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My 88 year old father was recently in the ER and I saw that his toenails looked horrible, thick and yellow. But even worse was when I took my 93 year old mother to see her doctor and her toenails were really long, the large nails were also thick and discolored and the skin around her toes looked very flaky. Frankly, it was gross and I was shocked. The doctor said he sees this all the time. I know my dad was taking my mom to see a podiatrist, but he's had shingles for several months and I'm just now finding out a lot of things they've kept pretty well hidden.

Besides the fact that I want to take care of my parents (they are going into a wonderful assisted living facility this weekend), I'm wondering if horrible looking feet is an inevitable part of aging. My husband and I don't have children and we are seeing how important it is to take care of ourselves! We're trying to learn from my parents and take care of ourselves.

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My mother-in-law has gnarly toes, and my husband who is 61 already has thick toe nails, so I suppose he's doomed. My mother before she died last year, her toes look fine. But she used to paint her toe nails like I do and try to take care of them. So I don't know whether it's heredity or neglect that causes such weird toes when you got old. I've never had a pedicure in my life, but I took my m-i-l and daughter-in-law with me last year, and we all had pedicures. Mother-in-law is legally blind, but since her favorite color is blue, she wanted blue toe nail polish. So she had gnarly blue toes thereafter, but I was the only one that had to actually SEE them. :)
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Yeah, I think thick gnarly toe nails pretty much go with the old age territory. My mother, my husband, and I all have our toenails trimmed regularly by a podiatrist. Except for not being able to cut them ourselves, the only drawback is appearance. This is not a health issue. And I doubt it is related to neglect.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but I'll bet this is more common than not.
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I think a lot of it is heredity. I have terrible feet...ugly with a severe bunion and getting crooked toes and I am 52. Have had the bunion since in my 20's. My Mom's feet are terrible and I remember them being that way when I was growing up. So, a lot is heredity. I also believe the nails just get thicker and yellow as we age...part of that may be due to the inability to take care of them.
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My Mom has one good foot and one bad. She sees a podiatrist every other month. Her insurance pays for it. She has a hammer toe on one foot and had the hammer tie on the other repaired.

I know the hammer toe is from wearing shoes that are too small. As we get older and our muscles weaken our feet get flatter making them longer and wider. My Mom wore an 8 narrow all her life and she was going to cram her feet into those 8 narrows no matter what. After much pain and many arguments she's now wearing a 9 medium, but the damage is already done.
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My mom always had nice feet and toenails when she was younger. Then, around age 50, they started looking like a big ball of fungi...TALL and I would use the pumice stone on them just so that she could wear shoes. After several podiatrists that did NOTHING for her, yet charged....I took matters into my own hands as usual. I found a great surgeon and took mom to him. I told him, we need to REMOVE these big balls of fungi so that she can grow back nice nails. He agreed. I took her for every appt (except one follow-up) and now, her nails are nice!! She was 75 when this was done. I made sure one nail healed up completely before taking her back for the next one to be done. Of course, I had to make sure that the NH wasn't letting her walk around barefoot to get infection..which they DID on several occasions. Seems I am always dong THEIR job FOR them.
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No, it isn't uncommon, but it is preventable. Good hygiene and consistent care can keep them looking great! Both my parents have great looking feet. They are 81 and 87...but I make sure they get regular showers, feet kept clean, dry. Nails trimmed... I would say it is a good sign that they need more help than they are currently getting/allowing. :)
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I think the nails get thick if not cut/trimmed. I my moms are more thick and yellowed than I ever recall seeing. I am only 60 and have noticed some thickening and discoloration. I never even thought of toe nails in caring for mom. Then, I looked and one of her toenails curves and punctures the skin on her toe. The pedicure place cost less than a podiestrist (sp) so i took mom for one and she is healed. If this had not corrected the issue i would have taken her to a doctor.

