10 Things Your Toes Could Say About Your Health

4. “Half-and-half” or washed-out nails

Possible conditions: Kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes or congestive heart failure

Nail beds that are partly white and partly red, pink or brown are called half-and-half, or Lindsay’s nails, says Tracey Vlahovic, a clinical professor at the Temple University School of Podiatric Medicine in Philadelphia. Research suggests that they occur in 20 to 50 percent of patients with chronic kidney disease.

White or pale nails with a band of pink or brown, called Terry’s nails, are similar to half-and-half nails, but “we typically see more whiteness and just a couple of millimeters of normal nail bed color,” Vlahovic says. The condition is a tip-off to liver diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis.

5. Painful, inflamed toe joints

Possible condition: Arthritis

Painful joints could mean rheumatoid arthritis, an autoimmune disease that attacks the joints at the base of the toes, says Stuart D. Kaplan, M.D., chief of rheumatology at Mount Sinai South Nassau in Oceanside, New York. The condition creates painful erosions in the bones of the toe.

Osteoarthritis is the wear-and-tear form of arthritis. “There’s not so much erosion to the joints, but you may often get hammertoes, when toes — often the second or third ones — are bent,” Kaplan says.

Psoriatic arthritis affects the joints at the ends of the toes (distal interphalangeal joints), particularly the third, fourth or fifth digits, which swell up “like little plump sausages,” Kaplan says. It’s common for lower back or joint pain to accompany this condition.

Gout is an arthritic condition caused by excessive uric acid in the blood, when your kidneys don’t eliminate uric acid efficiently, or your body makes too much of it. Gout symptoms can be exacerbated by a protein- and alcohol-heavy diet.

6. Clubbed toes

Possible condition: Lung disease

When the tips of the toes enlarge and the toenails become more rounded on the top and curve downward toward the tip, it could be due to low blood-oxygen levels, typically brought on by a lung disease or even heart issues, Vlahovic says.

“Clubbed toes can be inherited,” she adds, “but in a subset of people, it is acquired.” If the tips of your toes seem to be widening or curving, see your doctor.

7. Cold or blue toes

Possible condition: Heart disease

Poor circulation can cause the feet or toes, or both, to become cold, Markinson says. It’s typically due to atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease. This causes a buildup of plaque on the inside of your arteries that blocks blood flow to the extremities. Have your doctor investigate if you are having abnormal or increasing issues with feet temperature. Another cause may be Raynaud’s syndrome, a rheumatic condition in which the small blood vessels in the fingers or toes go into spasm, causing them to turn white or blue in the cold.

8. Discolored toenails

Possible condition: Diabetes mellitus (most commonly type 2), a secondary fungal infection known as onychomycosis, underlying skin cancer, or trauma that caused bleeding under the nail, referred to as subungual hematoma.

Yellowing of the nail may also be a result of psoriasis and eczema.

Treatment options: Any new areas of discoloration, especially without stubbing your toe, warrants an evaluation to determine if a biopsy is needed, says Dikis.

Additionally, a nail biopsy can be helpful in confirming a diagnosis and determining the best course of treatment.

9. Thick toenails

Possible conditions: Previous trauma, fungal infection

Treatment options: Thick toenails, also known as dystrophic nails, can be difficult to manage at home and may lead to pain, Dikis says. If you are experiencing difficulty safely caring for thickened nails or are experiencing pain due to nail irregularity, make an appointment with a podiatrist.

10. Fungus on toes

Possible conditions: Fungal infection (onychomycosis), athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)

Onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the toenail, occurs in about 10 percent of the population and is more common in older adults as well as those with diabetes, Wu says. Cases can range from one toenail to all 10 toenails.

The severity of the infection can cause nails to turn yellow, with reddish-brown, green or black areas. Nails may thicken and, in severe cases, become flaky, peeling, or easily separated.

Athlete’s foot, also called tinea pedis, usually begins between the toes and more frequently occurs in people with sweaty feet who wear tight-fitting shoes for long periods of time, says Wu. Symptoms typically include itching, peeling skin, small blisters, redness and a scaly rash.

Note, athlete’s foot is contagious and can spread on damp surfaces like locker room floors, showers and swimming pools.

Treatment options: Treatment options vary from prescription creams to antifungal medications, depending on the infection's severity. There are both over-the-counter and prescription treatments for toe fungus. Keep reading for details.

OTC treatments for fungus and other toe conditions

Many over-the-counter antifungal creams, gels, and sprays can treat mild athlete's foot and fungal nail infections.

If you try treating nail infections with these, look for improvement in the new nail growth near the cuticle, not the existing nail. It may take a few months of treatment to determine if the medication is effective, Dikis adds.

Another tip: Disinfect your shoes, showers and bathroom floors to prevent spreading the infection and reinfecting yourself, Wu suggests.

Severe cases may require a trip to the doctor for prescription treatment.

When to see a doctor

If you notice pain or discoloration, seek a medical evaluation. Although most toe issues are benign, serious conditions like subungual cancer (skin cancer under your nail), and bacterial infections must be ruled out. People with diabetes, weakened immune systems or autoimmune conditions should promptly check changes to the nails or skin of their toes, Dikis says.

If your nail is painful, bleeding, red, swollen or infected, seek immediate attention. An untreated infection can spread to the bone, potentially leading to toe amputation, Wu warns.

Editor's note: This story, originally published January 11, 2023, has been updated to reflect new information.