What Causes Thickened Toenails?
Disease description:
Today, while putting on my shoes, I noticed that my toenails had thickened, and I’m not sure why. What causes toenail thickening?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Gan Liqiang
The most common cause of thickened toenails is fungal infection. Following a fungal infection, the nail plate becomes thickened and may also exhibit discoloration and atrophy. Moreover, such infections are contagious; if only one nail is currently affected, adjacent nails may gradually thicken over time if the condition remains untreated for an extended period. Another potential cause is wearing ill-fitting shoes—prolonged friction and wear can also lead to nail thickening.
