Discolored Toenails
Discolored toenails aren’t just an aesthetic problem; they could be a sign of a serious illness. We at Mercer-Ocean Podiatry offer a variety of professional treatments for different toe-related problems, but for best results, we depend on our patients coming to us for early interventions. Therefore, we wanted to inform people of just what different types of discoloration could indicate. The most common cause of toenail discoloration is fungal infection. This will cause the toenails to turn a yellow-brownish color or have white spots and make them misshapen and bad-smelling. They may become brittle and pitted. But toenails can also fall prey to bacterial infections, which could cause them to turn green. Dark stains could be the result of an injury. Blood pooling under a nail would look black or purple, and in a person with difficulty feeling their toes, it may be their best indicator that they have a bruise. But cancerous growths can look similar to bruises, so it’s dangerous to take fo...