make small cuts to avoid splintering the nail and cut straight across. To lessen the chance of the nail becoming ingrown, don’t round off the corners.

How does a podiatrist treat thick toenails?

A podiatrist will grind the nail at frequent intervals. In some cases, trauma to the nail is permanent and the nail may require removal under local analgesia. In such cases the nail root matrix will need to be destroyed because damaged growth cells will continue to produce a thick new toenail.

What does Vicks VapoRub do for toenails?

Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients (camphor and eucalyptus oil) may help treat toenail fungus. A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a “positive clinical effect” in the treatment of toenail fungus. To use, apply a small amount of Vicks VapoRub to the affected area at least once a day.

How do I get my toenails white again?

Try these tips mentioned below and tell us which one worked for you the best.

1. Use denture cleaner.
2. Use hydrogen peroxide and baking soda.
3. Use lemon juice and soapy water.
4. Use white vinegar.
5. Scrub your nails.
6. Use baking soda paste.
7. Rub lemon juice.
8. Use lemon juice and baking soda paste.

How can I make my toenails look better?

Remove any nail polish. Trim toenails straight across so that some of the white remains. Lightly brush the surface of toenails with a nail buffer or fine grit nail file. Apply some lemon juice with a cotton swab on and around the nail to further remove dead skin and give nails a healthy shine.

Is Epsom salt good for toenail fungus?

Epsom salt Soaking feet in an Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate) bath can be beneficial to relieve your foot fungus. You can mix one cup of Epsom salt to two quarts of warm to hot water and soak feet for 10 to 20 minutes.