Ten Toe Disorders

By Robin Westen

Did you know your toes are telling you a lot more than than you should get a pedicure?, In fact these little extremities offer big clues about the health of the rest of your body. If you have …

Red, White and Blue Toes

This is Raynaud’s disease, a condition that can cause toes to turn white, then bluish, and then redden again before returning to their natural color. The cause is a sudden narrowing of the arteries called vasospasms. Stress or changes in temperature can trigger vasospasms, which usually won’t lead to other health concerns. Raynaud’s may also be related to rheumatoid arthritis or thyroid problems.

Click through to find out more about common toe problems:

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Pain in the Smaller Toe If you feel like you're walking on a marble, or if pain burns in the ball of your foot and radiates to the toes, you may have Morton’s neuroma, a thickening of tissue around a nerve, usually between the third and fourth toes. It is eight to 10 times more common in women than in men and is caused by injury or too much pressure on the toes.

Clubbed Toes Lung disease is the most common underlying cause of clubbing but it can also be caused by heart disease, liver and digestive disorders, or certain infections. FYI: Sometimes, clubbing runs in families without any underlying disease.

A Pain in the Big Toe Gout is a common cause of sudden pain in the big toe joint, along with redness and swelling. Osteoarthritis may be another reason for pain and swelling. If the joint is rigid, it could be “hallux rigidus”, a complication of arthritis where a bone spur develops. But if you’re sporty, it may also be something called turf toe, an ailment that affects athletes who play on hard surfaces like tennis courts.

Claw Toe Do your toes bend upward as they extend from the ball of the foot, then downward from the middle joint and resemble a claw? The condition could be caused by shoes that pinch your toes or by a disease that damages nerves, such as diabetes, alcoholism, or other neurological disorders. Sometimes claw toe can improve with stretching and exercises or you may need special shoes or surgery.

Dark Spot on Toe A melanoma, the most dangerous form of skin cancer, can develop even in areas that are not regularly exposed to the sun, such as between, on top, even underneath your toes. Melanoma can also appear beneath the toe nail, where it might look like a black spot. Make sure your doctor examines your feet during your annual skin exam, and if you notice anything in between exams, don't wait to have it checked.

Yellow Toenail Most likely your yellowing nail is fungal infection. But thick, yellow nails also can be a sign of an underlying disease, including lymphedema (swelling related to the lymphatic system), lung problems, or rheumatoid arthritis.

Spoon-Shaped Nail Have you had a recent injury to your nail? If not, than a concave, spoon-like shape could be an indication of iron deficiency.

White Areas or Spots If part or all of a nail separates from the nail it can appear white -- and may be due to an injury, nail infection, or psoriasis. If the nail is intact and most of it is white, it may be a sign of a more serious condition including liver disease, congestive heart failure, or diabetes.

Pitting Approximately half of those suffering with psoriasis have pitting or punctured-looking depressions on the surface of their toenails caused by a disruption in the growth of the nail at the nail plate.

Click here to comment. About the Author

Robin Westen is ThirdAge's Medical Director. Check for her daily updates. Her latest book, co-written with Dr. Alyssa Dweck, is "V is for Vagina."