Dark nail polish can turn toenails orange.
Orange toenails can be unattractive and make you think you have a serious medical condition, but the condition is usually not a very serious problem. If your toes were recently bumped or bitten, there is a chance that blood has pooled under and around the nails, which can result in orange nails. Shoes that don’t fit well can also put pressure on your toenails and cause bleeding. Fungal infections often result in toenails turning orange, but the infection itself is rarely fatal. Poorly cut toenails can cause infection and trauma.
Orange toenails can be caused by a fungal infection.
One of the most common causes of orange toenails is trauma that results from stepping on the toes, hitting a finger or toes against something, or causing trauma to the toes. If the trauma exerts enough force, it can cause bleeding. Unlike a cut anywhere else on the skin, where blood can easily spill out, blood has a hard time escaping under the nail, so it stays there and changes color as it ages. This can result in orange, red, or black toenails, although the color usually fades over time.
Cutting your toenails incorrectly can cause trauma and infection.
A common reason for something in the body to turn orange is an infection. When it comes to orange nails, the infection is almost always fungal, although it can also be bacterial. This can be the result of trauma that lifts the toenails to let dirt underneath, broken nails that allow dirt to get trapped, or a weak immune system that can’t fight infection in any other way. Medications will usually be needed to clear up the infection and allow the nails to return to their normal color.
Walking barefoot in public places can cause nail fungus that changes the color of the nails.
When shoes don’t fit you, they can be uncomfortable or can cause trauma to your toenails. This usually happens if shoes are too tight, but even slightly tight shoes can make toenails more susceptible to turning orange. Unlike other causes of orange toenails, this is usually easy to correct before the symptom occurs.
A fungal infection obtained from a public shower can cause orange nails.
Many people trim their toenails as part of routine hygiene, but cutting them incorrectly can cause trauma and infection. By cutting your toenails too short, someone can accidentally cut themselves and cause problems in the toenail area. Cutting under the white nail and in the pink area increases the chances of this happening. If your toenails are already short but need shaping, then it may be better to simply file them down rather than using nail clippers.
