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Is two toenails uncommon? Should I be concerned?

By December 21, 2008 - 3:41pm
 
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I have a toe nail that appears to have two toenails growing...literally one on top of the other. Should I be concerned about this? It doesn't hurt at all but it just odd.

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EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have 3 nails growing on top of each other on both my big toe, and I can see it growing longer from my top toe, it's kinda worrying me. It's obviously not normal and i don't know how it happened. Sometimes it hurts a little on the sides, I don't know what to do. Please Help! Any information or advice would be great!

September 23, 2011 - 10:22pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I've been having the same problems (double nails on both big toes, ridges on second toes) for over a year and have just become convinced that the 'trauma' in my case is not cutting toenails regularly enough and wearing tights which pull on the nails. So perhaps trauma can be as simple as socks/ tights/ shoes pulling the nails back.

September 16, 2011 - 3:51pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I have the same problem in both big toenails. They have a toenail bowing on top of mother toenail and I've had this problem for as far as I can remember. I'm currently seventeen and I've been to the podiatrist and they suggested to take both big toenails off. So they took off both nails and now they've grown back with the same problem and my podiatrist said I should wait and see what happens but as you know I'm a teenager and I want to wear open shoes but it's embarrassing so now my only alternative is to take this antifungal pill called Lamisil.

July 28, 2011 - 10:14am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Try the Vicks vapor rub wash and dry foot put Vicks vapor rub on affected toe and nails put clean dry sock on repeat every night til top toenail falls off good luck!

January 20, 2017 - 1:35am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

Does the Lamisil fix the problem and make your nail grow normally? I have the exact same issue and I'm 16,, I'd love to have it fixed!

December 19, 2014 - 12:49pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous (reply to Anonymous)

How bad does your big toe look? I mean, up until the time the toenail decides to separate from the one underneath and I pull or cut or otherwise get them apart (because they're already splitting) you totally can't tell there's two there.
Of course, once it's off then for about a month it's clear there's something going on with them.
Can you tell that there's two toenails there on a regular basis just by looking?
If not, then I'd refrain from taking anything. An antifungal doesn't seem like it would do anything to relieve my problem double toenails. I think I was just born this way.
This is gonna sound nutty but you know those nail file things they have for dogs? The one that spins? The last time my nails came apart, I let them grow back, but as they were, I gently filed the top layer so it couldn't get really thick like they do. So far it seems to be working. I just do it REALLY GENTLY when ever I notice it's thickening.
I'm not saying it'll work, just that it seems to help my situation.

Sorry you're going through this in your teens...just know you're not alone. Does keeping colored polish on them help to hide it?

July 29, 2011 - 12:20am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I had both of my big toenails removed yesterday and the podiatrist was really shocked because on my right foot I had two nails, there was a smaller one growing behind my nail but my nail hadn't become detached!

July 27, 2011 - 8:47am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Both of my pinkie toenails have ben like this for as long as I can remember. I'm almost 21 and I can remember them from elementary school. I don't recall any toe trauma (i think I would've remembered BOTH toes). I thought it was a fungus but slut of people say toe fungus is yellow. I'm african american and I see it in most of my family and alot of my friends. I see it consistently in african americans (men are worse). Its this really something that can be cured by a doctor or is this just a long standing ancestral trait that will last forever?
P.S.
My son (4) had regular toenails, but I can see the discoloration and thickness starting in his pinkie toes already.

July 19, 2011 - 8:09am
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

I've had this my entire life, but only recently (in the last few years) realized what it was. I was never active as a child, and when I began walking and jogging I noticed my second toe nail had a kind of thickness under it. I keep my nails painted constantly and wear them a wee bit longer then the quick, so when I wear my tennis shoes, my second toes do have slight discomfort. When I remove my nail polish, I can see the underneath is a different color then my other toes, but this is a constant thing for me, and it's never really caused a problem, as far as pain goes. I've removed the top nail several times, but they both continue to grow, so I see no point going to the trouble. Mine is completely normal looking unless someone were to look underneath and my doctor said its not going to cause any problem. So, basically, unless its painful, just live with it. =]

July 6, 2011 - 8:02pm
EmpowHER Guest
Anonymous

Im quite concered about my toe it seems that i have two toenails growing on my big toe. now and then it hurts but i havent notice it till a few weeks ago. but i dont think i have done any trauma to my toe? :/

June 9, 2011 - 11:19am
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