Thick Nails: What They Mean and What You Can Do About Them

When clients come in with thick nails, they usually have two main concerns:

• They’re hard to trim

• They want to know if anything can be done to improve them

The good news is: yes, thick nails can absolutely be managed.

And just as importantly, thick nails are not always caused by fungus.

Important to know

Thick nails can be caused by fungus,
but fungus is not the only reason a nail becomes thick.

We can safely thin and trim thick nails

We have no problem thinning and trimming thick nails in our office.

We use specialized bits that are designed specifically for thinning nails, which means:

• we can get the job done quickly

• our tools do not overheat

• the process stays comfortable for you

For many clients, that alone is a huge relief.

Thick nails are often the result of damage

Sometimes a nail thickens because it has been injured.

That damage can come from:

• one single incident

• repeated trauma over time

• shoes that are too tight

• the structure of the foot causing repeated pressure

For some clients, the nail starts to callus because the shoe is too tight and the nail hits the inside of the shoe with every step. For others, the shape or structure of the foot creates repeated pressure that leads to thickening over time.

That’s why we take time to review your history and get a better idea of what may be causing the problem.

Why the cause matters

If a nail keeps getting injured, simply trimming it is not enough.

We also want to figure out:

• what is causing the pressure

• how to prevent more injury

• whether an infection may have developed afterward

Because injuries can break the skin under the nail, they can sometimes become the predecessor to an infection.

So if we suspect that’s part of the picture, we address that too.

Our approach

We don’t just reduce the thickness.
We work to understand why the nail became thick in the first place.

What we do if we suspect fungus

We do not diagnose fungal infections in our office.

A proper diagnosis requires a doctor to send nail trimmings to a laboratory.

But if we suspect an infection, we will usually recommend an extremely effective non-prescription antifungal and monitor your progress.

Here’s how that often works:

• we start with the appropriate conservative care

• we monitor the nail as it grows

• if the nail starts improving, that’s a great sign we’re on the right path

• if it doesn’t improve within 3 months, we match you with one of our partnering podiatrists

We help you understand your options before you see the doctor

Doctor visits are often rushed, and many clients go in with a lot of unanswered questions.

Before you go, we can help explain:

• the different medical options that exist

• what those options are like

• how they vary in price

• which treatments are more or less pleasant

That matters, especially because insurance often considers nail fungus a cosmetic issue, so many medical solutions are not covered.

Helping you understand the landscape ahead of time can save a lot of frustration.

Every client is different

Some of our clients improve so well with our care that they avoid a trip to the doctor altogether.

Others do best when we work in partnership with their doctor to help speed up the healing process.

Either way, the key is the same:

each client has different needs.

That’s exactly why our office is such a great first stop when you’re ready to take care of your thick nails.

Why start with us

At our office, you get more than a nail trim.

You get:

• safe, comfortable thinning and trimming

• a closer look at possible causes

• help preventing further injury

• guidance if infection may be involved

• support understanding your treatment options

• referral help when needed

If you’re tired of struggling with thick nails, book now and let us help you figure out the best next step for your feet.