Overview

Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails.

If your condition is mild and not bothering you, you may not need treatment. If your nail fungus is painful and has caused thickened nails, self-care steps and medications may help. But even if treatment is successful, nail fungus often comes back.

Nail fungus is also called onychomycosis (on-ih-koh-my-KOH-sis). When fungus infects the areas between your toes and the skin of your feet, it's called athlete's foot (tinea pedis).

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Symptoms

You may have nail fungus if one or more of your nails are:

• Thickened
• Whitish to yellow-brown discoloration
• Brittle, crumbly or ragged
• Distorted in shape
• A dark color, caused by debris building up under your nail
• Smellling slightly foul

Nail fungus can affect fingernails, but it's more common in toenails.

When to see a doctor

You may want to see a physician if self-care steps haven't helped and the nail becomes increasingly discolored, thickened or deformed. Also see a doctor if you have diabetes and think you're developing nail fungus.

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Causes

Fungal nail infections are caused by various fungal organisms (fungi). The most common cause is a type of fungus called dermatophyte. Yeast and molds also can cause nail infections.

Fungal nail infection can develop in people at any age, but it's more common in older adults. As the nail ages, it can become brittle and dry. The resulting cracks in the nails allow fungi to enter. Other factors — such as reduced blood circulation to the feet and a weakened immune system — also may play a role.

Toenail fungal infection can start from athlete's foot (foot fungus), and it can spread from one nail to another. But it is uncommon to get an infection from someone else.

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Diagnosis

Your doctor will examine your nails. He or she may also take some nail clippings or scrape debris from under your nail and send the sample to a lab to identify the type of fungus causing the infection.

Other conditions, such as psoriasis, can mimic a fungal infection of the nail. Microorganisms such as yeast and bacteria also can infect nails. Knowing the cause of your infection helps determine the best course of treatment.

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Complications

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.

If you have diabetes, you may have reduced blood circulation and nerve supply in your feet. You're also at greater risk of a bacterial skin infection (cellulitis). So any relatively minor injury to your feet — including a nail fungal infection — can lead to a more serious complication. See your doctor if you have diabetes and think you're developing nail fungus.

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Prevention

The following habits can help prevent nail fungus or reinfections and athlete's foot, which can lead to nail fungus:

• Wash your hands and feet regularly. Wash your hands after touching an infected nail. Moisturize your nails after washing.
• Trim nails straight across, smooth the edges with a file and file down thickened areas. Disinfect your nail clippers after each use.
• Wear sweat-absorbing socks or change your socks throughout the day.
• Choose shoes made of materials that breathe.
• Discard old shoes or treat them with disinfectants or antifungal powders.
• Wear footwear in pool areas and locker rooms.
• Choose a nail salon that uses sterilized manicure tools for each customer.
• Give up nail polish and artificial nails.

Lifestyle and home remedies

Often, you can take care of a fungal nail infection at home:

• Try over-the-counter antifungal nail creams and ointments. Several products are available. If you notice white markings on the surfaces of the nails, file them off, soak your nails in water, dry them, and apply the medicated cream or lotion.
• Trim and thin the nails. This helps reduce pain by reducing pressure on the nails. Also, if you do this before applying an antifungal, the drug can reach deeper layers of the nail.

Before trimming or using a nail file to thin thick nails, soften them with urea-containing creams. If you have a condition that causes poor blood flow to your feet and you can't trim your nails, see a health care provider regularly to have your nails trimmed.

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Risk factors

Factors that can increase your risk of developing nail fungus include:

• Being older, owing to reduced blood flow, more years of exposure to fungi and slower growing nails
• Sweating heavily
• Having a history of athlete's foot
• Walking barefoot in damp communal areas, such as swimming pools, gyms and shower rooms
• Having a minor skin or nail injury or a skin condition, such as psoriasis
• Having diabetes, circulation problems or a weakened immune system

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