Q:
Why Do Toenails Curl?
A:
Quick Answer
Toenails curl when they have reached the end of the nail bed. They begin to grow in the wrong direction when they are no longer connected to a part of the body.
Continue Reading
Credit:
Paul Wilkinson
CC-BY-2.0
Full Answer
Curling toenails can result in painful ingrown toenails, which can prevent a person from doing daily activities, such as walking normally. These cases should be treated by a doctor, who can also suggest ways to prevent ingrown toenails from reoccurring. Ingrown toenails can penetrate the skin and allow harmful bacteria inside to grow and cause infections. If this happens, the edge of the toenail needs to be removed, or the wound may not heal.
Learn more about Human AnatomyRelated Questions
-
Q:
How Do Fingernails Grow?
A: Fingernails grow from the root of the nail, pushing old cells out which flatten and harden, as new cells take their place. The flattened and hardened nail ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
Why Do Nails Have Ridges?
A: Vertical fingernail ridges, which run from the cuticle to the tip of the nail, are harmless and usually appear as people age. Horizontal fingernail ridges,... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Causes Fingernails to Go Gray When You Die?
A: Fingernails appear to turn gray or blue after a person dies because the blood, full of oxygenated red blood cells, no longer flows underneath the nail bed.... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What Are Some Simple Remedies for Ingrown Toenails?
A: Patients can fix ingrown toenails by encouraging the nail to grow upwards instead of into the skin, according to Mayo Clinic. If this solution doesn't work... Full Answer >Filed Under:
