In some cases, the whole toenail can peel off, causing pain and swelling. As such, you probably want to preserve at least a few healthy toenails. The bad news is that fungus can spread to other toes – and very easily at that. To make matters worse, the fungus can even spread to your skin, fingernails, and loved ones!
Fungal Nail Infection Symptoms
They usually start mild and get more serious. At first, you may only see a white or yellow spot under your nail. Over time, this spreads and can turn your whole nail white, yellow, green, or black. The nail may thicken and could be hard to trim.
Ultimately, when it comes to toenail fungus, since it can be spread to other parts of the body, and can spread internally, it is worth dealing with it as soon as you notice it. Ultimately many people think that toenail fungus might go away on its own in time, but this is not the case.
Other types of toenail fungus – caused by nondermatophyte molds or yeast – can spread throughout the body. They can cause death in those without an immune system. These infections are rare.
You can develop foot fungus with a healthy immune system, but your odds go up, especially of getting chronic or severe foot fungal infections, if your immune system is weaker. This is because your body has a more difficult time fighting off fungal spores and preventing them from developing into an infection.
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.
Nail fungus is not a health risk to most people. But anyone with a compromised immune system, such as a diabetic who contracts nail fungus, is at risk of developing serious complications like foot ulcers.
Yes, it's possible for toenail fungus to spread to other toenails and to other parts of the body, such as the groin area—a condition known as jock itch. If a toenail fungus spreads to the skin between your toes, it's known as tinea pedis, more commonly called athlete's foot.
If a toenail fungus spreads to the skin and causes it to crack, bacteria can get in. This may cause cellulitis, a condition that produces swollen, red, tender skin and must be treated with antibiotics, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
Revolutionary nail fungus laser therapy has an 80% success rate. Instead of medications or debridement, Dr. Frankel offers a laser therapy treatment with an 80% success rate at permanently treating nail fungus. It's painless and performed in-office with three 10-minute procedures every four weeks.
If you just finished treating nail fungus, throw away shoes, boots, skates, and other footwear that you wore before you started treatment. Put on a clean pair of socks every day and whenever your socks get sweaty. Wear shoes that: Alternate shoes.
Don't go barefoot in public places. Use a spray or powder that fights fungus on your feet and in your shoes. Don't pick at the skin around your nails. Don't use nail polish or fake nails on your nails.
If you share a bed with another person, the fungus may transfer to them via shared linens.
Fungal nail infections can get worse over time. See your doctor ASAP if your nail has turned brown or black, if it suddenly hurts, or if it pulls away from the nail bed.
discolouration of the nail – it may turn white, black, yellow or green. 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.
“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…”
Vicks Vaporub softens and lightens toenails. This makes it look like the fungus is being treated. Vicks may have some antifungal qualities, but it is unable to penetrate the toenail well enough to cure the infection. Many topical antifungal medications have this issue.
Antifungal pills also work more quickly than medicine applied to the nails. Taking antifungal pills for two months can cure an infection under the fingernails. Usually three months of treatment cures a toenail fungal infection.
There's a chance toenail fungus will go away on its own, but most often, early treatment is key. The longer you wait to seek treatment, the more pronounced your symptoms will become.
Toenail fungus isn't a pressing health problem. Yet a fungal infection can ruin the appearance of your nails and cause pain as it lifts the nail away from the nail bed. And fungal infections are notoriously difficult to get rid of.
Your immune system cannot defeat and eliminate a fungal infection such as onychomycosis without help. Left untreated, toenail fungus can infect the nail bed and enter the bloodstream with, in the most severe cases, life-threatening results.
There are several risk factors for developing nail fungus: tight shoes; damaged nails; walking barefoot in moist areas like swimming pools, saunas, and public showers; poor blood circulation in your legs; a weakened immune system; and other skin conditions, such as psoriasis.
There are procedures that use lasers or light therapy to kill the fungus, but doctors need more research to find out how well they really work. So, at this point, your doctor may suggest surgery to remove the nail. It's not a common surgery, but it's an option when all else fails.
Causes of Toenail Fungus
Besides poor gut health, other risk factors that can tip the scale in terms of an infection forming include: Having athlete's foot. Coming into contact with fungi, for example in nail salons, contaminated swimming pools, gyms and saunas. Damaged nail beds.