Fungal nail infections are relatively common and cause discoloured nails with a thickened appearance. They can often become painful.
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A fungal nail infection (known by its medical name of Onychomycosis) most commonly affects toenails, but it can also occur in fingernails too. It’s caused by a fungus that attacks the nail bed. The first sign is often a small white or yellow spot underneath the nail. From there it spreads into the nail itself and becomes more noticeable.
If you have a fungal nail infection, one of the other main symptoms you’ll notice is that your nails will thicken and become discoloured. They can turn black, green, yellow or white in tone. There may also be soreness or pain present around or on the site of infection.
Your nail may become ragged looking or feel crumbly and this can lead to easy tears and breakages. Your nails might feel jagged and brittle.
A Fungal Nail Infection needs prompt treatment. If it’s left untreated, the nail can become permanently damaged. In some cases it can also come away from the bed itself, so you lose the nail.
Who gets fungal nail infections?
Whilst fungal nail infections can affect anyone, no matter what their age or stage of life, they’re more common in people over the age of 55.
Certain health conditions can also make you more predisposed to getting them too. If you have diabetes, psoriasis or poor circulation, you can be more susceptible.
Similarly, if you have auto-immune conditions or have a weakened immune system due to prolonged ill health, you may also find you’re more likely to get fungal nail infections.
External factors such as regular hand washing or prolonged contact with water (for instance if you work in a role such as hairdressing) can make fungal nail infections more likely, as can living in warm or hot climates, where you’re more likely to sweat.
Being a smoker may also raise your risk of getting fungal nail infections too.
How common are fungal nail infections?
It’s estimated that at any one time, 10% of the global population has a fungal nail infection . The rates of infection have increased over the last decade, in predominantly Western countries. This is likely due to an increasingly ageing population and even factors such as regular lifestyle changes (foreign holidays in warm climates).
These infections are more common in people who are over 55, and can often occur in patients who have diabetes or other auto-immune conditions too. If you have a weakened immune system from long term illness and treatment, your risk of getting a fungal nail infection may also increase.
For most people they aren’t serious, but they can take a while to treat and can often recur once you have had one or two infections.
When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.
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What causes fungal nail infections?
In most cases, fungal nail infections are caused by a particular type of fungi known as dermatophytes . They have a particular liking for keratinised tissue (this is basically your hair, nails and skin and they also like to use these bits of our body to feed off and then infect.
Sometimes fungal nail infections can be caused by infections like candida (the overgrowth of yeast in your body). Candida is a condition that can affect many areas of your body in different ways. For instance, it can cause thrush infections and it can also cause skin complaints like Angular cheilitis too.
Fungal nail infections are also frequently linked to other skin conditions such as athlete’s foot. This is when the skin on the feet which surrounds the nails and toes becomes itchy and scaly. You’ll often find it flakes off when you take off footwear or socks, or are drying your feet after bathing. If this is left untreated the microspores that it creates attack the nail bed and go into the nail itself causing the unpleasant symptoms of the infection.
What are the symptoms of a fungal nail infection?
The first sign you may notice is that you develop a yellow or white spot underneath your nail. Once the infection takes hold, your nail will start to thicken and discolour to a green, yellow or white tone.
Once this has happened, your nails can become ragged in appearance or crumble and break easily at the edge.
Fungal nail infections can infect just one nail at once, or several nails on one or both feet. They almost always need medical treatment.
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What medications are there for Fungal Nail Infections?
Treating a Fungal Nail Infection can be done in a number of ways, depending on how quickly it’s caught. Our clinician will talk to you about any other health conditions you have, other medications you are taking and your general overall health before deciding the best course of treatment for you.
There are a range of different treatment options. Firstly, there are tablets like Lamisil and Terbinafine. They are both the same medication, but Lamisil is the branded version of Terbinafine. These work by getting into your bloodstream to kill the infection at its source.
There are also topical treatments that come in different liquid forms that can be used for milder fungal nail infections. Loceryl is similar to a nail lacquer in that you paint it onto your nail and leave it to sink in and quell the infection. Trosyl is exactly the same kind of product, but must also be applied to the skin around the nail area too.
