Thick or hard-to-cut toenails: don't force them
When toenails become too thick or too hard to cut, regular care brings back comfort — painlessly.
What is it?
With age, repeated knocks or some illnesses, toenails can become very thick, hard, yellow and curved. They become almost impossible to cut yourself and can press painfully inside the shoe.
- How to recognise it
- A thick, domed, ridged or curved nail, hard to cut, painful against the shoe.
- Common causes
- Ageing nails, repeated minor trauma (footwear, sport), poor circulation, a long-standing fungal infection.
- At the practice
- The nail is cut, then thinned with a rotary burr. It is painless — you only feel a slight vibration — and walking becomes comfortable again.
- Day to day
- Do not force ordinary scissors: the risk of cutting yourself is real. Regular care prevents the nail from deforming further.
Why toenails thicken
Over the years, nails grow more slowly and thicken. Repeated knocks (short shoes, sport), an old fungal infection, some skin conditions such as psoriasis and poorer circulation make it worse. The nail becomes domed, ridged, yellowish and sometimes curved.
Thickening or fungal infection?
The two look alike and often go together. Only a sample confirms a fungal infection, and its treatment is a matter for a doctor. Chiropody helps in both cases.
The treatment: cutting and thinning
The nail is cut, then thinned with a rotary burr. You feel a slight vibration, no pain. Afterwards the nail is thinner and shorter and no longer presses in the shoe.
Why not cut them yourself
- Scissors slip on a hard nail: cuts are common.
- On blood thinners, the smallest cut bleeds for a long time.
- With diabetes or poor circulation, a small wound can heal badly.
- With age, it gets harder to reach your feet and see what you are cutting.
Price
€44A pedicure treatment or foot reflexology: the same price at the practice.
Home visits: from €55, depending on the area and travel. The price is confirmed when you book.
Saturday: appointments possible on request — €70. By appointment only.
Frequently asked questions
Does thinning a nail hurt?
No. You only feel a vibration; a thickened nail is not sensitive.
Will my nails go back to normal?
A nail thickened by age usually stays that way. Regular care keeps it thin and comfortable.
Can you come to the home?
Yes, home visits are possible from €55 depending on the area. The price is confirmed when you call.
Book an appointment
Dominique Rozan sees patients at 72 avenue de la Bourdonnais, 75007 Paris, Monday, Thursday and Friday. Call; if she is with a patient, leave your name and number and she will call you back.
06 08 10 86 61From a non-French number: +33 6 08 10 86 61