Toenail Care 101 | Getting Ready For Summer

Toenail Care 101 | Getting Ready For Summer

There was a time when my toenails weren’t an issue, but over time, I noticed my toenails started to darken increasingly; not all of my toenails were discolored, but the change was evident. Eventually, my feet began to smell bad. No matter how many times I cleaned them, after wearing shoes all day, and the shoes came off, it wasn’t a good thing. It wasn’t very comfortable. As a result, I was uncomfortable with the appearance and smell of my feet. And my biggest concern was, what was happening to my toes?

For years, my toenail issue was just that, my issue. I didn’t tell anyone about my toenails, but it did affect my behavior and contributed to me becoming horribly self-conscious about my feet. My toenail issue was the main reason I stopped wearing sandals or flip-flops. Yes, I was a man concerned about the appearance of my toenails. But it was that same macho attitude that kept me from getting help. It wasn’t so much a vanity thing; it was more of a normal concern because I knew something was wrong, but it turns out by not getting help, the problem only worsened. I could see it happening; my toenail color changed, and I didn’t think I could do anything about it. I dealt with it by not exposing my toenails and putting them out of my mind.

What I have discovered 

Recently, I discovered I wasn’t alone. We often think we are the only ones dealing with a particular issue, or at least it feels that way. On some level, we feel completely isolated and self-conscious, which is exactly how I felt about my dark toenails. But like so many things, it can be as simple as cause and effect. Something was causing the problem, and I finally got to a place of becoming comfortable getting help. A major shift in my attitude started when I visited HealthierToes.com. Once there, I learned a lot. To my surprise, I discovered toenail fungus is more common than people think. And like most health issues, early detection and treatment are key. Signs of infection can start with yellowing toenails and may become a more serious problem later on if not treated. It is a contagious infection and can spread to my family. As always, if you have any questions, consult your physician.

Toenail Care – things to know:

There are lots of ways your toenails can become infected with fungus:

• poor hygiene
• walking barefoot in public spaces like swimming pools, gyms, and locker rooms
• as we age, decreased blood flow can play a factor in getting toenail fungus
• poor air circulation while wearing heavy socks with shoes or heavy boots can cause feet to sweat and can create ideal conditions for toenail fungus to become established beneath toenails and grow

Bring on the flip-flops!

After sticking with my treatment plan, I am now ready for the long summer days and wearing my flip-flops! It’s true when you feel good about your feet, all of the stress and worries about wearing your sandals is a thing of the past. Now, I feel comfortable about going barefoot and wearing sandals and my favorite flip-flops. I have regained my confidence, and it feels good!

Visit HealtheirToes.com for more toenail care

Honestly, after visiting HealthierToes.com, I felt a lot better. The more I learned, the better! This is a great first-step resource for educating yourself about what toenail fungus is, how you get it, and what you can do about it, from what to look for when it comes to toenail fungus, prevention, and the need to consult a healthcare professional and get treated for this contagious infection. It’s all there 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and 365 days a year.

As always, if you have additional questions, drop them in the comments section down below or visit HealthierToes.com.

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