A severe case of nail fungus can be painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. And it may lead to other serious infections that spread beyond your feet if you have a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other conditions.
Answer by dermatologist Corey Georgesen, MD:
Toenail fungus doesn't usually spread to inside your body, like the stomach. The fungi require keratin, found in your hair, skin and nails. They survive best on the skin.
If toenail fungus is left untreated, it can spread to the surrounding skin on the foot, causing another condition known as athlete's foot. An athlete's foot is a condition resulting in itchy, red, and cracked skin, which can become very uncomfortable.
Most fungal nail infections are not serious. However, some people may experience pain or be bothered by the appearance of their nails. Fungal nail infections may cause nails to become discolored, thick, fragile, or cracked. The nail may also become separated from the nail bed.
Paronychia (nail infection) usually results from bacteria. Bacteria get into the skin through cuts in the cuticle and the nail fold (the skin around the nail). Most nail infections get better with antibiotics. Paronychia doesn't usually cause serious health problems.
Signs and symptoms of a fungal nail infection
thickening and distortion of the nail – it may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim. pain or discomfort – particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger. brittle or crumbly nails – pieces may break off and come away ...
If you notice any discoloration or pus, then you should also see a doctor. In certain instances, emergency help may be needed when someone develops a loss of appetite, fever, nausea, chills or sweating. At DFW Wound Care Center, we have a great deal of experience dealing with infections caused by an ingrown toenail.
The fungus can break down your skin, causing sores, ulcers, and cellulitis. The infection from untreated cellulitis can travel to your lymph nodes and cause life-threatening conditions such as sepsis.
Invasive Fungal Infections Can Lead to Sepsis—And Have a High Mortality Rate. Approximately 15% of all infections are caused by fungi, and invasive fungal infections are an increasingly frequent cause of sepsis, particularly in critically ill patients.
Nail fungus can increase the risk of a bacterial infection of the surrounding skin in people with diabetes or a weakened immune system.
If you have a case of toenail fungus, please do not ignore this problem. Serious complications can arise if you do not have the fungus treated, including foot pain, widespread infection, the loss of your nail and more.
The best pill for toenail fungus is terbinafine. Evidence suggests it works better than the alternatives with the fewest side effects. Terbinafine results in resolution of toenail fungus 76% of the time.
Causes of Toenail Fungus
Just like with other health conditions that stem from gut-related problems, when you don't have enough good bacteria living within your gut, you wind up developing high levels of yeast and fungus (bad bacteria) in your body that can show up on your skin.
People with toenail fungus are at a higher risk of developing other fungal infections—including those that affect the heart. Toenail fungus can sneak up on you—especially if you're immunocompromised or have preexisting health conditions.
The fastest way to eliminate the infection is through toenail laser treatment. Laser nail therapy specifically targets the microorganisms under your nail while leaving the keratin intact. In just a few treatments, the infection can be entirely eliminated.
Ioli, who is chief of the podiatry service at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Women's Hospital, suggested that daily applications of Vicks VapoRub might be at least as effective as most of the topical treatments for toenail fungus that are available by prescription or over the counter.
“Applying Vicks VapoRub to fungus-infected toenails can clear up the notoriously hard-to-treat condition. Michigan State University clinicians found that applying the product daily to the infected nail cleared the condition in 32 of 85 patients, though it took anywhere from 5 to 16 months…”
If left completely untreated, your stubborn fungal skin infection may cause some or the other kind of permanent damage and in some cases your fungal infection may eventually lead to death.
The fungus kills invaded tissues quickly and can spread from the sinuses directly into the eyes and brain. Rarely, the fungus can reach the brain through other routes, such as after being injected into the bloodstream with intravenous drugs.
Soreness or pain. A pus-filled blister, or pus that drains from your toe. Cracked, thickened, yellow toenails (from a fungal infection)
More importantly, it is also possible for toenail fungus to spread to the blood too, but it is not very common for toenail fungus to migrate to become a fungal blood infection in this way except in severe cases.
A doctor should also be seen if the symptoms worsen: The toe swells, turns red, remains hotter than the rest of the body, or becomes tender. The infected toe and the surrounding area begin to leak pus. The area surrounding the infected toe develops red streaks.