# What's wrong with my toenail? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 19, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-toenail/647760 "2013-01-19T23:33:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-toenail/647760/1 "2013-01-19T23:33:15Z")
You are not my doctor, blah, blah, blah… I have one toe (the second toe on my right foot, to be exact) with a crumbly nail. The nail looks normal in every way. When I trim it, though, it’s crumbly. I don’t think it’s toenail fungus, because there is no thickening or discoloration. I have read about psoriatic nails, but, to my knowledge, I don’t have psoriasis, and while some of the references I read said you could have psoriatic nails without other symptoms of psoriasis, the operative word seemed to be “nails” - plural. This is just one nail. Any other ideas about what could be going on here? It really isn’t bothersome. Just kind of weird. ---
**Author:** ![d1a1s1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f6c823/32.png) [@d1a1s1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/d1a1s1)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 11:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-toenail/647760/2 "2013-01-19T23:47:46Z")
Ha. I have the same problem, same toe. I noticed when I exercise or run for extended periods of time that particular toe nail gets a beating for whatever reason. After a recent 5k it was black and blue. I figured over time the nail became brittle from continuous abuse. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 19, 2013, 11:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-toenail/647760/3 "2013-01-19T23:55:25Z")
Well, now that you mention it, I have a bunion on that foot and am developing a hammer toe on that toe. I’m a runner, too, so maybe continuous abuse is a factor. ---
**Author:** ![camille](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/22d042/32.png) [@camille](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/camille)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 12:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-toenail/647760/4 "2013-01-20T00:03:41Z")
Same problem, same toe. Right now it’s black because I just started running again. It’s definitely the abuse. ---
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 12:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-toenail/647760/5 "2013-01-20T00:21:30Z")
If the integrity of the nail bed is damaged the nail will not grow properly and will fragment when cut. This improper growth pattern is less visually noticeable on the smaller toe nails than the larger toe nail until you go to cut it. It’s usually caused by multiple damages to the nail and nail-bed over time. There is no fix. If the nail looks perfectly normal, but still fragments when cut then it’s a different issue than the damage described above. A friable nail due to nail bed damage will look bunchier and less smooth than a normal nail. ---
**Author:** ![JerrySTL](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e274bd/32.png) [@JerrySTL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JerrySTL)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-toenail/647760/6 "2013-01-20T02:08:28Z")
Running! Some marathon runners have their toenails removed as they are just going to fall off during the race anyway. Check this out: > **[Prevent Embarrassing Running Problems](https://www.verywellfit.com/embarrassing-running-problems-2911330)** > > From rashes and acne to flatulence and hemorrhoids, read about embarrassing health conditions that can leave runners red-faced. ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2013, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-my-toenail/647760/7 "2013-01-20T14:12:50Z")
**astro** , do you know if anemia can permanently damage the nail bed? I was severely anemic for several years and some of my toes developed koilonychia (spoon-shaped nails), including the one in question.