Is there a ‘best’ treatment for fungal nail infections?
Generally, oral treatments such as Lamisil are considered to be the most successful at treating fungal nail infections, especially if they are well established. Trosyl and Loceryl will help if the infection is relatively mild.
However, fungal nail infections can be tricky to get rid of once they have taken hold, and can sometimes have high recurrence rates. Oral treatments have great success rates in helping with fungal nail infections but often come with a raised risk of side effects. You may perhaps feel nauseous or have indigestion when taking them at first, whilst your body adjusts to the tablets.
Speaking to one of our friendly clinicians can really help you make the best decision if you want to treat a fungal nail infection. They’ll help you find out which treatment will suit you best and discuss any questions you might have.
Does a fungal nail always need treatment?
Yes. A fungal nail infection will rarely disappear without some form of treatment. If it’s a mild infection then a topical treatment combined with careful foot hygiene may be enough to stop the infection from spreading further.
If the infection is deeper or already causing a lot of pain and discomfort then it’s important to talk to a clinician as soon as possible to discuss different treatment options.
There are things you can do at home as well, to help yourself get better. Important self-care steps such as:
making sure you clip your nails regularly (and clean your clippers at the same time too)
keeping your feet clean and dry
making sure that you always dry thoroughly in between your toes after bathing or showering
wearing clean cotton socks every day
If you’re a regular visitor to the swimming pool, then try not to walk barefoot around the pool or in the showers.
If you notice you have a case of athlete’s foot, treat this as promptly as possible, then there is less chance of it spreading and causing a fungal nail infection.
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FAQ: Fungal nail
Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.
How are fungal nail infections diagnosed?
Answer:
Fungal nail infections can often be diagnosed just by looking at the nail. The telltale signs of discolouration and ragged or crumbly nails are often very clear. If they’re not sure, a clinician might take a ‘nail scraping’ (a sample of your nail) to be sent to a lab and analysed in a special dish known as a culture, where they can see what type of fungus is causing the infection.
If you’re in need of advice about diagnosis or treatment of a fungal nail infection then we’re always happy to chat with you and prescribe the right treatment for your needs.
Can fungal nail infections lead to other problems?
Answer:
It’s always best to try and treat a fungal nail infection before it spreads or causes permanent damage to the nails. A fungal nail infection shouldn't cause any long-term issues in otherwise healthy people once it's been treated, though there's every chance it could recur.
In people who are immuno-compromised because of long term conditions that need regular medication (such as those with diabetes), or people who are having other treatments such as chemotherapy, it’s important that fungal nail infections are picked up and treated promptly. This is because they can lead to other infections that spread and become more serious.
Can you get side effects from Fungal Nail Infections treatment?
Answer:
Treatments for fungal nail infections can have side effects. It’s more common to experience these with tablets, rather than topical treatments which are only used on the site of the infection.
If you’ve got questions, our clinical team is on hand to help you. You just need to log in to your account and send them a message.
Does fungal nail infection treatment always work?
Answer:
Fungal nail infections can sometimes be tricky to treat and they often need longer courses of tablets or topical treatments before you start to improve. Patience is often the key, alongside making sure you take your prescribed treatments regularly. Always talk to our clinician if you have any queries about how your treatment is progressing.
It’s not uncommon for nail infections like these to reoccur once they have started, however prompt diagnosis and starting treatment as soon as possible can help.
Why should I buy fungal nail infection treatment online with Treated?
Answer:
At Treated, we can give you prompt, clear advice on which treatments will work best for you, and you can choose your medication from there. We’ll also check in with you regularly to see how you’re getting on.
Our clinicians are on hand to answer any question you might have. Just log in to your account and drop them a message.
Thomas, J., Jacobson, G.A., Narkowicz, C.K., Peterson, G.M., Burnet, H. and Sharpe, C. (2010).
REVIEW ARTICLE: Toenail onychomycosis: an important global disease burden. Journal of Clinical Pharmacy and Therapeutics, 35(5), pp.497–519. [Accessed 28-09-21]
Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any questions or concerns about your health, please talk to a doctor.
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