What should you know about thick and brittle nails?

A nail may become thick, rough, yellowish, crumbly, ridged, or separated from the nail bed. Toenails are often affected by pressure from footwear or repeated impact, while fingernails may split after frequent wetting, chemicals, or picking. Several conditions can look alike, so appearance alone cannot confirm Nail Fungus.

A clinician may examine the nail and surrounding skin and may take a sample before recommending treatment. Mention whether one nail or several are involved, how quickly the change developed, and whether there is itching, scaling, pain, or a new medicine.

Keep nails trimmed and clean, dry hands and feet carefully, and choose footwear with enough room for the toes. Do not share nail tools, and clean tools between uses. Avoid tearing, scraping, or aggressively filing the nail surface. Moisturising the surrounding skin can reduce splitting, but it will not treat an underlying infection.

Arrange an assessment before using prolonged antifungal treatment, especially if the nail is painful, several nails are changing, or you have diabetes, reduced circulation, or a weakened immune system.

Seek prompt care for severe pain, warmth, pus, rapidly spreading redness, or a nail injury with bleeding. A dark streak, pigment extending onto surrounding skin, a new lump, or a change limited to one nail should be examined. Persistent thickening or crumbling also merits review.

What is the most likely cause of these nail changes, and is a sample needed? Which treatments are appropriate for the affected nail? How should I protect the nail while it grows out?