Fungal nail infections are common. The infection causes thickened and unsightly nails. Around three in every 100 people in the UK will have a fungal nail infection at some point.
We asked Emma Supple, podiatrist and podiatric surgeon, what she would want to know about fungal nail infections.
How did I get a fungal nail infection?
If toenails start to take on a yellowed, crumbly appearance then this may be a fungal infection taking hold. Fungal infections take a long time to penetrate and affect the nail plate. This means that generally older people are more often affected by this condition. Athlete's foot can often be the start of the fungal infection affecting the toenails.
Is it dangerous?
Fungal infections of the toenails are an unpleasant, common problem but are usually painless. Some skin conditions and medical problems manifest themselves by changing the appearance of your toenail to look like fungal infections. It is important to obtain a correct assessment and diagnosis. A scraping of the toenail can be taken by your doctor or podiatrist to identify the fungus.
How can I treat it?
It is always best to seek treatment and advice early on. Once a fungal infection has been identified there are a variety of options available:
- Toenail paints: Your podiatrist can thin down thickened toenails and make them easier to treat with nail paints. This is a long term option and has limited success. It takes a lot of perseverance.
- Anti-fungal creams. Creams that contain anti-fungal agents 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.
- Oral medication. These 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 approximately 12 months for a toenail to grow completely from base to tip. During the period when the nail is regrowing, using an anti-fungal cream is advised to prevent further infection.
What will happen if I don't treat it?
This is always a valid option but, 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 e.g. athlete's foot.
