Which term refers to the thickening of the nails?

If you’ve recently noticed your nails getting thicker, don’t worry – it’s actually a relatively common condition. But what exactly is it called? Let’s take a closer look and find out!

Thick Nails: What Are They?

To start things off, let’s talk about what we mean by “thick” nails. Essentially, this refers to when the nail plate itself starts growing thicker than normal, usually due to some sort of trauma or infection.

Fun fact: Did you know that fingernails grow at an average rate of 3.5 millimeters per month? That means they can grow up to 42 millimeters in a year!

While thick nails might not bother some people too much, others may experience discomfort or even pain as a result.

Onychauxis: The Technical Term

So now that we know what we’re talking about, what do we call this condition?

The answer is onychauxis (pronounced “on-ik-AWK-sis”), which comes from the Greek words for “nail” and “growth.” It’s used as an umbrella term to refer to any situation where toenails or fingernails become abnormally thickened.

Fun fact: Some studies have shown that men tend to have thicker nails than women overall. So if you’re looking for someone who really knows their onychauxis stuff…we’re just saying!

Causes of Onychauxis:

Now that we know its technical name; here are some reasons why our digits could be turning into mighty claws.
1. Aging (ha!)
2. Fungal infections
3. Trauma

4. Psoriasis
5.Depression/anxiety medications like lithium

Fun fact: One study found that more than half of patients with diabetes had some form of nail abnormality – including onychauxis – when their nails were examined.

How to Deal with Onychauxis?

So, you’ve been diagnosed with onychauxis…now what? Here are some possible treatment options:
Topical medications, especially if the thickening is caused by a fungal infection
Oral antifungal drugs, if your doctor determines that an internal approach is needed
Filing or grinding down the nail plate to thin it out
Fun fact: Some people have even turned to laser therapy as a way of improving their thickened nails. And while there’s still much research needed in this area, early results seem promising!

Of course, not all treatments work for everyone. So be sure to talk over these and other potential approaches with your healthcare provider before starting anything new.

Home Remedies?

And then there are the more “natural” at-home remedies that people sometimes turn to. While these can be helpful in certain cases (for example, tea tree oil has been shown to have antifungal properties), they aren’t necessarily backed up by science.
Here are some popular ones:

  • Apple cider vinegar soaks: This involves soaking your feet or hands in a mixture of apple cider vinegar and warm water for up to 30 minutes at a time.
  • Baking soda paste: a mix of baking soda and water made into a paste applied under toes ensures dryness which promotes quick drying hence preventing fungal growths

Again though…it has NOT BEEN SCIENTIFICALLY PROVEN TO WORK.

Conclusion

Whether you’re someone who loves painting their nails every week or couldn’t care less about them most times; knowing terms like “onychauxis” could save you from mental disturbances when something unexpected happens down there.
The important thing is this: If you’re experiencing any sort of discomfort due to abnormal nail thickness don’t hesitate CATCH am early!
Fun fact: Did you know that there are over 150 different kinds of nail disorders out there? Beauty truly is pain.

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