Emma Supple, podiatrist and podiatric surgeon, explains what she would want to know if she had a fungal nail infection.
How do I know it's a fungal nail infection?
If toenails start to take on a yellowed, crumbly appearance then this may be a fungal infection taking hold.
However, some skin conditions and other medical problems change the appearance of your toenail to look like a fungal infection, so it's important to get a correct assessment and diagnosis. A scraping of the toenail can be taken by your doctor or podiatrist to identify the fungus.
Is it serious?
Fungal infections of the toenails are an unpleasant, common problem but are usually painless and not serious.
How can I treat it?
There are a variety of options available.
Your podiatrist can thin down thickened toenails and make them easier to treat with anti-fungal nail paints. This is a long-term option and has limited success. It takes a lot of perseverance.
Anti-fungal creams can be used to treat fungus around the nails. This is usually a more effective treatment in the early stage, when the fungus first starts to affect the toenails.
Anti-fungal tablets are prescribed by a GP. They are generally very effective. Once the course of treatment has been completed, the toenail may take several months to improve in appearance, as it takes about 12 months for a toenail to grow completely from base to tip. During the period when the nail is regrowing, use an anti-fungal cream to prevent further infection.
What will happen if I don't treat it?
Over time, the fungus can lead to thickened, discoloured toenails and the infection will slowly spread to other toenails. It also can act as a source of skin fungal infections, such as athlete's foot.
