The skin on your feet and your toenails need thorough care. Without proper attention, the nail plate can grow into the toe, crumble, or exfoliate. Cracks and painful corns may also develop on the skin. A common cause of these problems is fungal infections, which are much more difficult to treat than prevent. That’s why it’s important to take good care of your feet and nails at home.

1. Choose breathable shoes to prevent your feet from sweating. If your shoes don’t allow air circulation and the skin can’t breathe, fungal infections can develop quickly.
2. Cut your nails straight across using clean nail scissors, avoiding rounded edges. Start from the sides rather than the middle, and don’t cut your nails too short. Instead of trimming cuticles, gently push them aside.
3. Make foot care a daily routine. Soak your feet every evening for about 10 minutes in a basin of warm soapy water mixed with sea salt. If your nails have darkened, adding citric acid can help lighten the surface.
4. Clean under your nail plates once a week with a hard brush to remove dead skin and dirt. Do this after soaking your feet in soapy water.
5. Thoroughly dry your feet after washing, using a dry towel to ensure no moisture remains, particularly between the toes.
6. Apply a specialized moisturizer containing disinfecting ingredients to your toenails and skin regularly.

• Failing to use proper nail scissors or clippers can cause your toenails to deform. Their surfaces may develop pits and ridges, which allow fungi to penetrate the nail plate. You can replace clippers with a medium-grained nail file, filing down the overgrown nail instead of cutting it all at once.

1. Trim your nails only after thoroughly washing them with soap. Wet nails are softer and easier to cut without splitting.
2. Keep your nails at an appropriate length. Allowing them to grow too long can cause the nail plate to thicken and crumble over time.
3. Polish the nail surface only before applying nail polish. Frequent polishing can damage the nail and make it more vulnerable to breakage.
4. Limit the use of pumice stones to exfoliate the skin around your nails. Using them too often or choosing a stone that’s too soft won’t be effective. The pumice needs to withstand considerable pressure to work properly.
5. Avoid applying nail polish immediately after a foot bath. If your nails are still waterlogged, the polish won’t adhere properly and will peel off quickly.

Yellowing toenails can result from wearing uncomfortable, non-breathable shoes or using poor-quality nail polish. Excessive sweating, certain medications, or fungal infections may also cause this issue. If discoloration persists, it might be necessary to consult a healthcare professional to address the underlying cause.