Toenail Questions

I have a 2 1/2 year old son who has really thick toenails on his little toes -- just the two little toes. Since he was born, I have had to be careful not to cut them too short because they will bleed. They also don't grow as fast as the others. I think the slight yellowish is just because they are thick, but I'm following your string to see what others say.

I noticed I have one toenail that has developed this as well, so I found that it is a fungus that causes this. I bought some tea tree oil and am applying it daily to get rid of it. Tea tree oil is very good at killing unwanted bacterias and fungi with no dangerous components. Fungi do take sometimes months to go away so it won't be as quick as we would hope.

Are the double toenails on the pinky toe? I have that and then the toe next to the pinky has a thicker nail? I have always had that on both feet. My mother always cut my nails after I had a soak in the tub. Then the nails are softer and much easier to cut.

Yes, my daughter has this & it's genetic. Her dad has the same condition, I always thought he had a nail fungus until we had her & she got the same toe nails.

Just clip carefully like normal.

Hi K.:

I haven't read any of the other responses, but what you describe could well be a fungus. Most older people who have discoloration or thicker toenales actually have a fungus, which isn't anything too bad. Talk to your pediatrician at yoru next visit and he might check if it is actually a fungus. Nail fungi are easily treatable with an at-home kit (thanks for a sister in the medical field!).

Cheers S.

Could be fungus. You should show it to his doctor.

My daughter also has this on her third toes. It is genetic---her father has the same thing on the same toes. Just have to be careful when clipping.

My 'pinky toes' are thicker than the others, particularly on the outer edges of my feet. It's not fungal (at least in my case), just a strange and genetic abnormality that has caused my no issues (except getting nail polish to lay flat and pretty). Be careful when you clip the nails, making sure you're not cutting skin as well - it's easy to do on these funky nails. I've always been self-conscious of my feet, partly because of this, and when I was younger I really did think it was a fungus I just couldn't get rid of. It's not. (Like I said, at least in my case.) As others have said, talk with your ped, it's not something you want to overlook, but it doesn't sound like a big deal, either. Good luck!

sounds like a fungus... you need to show the pediatrician.

My son is almost 10 years old & has a black, thickened toenail. It started when he was about your sons age. It has been injured in the past & we thought a new, healthy toenail would grow back, but it stays black. We have not gotten any good answers from his doctor. I would be interested to hear what responses you get. My advice would be not to ignore it & check with your pediatrition.

Sounds to me like a fungal problem. I'd take him to his pedi, who might send you to a podiatrist.

Id probally talk to your peditrician, Cause it could be a fungal.