Find out if cancer is one of the many causes of a white patch on your big toenail.
You may be quite scared that the white patch or multiple white lesions on your big toenail might be some kind of cancer such as melanoma.
There are multiple possible conditions that can cause a white patch to appear on the nail of your big toe.
And here’s some reassurance: Melanoma and other skin cancer are not among those conditions.
Possible Causes
“White patches on the big toenail usually represent a superficial fungus that can be treated with over the counter topical agents such as Lotrimin or Lamisil,” says Dr. Janet Prystowsky, board certified dermatologist in New York, NY, with 30+ years’ experience.
“Sometimes it can indicate no infection at all and may be nail plate dryness from removing nail polish with solvents,” she continues. “Moisturizing the nail plate with Aquaphor may help.
“Deeper fungal infections may also look like white patches, and a culture is necessary to verify this.
“Finally, trauma to the nail from ill-fitting shoes, or exercise that causes the end of the nail to jam repeatedly against the inside of a sneaker or ski boot can cause the nail to separate from the nail bed and make it appear whitish.”
In combination with her focus on early skin cancer detection and removal, Dr. Prystowsky provides a wide range of revitalizing and rejuvenating treatments.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. She’s also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.
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