Dear Angie, I just saw your lovely feet and I think they may have unfortunately started growing bunions, which may be the culprit for your nail issues. I am saying this as I suffered from them myself. Like you, I am an avid walker. Slowly, after 40, my feet became fussier and fussier. I started having repetitive big toe nail infections that had to be treated with antibiotics. At first, I could still wear heels, then only expensive heels, and eventually only platform Dansko or Fluevog heels, and finally no heels, and then... there was some pain with flats, constant pain with flats, pain with orthotic flats, all the way to almost constant, plain pain. Pain was first dull, then started to shoot up in sharp darts. I thought it was my bony feet. But in reality, my big toes had been veering inwards more and more, and a bump had appeared on the side. On my left foot, the bump became red and furious and painful. Eventually, it thickened to the point that I couldn't wear most of my stylish footwear, and thought my foot size had changed. I noticed movement on my big toe was limited. It felt as if I had a permanent golf ball inside my foot. This is what happened to me because I didn't pay attention to the initial signs.
I saw my doctors of course. I had developped arthritis in my bunions. Bunions are silent with no pain, but arthritis crazy hurts. Doctors could only offer surgery involving fusion of the toe, permanently locking it with the foot.
This meant not being able to walk properly ever, let alone dance. It was out of the question. I love dancing, and I love fashion too much. I fully realized my feet were not just "fussy", but had become disabled. After much research and hesitation, I finally went for an unconventional treatment called "shockwave therapy". This is not cheap, and requires many visits. I'm on my third visit and the therapist promises to rid me of all the calcium accumulation on the fourth. The treatment hurts like you have no idea. One hour of torture (because of the arthritis, but I'm told it's not that bad on bunions). But it is working! Toe movement range is slowly returning. I am already able to slip on my Beautyfeel strap kitten heel sandals again and walk around for 4 hrs without pain. I have faith I will be able to wear *some* heels sometimes again, and certainly be able to sustain my stylish - but orthotic friendly - flats again. Imagine, I was down to one pair of Dansko and runners.
So please, have your feet checked by a podiatrist; maybe it's not just the nail polish.