How does that linty stuff form in the corner of my toenails and why does it smell so bad?

Question

You know, like under that little corner of toenail, where it gets a little dark, if you scrape out the dark stuff, it seems like lint, and if you pluck it out with your fingers and then smell your fingers before washing them, it really stinks. This is just too gross. Someone please help me.

Answer 1

You guys are funny... that's sooo gross! :-)

Answer 2

There's a simple, pretty gross answer to that. Bacteria! They like to live in damp, moist locales, and your feet fit the bill well. As a byproduct of turning basic sugars from the stuff under your toes into food, they produce foul smelling gasses. That accounts for the smell. The taste? Well, I can't say I've ever indulged myself, and can find no scientific literature online regarding why it should taste good, some I'm going to speculate it's either a psychological response for _some_ reason that you like eating toejam, or thse pesky critters living under there are making some sort of delicious chemical somehow. Regardless, I would recommend not eating that stuff. There simply has to be pathogens in there, and I don't want you getting sick! Hope that helped clear things up. Cheers!

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
How does that linty stuff form in the corner of my toenails and why does it smell so bad?
You know, like under that little corner of toenail, where it gets a little dark, if you scrape out the dark stuff, it seems like lint, and if you pluck it out with your fingers and then smell your fingers before washing them, it really stinks. This is just too gross. Someone please help me.

Answer 4

That linty stuff in the corner of your toenails is dried sweat and bacterea and it might seem linty because it is mixed with a bit of fabric that your toenail collects from your sock. Now then it smells and thats because its bacteria that is multipying and bacteria (given the right conditions) will tend to stink. So I guess you are asking what you can do about it. well,

1). make sure you cut your toe nails and keep them short, this will limit the space bacteria can accumalate in

2). When you shower, give your feet a quick scrub, you dont have to exfoliate or anything like that just give em a quick onve over but the dry them after. Alot of people (especially us guys) dont dry and that just aids the bacterial growth as they love dampness. I you have a bath then pick that goo out good and proper

3). stop wearing trainers around the house and give your feet time to air on their own. When we wear tainers alot our feet tend to sweat (even if we dont notice it) and so accumalate alot of bacteia and therfore give it optimal conditions in which to grow, namely warm and damp

4). dude go and have a pedacure. My gf took me for my first on last week. It cost £15 but man it was worth it. I got a leg massage, full foot clean and it was great, even though I have kept it a sectre from my mates

5). the benefits of having nice feet are numerous. I do Judo and I get grossed out by some guys feet! Women notice your feet even if they dont say anything and to have clean, nice feet is of benefit and you dont stink.

Hope this helps you stay clean

Answer 5

Black Stuff Under Toenail

Answer 6

This question hurts.

I don't know how it gets there or why it smells rancid, but perhaps you should consider investing in a nice toenail brush and cleaning them in that manner so as to avoid smelling the things that collect beneath them.

Answer 7

You re all wrong. It is a substance that comes from the kidneys and it is a sign of the body burning fat instead of glucose. It is a waste product and it winds up under the nails and needs to be cleaned out before it causes sores since waste products of the body can make some pretty dang nasty sores.

Answer 8

It's a mixture of lint, shed skin cells, sweat, and bacteria. The bacteria dies and the skin cells rot, resulting in the stench.

Cure? Clean under your toenails and bathe - daily.

Answer 9

Its called toe jam. Its from your socks, especially black sox. All the sweat causes bacteria to grow because its dark, damp and warm. The only thing you can do to prevent this is to cut off your big toes. I had it done a few years ago so.... no more toe jam for me!

Answer 10

It's from wearing socks all day, the smell is from your feet sweating and where else can it really go? Quit smelling your feet!!!

Answer 11

It means you need to wash yourself more thoroughly. Those 2 minute showers don't do the job. They make nail brushes you can use in the shower specifically for this.