Now I take her regularly every other month or so, for a pedicure. I always look at her toes now.
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If your family member has diabetes, it is especially important that their feet are observed regularly and kept healthy. Toenail fungus is difficult to treat as the meds to treat it are hard on your liver, and if people are already on several meds, they just can't tolerate it. And yes, our toenails seem to thicken with age, it may be hereditary or partially due to decreased circulation. Darcy123 is correct, if you notice neglected nail care, it probably is a sign that more help is needed. And again, if your loved one is in a facility, you will need to make sure their nails are
cared for. Some places won't let the direct care staff cut nails due to chances of injury.
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I practice good hygiene and consistent care. I take regular showers, keep my feet clean and dry. And my nails started thickening in my 60s. Ditto for my husband. I think luck has more to do with what happens to your nails than good care.
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I thought thick nails were a sign of a fungus infection. My big toes and smallest toes are like that. My doctor told me to see a podiatrist....because it is fungus. Heels are also dry. I put cream on every night, but the next day they look the same. Guess I better make an appt.
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Many older people are unable to safely care for their toenails. Medicare covers podiatrist care. They have skill and implements to do the job without any further injury; most important for diabetics but common sense for people who cannot see well or reach their feet to work safely. Sterile conditions important.
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Im 65 and do have Diabetes also and take meds for the disease. I get my toes done once a month and feet rubbed and it really doesn't cost all that much. I put on my bill list. Toenails cut and polished and taken care of. I agree with all of you that I believe that it does come with age. When I was very young and didn't have alot I would stuff my feet into shoes I had no business wearing. Now my shoes may not be always stylish, but my feet can breath. Take care of your feet. Buy some epson salt and soak them if nothing else. It feels so good and softens the toenails a little. Go Bless all of you!
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Thick nails is usually a sign of fungus.....my Dad has a fingernail that is 1/4 inch thick and we have to use a dremel to cut it. I cut his other nails or they get long and nasty..

His feet....gross. Sad thing is he doesn't have much feeling past his knees, so he had wounds on his feet that he didn't even know he had (prior to him living here)...so now I have to soak / scrub / care for his gross feet.

The nails are fairly yellowish, some art thick, but not horriby so. What grosses me out is the smell and the dead skin....no matter how often I clean them and slather them up with the special foot cream, they always look gross. I bought the latex gloves to wear when I deal with his feet.

He got a small open spot on the back of his heel that quickly got bigger than a quarter. It has been since April and is still not healed up...

I think age just makes feet gross...
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Interesting topic. I live in central Florida where it is hot and humid ALL YEAR LONG and about 5 years ago I was working for a home health agency that required that we employees (even those of us doing non-medical care) wear closed-toed shoes. I got fungus under one of my big toe-nails! Nail grew very thick and was ugly yellow. Other nail just fine. I saw a doctor and was told that the med's for the fungus are so expensive that insurance will not pay unless there is some sort of unusual dire health consequence of the fungus. I hid it the best I could with nail polish, but still was very uncomfortable with it, always afraid it would spread to other toes. Recently a friend told me that Vicks Vap-O-Rub salve on the toe would get rid of it. I didn't really believe her, but I started massaging the end of my toe, the cuticle, and the toe-nail with the Vicks salve every morning (most mornings) when I got out of the shower. Sometimes I would get in a rush or just forget. Anyway, it's been a couple of months now and the condition is improved by at least 50% or more. Looks MUCH better. Mine was maybe a milder case of the fungus than some, but I'm sure glad I found out about the Vicks salve treatment. My mom would be so proud! She used to swear by Vicks salve for just about any ailment you could get. Because of the results I have seen so far, I think if I keep using it, then eventually my toe will be its old self again! That's my "home remedy" tip for today! Blessings to all - Grace
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No, it is not normal nor is it healthy. It can be a sign of toenail fungus that requires a medication taken internally and needs to be done under the care of a doctor. This is an infection and can cause you to lose toenails and if you are a diabetic or have a heart condition, infection can travel and cause serious problems. My grandma died in her 90's and her feet were gorgeous. My mother, on the other hand, had this fungal problem and was given pills which cleared things up. Even I in my 30's had the same problem though I always cared for my feet (I am diabetic) and had to take the Lamisil.
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meatjeanne, kerasil ointment (around ten dollars at the drug store) works well on heels that don't respond to anything else. If you use it nightly, within a week your heels will be better. I don't like the greasy feel so don't use it often as I should, but regular lotions and creams do nothing for me. I even see fairly young women with nasty heels and calluses...yuck!
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I agree that fungus is probably the problem for the thickened yellow toe nails. The Vicks ointment does work. Use it at least twice a day for about 2 months while the new nail is growing out. The gross flakey skin problem: my husband can't reach his feet to scrub them and he has this problem also. I have to weekly soak his feet in soapy water and then gently scrub the old flaky skin with a wash cloth. A net poof or loofa sponge would be a good choice,too. His feet look so much better and I don't mind scrubbing his feet because I don't have to look at the grossness all week. If heels are cracking, there are several really good ointments for that; my favorite is the AVON heel and elbow cream with shea butter. Another good one is Bag Balm. Use these at bedtime and wear socks to keep the oil off the sheets.
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the toenail fungus is a result of having candida in the body. It may not always show up in women as a regular candida yeast infection and obviously men do not have that type of reaction. My mom is 94 and has had it for a long time. Strict diet is the only way to eliminate candida from body completely, and not an option for my mom. Her poliatrist and dr say the med for it is worse than having an ugly nail at her age
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I know exactly what you mean. I was shocked when my Mom came to live with me and I saw her toenails. They looked an inch thick and I rushed her to the podiatrist thinking he was also going to be shocked. He said that over 80% or more people will have toenails like that after age 80. I never knew that. Mine were already starting to get that fungus (age 58) and I asked him if my toenails would be like my Mom's some day. He told me they would unfortunately. Mine were also ingrown, so I had them all removed. I do not have toenails now, but knowing I will never have those thick toenails makes it all worth it. He is a great podiatrist though, and he trims Mom's toenail every other month and also files them down with an electric instrument and gets them really smooth and small. He does a terrific job. I would get hers permanently removed like mine, but I don't think she could handle the pain during recovery.
I had to laugh when I saw your post, because I knew exactly how you felt when you first saw those toenails. :-)
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I'm only 54 and have thick toe nails and it has been like this for a least the last 10 years. I practice good hygiene and trim my nails. My sister has the same problem and her dr. told her it is a fungus infection and to use tea tree oil on her toe nails twice a day. The prescription for the fungus can damage the liver so her dr. won't prescribe it. You will need to trim your nails back as far as you can then apply the oil 2 x's a day for six months. My sis says it is improved but not cured so it may take longer than six months. I am going to try it too. It has nothing to do with bad hygiene and not taking care of your feet. Unfortunately it seems to be a very common thing as we age and I do not think it can be avoided. Why do some people get it and others do not I have no answer for it but it seems to me that more people have this problem than those that don't. I have always worked in job that require me being on my feet all day, I am not saying my feet don't sweat, but I do not have a foot odor problem or wet socks so it is not the same as athletes feet. My mother has it too and I do not know if it is an inherited condition or not.
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BTW, I have also read using vinegar and baking soda in water to soak your feet helps too.
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Thank you everyone!!! This is the best forum because right now I'm so overwhelmed with my parents. I see these conditions and I'm horrified because I didn't know and feel bad that I wasn't there to help them. BUT I feel equally horrified because I don't want to look like that! I'm 60 and everything is getting dry!!! I haven't paid a lot of attention to my feet and they still look fine, just a bit dry in spots on the soles. What's really killing me is my neck!!!!!!!

