Who needs toenails?

[xyzzyplugh]

Do they serve any purpose? My Great toe nail occasionally causes pain due to ingrowing would it be better to have it removed. Is there a compound that softens toenails?

[andy hughes]

Toenails serve to protect the toe from damage and it would be unwise to have any removed. If your nail ingrows persistently, you may be cutting the nail incorrectly - consult your chiropedist for some advice on how to cut the nail properly.

[xyzzyplugh]

Obviously, nothing whatsoever to do with protection or we would have them over the ends of our toes and similar hornish material on knees and elbows. Therefore I suggest they are a remnant from our ancient past, when we had use of claws on feet. So they are no use at all. Unless someone knows differently. Fingernails, on the other hand, are extemely useful. Hope I can humbly suggest we think our answers through b4 saying the first thing.. and keep this site useful. Otherwise, Andy I think you are a brilliant contributor to Answerbank. So, thankyou, and damn toenails. It's when you stub your toe, they do nothing at all protectionwise. Yoww!

[Moog]

I believe they are an evolutionary leftover. A primate nail corresponds to the claw, hoof, or talon of other animals. Human nails protect the tips of the toes and fingers, while fingernails help us pick up small objects and scratch ourselves. On the other hand (no pun intended) the feet of primates are capable of gripping objects, just like their hands, so their toenails have much the same function as fingernails. There is a solution for softening nails (doesn't work in my experience) alternatively you can cut into the opposite side of the nail further to encourage it to grow away from the ingrowing area or cut a V in the front of the nail for the same purpose. When things get so bad an operation is required then only 1/3 or 1/2 of the nail is removed (i.e. the ingrowing bit) they then attempt to kill the extra bit of route which has developed though (again from painful experience) they don't do a very good job and it will simply grow back in again. I suggest you see a chiropodist sooner rather than later unless you want to end up with a rather ugly and continuously operated on toenail. As an alternative to this it is possible to remove the entire nail (gotta hurt!) kill the root and for aesthetic reasons replace it with a pleasing to the eye false nail. I was told that people are genetically susceptible to ingrowing toenails (i.e. you either get them or you don't).

[Moog]

route = root !!!!! Oh and before anyone asks no I am not a chiropodist!