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Toenail

A toenail is the nail found on a toe. Toenails are thicker than fingernails and as such are better trimmed using dedicated nail clippers rather than scissors, which suffice for fingernails. An interesting fact about toenails is that they grow approximately 1/4 as fast as fingernails.

Toenails, like fingernails, are made of keratin. Scientists who believe in evolution believe that toenails, like fingernails, may be an evolutionary leftover from the time when humans were apes and used our toes for manipulating objects. The toenail's purpose was to provide rigidity to the toe, which would make it possible to use them for manipulating objects.

Conditions

Ingrown toenails are a fairly common problem, which can cause severe discomfort for the sufferer.

Toenail fungus is also a fairly common problem. It causes the toenails to turn brittle and yellow. Toenail fungus is contagious among a person's other toenails, and to other people's toenails as well. Some expensive oral and topical treatments exist to treat this.

Sometimes an injury--such as dropping a heavy object--will cause the toenail to be discolored. The purple discoloration is due to accumulated blood under the nail. As the nail grows out, the discolored portion will be replaced by a more normal color. However, the new nail may be deformed, and it may grow into the flesh. This is the usual result of intense trauma to the nail. If you ever have a similar injury, with intense pain, the nail should have a hole drilled in it to allow the accumulated blood to seep out. This can prevent permanent damage to the nail. This procedure can be performed in an emergency room or a podiatrist's office. At this time just watch your nail for thickened or abnormal growth; if this occurs you should see a podiatrist.