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How do you treat raised toenails?

Author

Emily Ross

Published Jan 25, 2026

Applying a small amount of melted coconut oil can help heal thick yellow toenails. You can purchase over-the-counter (OTC) antifungal nail creams and ointments. Be sure to clip and clean your nails before use to make sure the creams reach deeper layers. Laser therapy can be used to treat a fungal toenail infection.

How do you get rid of lifted toenails?

The easiest treatment is to have your podiatrist trim the excess nail and remove the lifted aspect. Podiatrists can also provide other medication recommendations to help treat the fungus. Less common causes of the toenail lifting are bone spurs or cancer.

Why do my toenails look raised?

Nail lifting may occur with other skin conditions, such as various forms of eczema (including hand dermatitis), psoriasis, and lichen planus. Nail lifting may also occur with underlying medical problems, including thyroid disease, pregnancy, some forms of infection, and rarely some forms of cancer.

How do you treat a raised nail?

Treatments provided by a podiatrist include:

  1. Trimming the nail, filing any sharp edges and keeping the nail smooth. ...
  2. Applying a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and cover the area with a non-stick bandage.

Can thickened toenails be reversed?

Thick toenails can be reversed if the underlying cause is addressed or proper preventative measures are taken. Polishing rough surfaces to make them smoother is a great way to treat thick toenails. Avoid pedicures because they may cause fungal infection to flare up when cuticles are removed.

35 related questions found

How do you grind down thick toenails?

Use gentle pressure and grind it thinner until it is normal thickness or starts to get warm. If it gets warm, stop and then do a little more later or the following day. Continue grinding a little each day until the nail is normal thickness.

How do I stop my toenails from thickening?

Prevention

  1. Always wear properly fitting shoes. ...
  2. Cut toenails straight across with clean nail clippers.
  3. Keep nails clean and dry.
  4. Be careful when choosing a salon for a pedicure and check to make sure that they're changing water and sanitizing stations between customers.

What is the hard stuff under my toenails?

This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.

Will a toenail reattach itself?

Once your toenail falls off, it can't reattach itself and keep growing. You'll need to wait for the new nail to grow back in its place. Depending on the cause and how much, if any, of your toenail remains, you might need additional treatment to make sure your toenail grows back properly.

What is the white stuff under my toenails?

Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails.

What cream softens toenails?

Helps soften thick, hardened nails for easier cutting & maintenance. This special formula contains pure aloe vera gel and softening agents to help temporarily soften thick, hard toenails. Rub it into your toenails at bedtime and in the morning they'll be easier to cut and file.

Why is my big toenail thick?

Toenails can thicken as a result of sudden or repeated trauma or injury. Mostly, this happens to people involved in sport or exercise, such as soccer players, runners, and dancers, but also to people with ill-fitting shoes. Often, thick nails due to injury are mistaken for fungal infections.

Should you remove a lifted toenail?

If you have a damaged toenail, you might be tempted to remove it yourself. But while damaged toenails sometimes fall off on their own, it's not a good idea to force that process. Removing a damaged toenail yourself could lead to serious complications that end up making matters worse.

How do you fix nail lifting from nail bed?

What is the treatment for onycholysis?

  1. Clip the affected portion of the nail and keep the nail(s) short with frequent trimming.
  2. Minimise activities that traumatise the nail and nailbed.
  3. Avoid potential irritants such as nail enamel, enamel remover, solvents, and detergents.

How do you treat a partially detached toenail?

If your nail is partly detached, don't pull off the rest. See a doctor. Don't wrap the exposed nail bed with plain gauze or a regular adhesive bandage. These will stick, and later it will be both difficult and painful to change the dressing.

What does onycholysis look like?

If you have onycholysis, your nail will begin to peel upward from the nail bed. This is not usually painful. The affected nail may become yellow, greenish, purple, white, or gray, depending on the cause.

Will my toenail grow back if I pull it off?

A broken or detached toenail is a common and often painful condition that many people experience in their lifetime. Detached toenails are usually safe to remove, and they will typically grow back within a year and a half. A detached toenail can result from an injury or infection.

Can you scrape out toenail fungus?

Prescription Medicines

If your fungus doesn't clear up at home, you should check in with a dermatologist (a skin, hair, and nail specialist) or podiatrist (a foot doctor.) They may gently scrape under your nail to get rid of some of the fungus or send it to the lab for diagnosis.

How does a podiatrist treat thick toenails?

Treatment for Thickened Nails:

  1. Resection and thinning of the nail by a podiatrist.
  2. Nail scrapings may be taken for fungal culture.
  3. Permanent or temporary surgical removal of the nail.

Why do elderly get thick toenails?

Both fingernails and toenails thicken as we get older. We only notice it with toenails because they're usually not filed and buffed as often as fingernails. The growth rate of nails decreases when people get older. This results in thickening because nail cells pile up.

Can thick toenails be ground down?

Dystrophic Toenails

Dystrophic nails can be thinned through manual sanding, however, the quickest and most effective way to sand very thick toenails is with an electric sanding device. Thick nails should be sanded to avoid ulcerations due to shoe pressure, and can be sanded as thin as you desire.

How do podiatrists remove toenails?

What Happens During a Toenail Removal Procedure?

  1. Your foot care doctor injects an anesthetic into the skin around your toe.
  2. The doctor then uses a special tool to remove the toenail.
  3. Your doctor applies a bandage to the surgical wound.

How long does it take to soften toenails?

To properly cut your thick toenails, follow these steps: Soak your feet in warm water for at least 10 minutes to soften your nails, and then use a towel to thoroughly dry your feet and toenails. Using a nail clipper, make small cuts to avoid splintering the nail and cut straight across.

Is VapoRub good for toenails?

Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients (camphor and eucalyptus oil) may help treat toenail fungus. A 2011 study found that Vicks VapoRub had a “positive clinical effect” in the treatment of toenail fungus. To use, apply a small amount of Vicks VapoRub to the affected area at least once a day.