I need to do a separate post now on my mom's incontinence and her hiding her used pads all over the place!

Thank you guys!
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Doc also told my mom her nails are effected by her psoriasis.
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Well ladies what we have to go through!!!LOL
Sounds like you all have it under control..I swear though that BAG BALM is the greatest oitment and you do not have to use alot. Never knew about it until I moved to a small town and somebody told me what they used it for. I"ll be.. Thanks for the tip on VICKS. Im a old school girl and I was a faithful user of that as a child. Learn something every day....God Bless you all.
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It's really all that simple cleanness keeping up with it daily bathing or feet washing or at least ever other day. Proper medication creams ether from store or shelf brand or from the prescription foot doctor. My mother had the same problem yellow thick it was neglect. I wash it every other day or so and shes fine her toes look normal good I simply keep them trimmed clean put lotion powder on them let air day completely and it looks good!. And its all lacking is Omega 3-6-9 oils you can get this at any good Vitamin store. Or can't afford that then simply take Olive oil 1 Table spoon a day! That's it! Hope this helps!
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Love it! What about my neck?! :-)
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Leftylucy~ My sisters dr. told her that psoriasis effects the nails too. The Podiatrist told her that yellow thick toe nails is a fungus infection that is most often caused by cutting the nail to short and injuring the nail bed and it it NOT caused from neglect or poor hygiene.
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My family just got my parents into assisted living. I know a podiatrist comes on a regular basis, so I'm hoping that helps. We really let them be on their own for too long.
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Podiatrists can be very helpful and are often totally necessary, but remember that they have no incentive to do prevention education....If everyone PREVENTED toenail fungus or treated it with products like Vicks Vaporub, the podiatrists would take a hit in the pocket book. I'm just saying...
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What about your neck? Whats wrong ? Is it the same thing if it is then same answer I given.
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