Yes, a healthy nail can grow after a fungal infection is treated, but it takes time (months to over a year) for the entire infected nail to grow out and be replaced by new, healthy nail, especially with toenails. The key is to eliminate the fungus with proper treatment (oral meds, medicated polishes, or lasers) and maintain good hygiene to prevent recurrence, allowing the new growth from the nail base to push out the damaged parts.
The new nail will grow slowly outwards from its base, and it may be 6 months to a year after the treatment has finished before the nails look normal again. Fingernail infections clear up more quickly and completely than toenail ones; it can take 18 months for a toenail infection to grow out completely.
Over time the nail thickens and may lift off the nail bed as fungal debris accumulates. Once your nail is raised off the nail bed, it won't reattach, and a new nail won't grow from that part of the nail bed. However, your nail will continue to grow from the root at the base.
Treating fungal nails during pregnancy requires caution, with topical treatments preferred over oral medications, but even topical options like medicated nail polish (ciclopirox) need doctor approval, while oral antifungals (like fluconazole, itraconazole) are generally avoided due to potential fetal risks, and laser therapy is also not recommended; always consult your doctor for the safest approach.
How is pediatric onychomycosis treated? Topical antifungal creams, lotions, gels, and lacquers may be used, however, it is difficult for them to penetrate the nail. Oral medicines like itraconazole, terbinafine, and fluconazole are used, and may require monitoring with blood tests.
The wound should heal within a few weeks. Fingernails may take 6 months to grow back. Toenails may take 12 to 18 months to grow back.
Additionally, biotin deficiency can increase the risk of fungal nail infections and subsequent nail plate discoloration. Changes in nail shape and surface.
Toenail fungus is tough to kill permanently, but the most effective treatments are prescription oral antifungal drugs (like terbinafine), followed by strong topical antifungals, often used together, while laser therapy and sometimes nail removal (surgery) are options for persistent cases, though home remedies rarely provide a complete cure and professional help is key for lasting success.
The most common cause of thickened toenails is aging. Toenails thicken with age because the growth rate of the nail plate slows. Other reasons toenails may thicken include: A common skin condition called psoriasis.
Factors that can increase your risk of developing nail fungus include: Older age. Wearing shoes that make your feet sweat heavily. Having had athlete's foot in the past.
Once you pick up the infection, it can spread fairly quickly, largely because you keep your feet inside shoes, creating the perfect environment for fungal growth.
Fungal spores can persist for up to 1–2 years in unopened nail polish bottles under ideal conditions. Once exposed to air, fungi may survive for several months, though growth rates can decrease due to oxygen exposure.
With toenail fungus, your nail becomes thick and yellow and may show white spots and streaks. A type of mold called a dermatophyte causes tinea unguium, the most common nail fungus. Tinea unguium most frequently targets your toenails, but it can also affect your fingernails.
Nail growth is slow, which means treatment is a lengthy process. Oral treatment for toenail fungus typically takes three or four months, but it can take a year or more for toenails to look normal again. Newer treatments for toenail fungus include a prescription topical liquid and laser treatment.
A severe injury could cause your nail to fall off. Once your nail matrix heals, your nail will usually start to grow again. It may take several weeks before you see your new nail appear. In cases of severe nail matrix damage, some or all of your nail may not grow back.
Some professional treatment options include:
Unfortunately, in many cases where the toenail is thickened the result is permanent. This is due to the nail root, or matrix being damaged.
If the toenail fungus progresses, it can go deeper into the nail, causing discoloration, thick white stuff under the toenail (keratin debris), nail thickening and crumbling, and even transmission to surrounding nails.
Treatment for thickened toenails
Treatment involves cutting the nails and reducing the thickness with a special file or burr. Our podiatrists also have special tools that can help remove callus or corns from underneath the nail plate or sulcus which is a common cause of pain.
Eating foods and oils that improve your gut health is a great way to ward off toenail fungus. Doing so also improves your immune system. Try to eat fermented foods like yogurt, sauerkraut, kefir, garlic, onions, and asparagus.
“Each evening, patients go to a bathroom or other place with a vinegar-resistant floor, don old cotton socks, pour a few spoons of plain or apple-cider vinegar and a few spoons of water over the toes, and sit and read for 10-15 minutes. They then doff the socks, apply topical antifungals, and go to bed.
Over time, untreated fungal infections can permanently change the shape of the affected nail. In severe cases, the toenail may fully detach from the nail bed, or the nail bed itself can suffer irreversible damage, preventing healthy regrowth.
Those who suffer from chronic diseases, such as diabetes, circulatory problems, or immune-deficiency conditions, are especially prone to fungal nails. Other contributing factors may be a history of athlete's foot and excessive perspiration.
Vitamins. There's some evidence to show applying vitamin E topically to your infected toenails can help eliminate toenail fungus over time. It's also important to make sure you stay healthy by getting enough biotin, a B-complex vitamin integral to good nail health.
Tip: Maintain a well-balanced diet rich in minerals and vitamins. Avoid too much sugar because this can actually feed the fungus. You are more vulnerable to attracting toenail fungus if one of your parents has had it, and you could increase the chance of your children getting it too.