Toenail fungus typically looks like a nail that's discolored (yellow, brown, white, or even black), thickened, brittle, and crumbly, often with white powdery spots or debris under the nail, and may lift from the nail bed, sometimes causing pain or a bad smell. It often starts at the tip or side and can spread, making the nail ragged and misshapen.
Nail fungus is a common infection of the nail. It begins as a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, the nail may discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. Nail fungus can affect several nails.
A pharmacist can help with fungal nail infections
Speak to a pharmacist if the look of your nail bothers you or it's painful. They may suggest trying an antifungal nail medicine that you brush onto the affected nail.
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.
Yes, fungal infections can absolutely cause headaches, ranging from sinus-related pain to severe migraines, especially if the infection affects the sinuses or spreads to the brain, causing symptoms like facial pain, fever, stiff neck, and confusion, requiring immediate medical attention.
From damp public spaces, like showers and locker rooms. Through a break in your skin or an injury. From breathing fungus in from the environment (like soil or dust). From taking antibiotics, which can allow some fungi that are naturally found on your body to grow out of control.
Terbinafine is the safest oral antifungal. Low-dose fluconazole (up to 150 mg) may be used in vaginal candidiasis, however, higher doses are not recommended. Itraconazole, ketoconazole, and griseofulvin may be best avoided due to lack of reliable human data.
You're more likely to get a fungal nail infection if: your feet are constantly warm and damp. you wear shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty. you don't keep your feet clean and dry.
If cellulitis is left untreated, the infection can spread to the bloodstream and become a life-threatening condition for many individuals. This is the most serious result of an untreated toenail fungus, which can be avoided with treatment from a medical professional.
Even a mild infection like this can snowball into something more serious, like cellulitis, a severe bacterial skin infection. Another problem is that untreated fungus eventually can spread to either neighboring toenails or to the skin of your foot, causing athlete's foot.
Podiatrists recommend a multi-pronged approach for toenail fungus, often starting with prescription oral antifungals (like terbinafine) for moderate to severe cases due to their high success rates, though requiring liver monitoring. They also use topical antifungal lacquers, often combined with professional nail debridement (thinning) for better penetration, alongside laser therapy (PACT) and strict foot hygiene (drying, airing shoes, antifungal sprays) to prevent recurrence, as single treatments often fail.
Yes, it's possible for toenail fungus to spread to other toenails and to other parts of the body, such as the groin area—a condition known as jock itch.
Don't pick at the skin around your nails. Don't use nail polish or fake nails on your nails. Don't share personal things, such as towels and nail clippers.
Microtrauma: People with diabetes may experience small injuries or microtrauma to the nails or surrounding skin. These injuries can provide entry points for fungi, facilitating infection. Diabetics should take care to wear shoes with a deep toe box to prevent injury to the toes.
Keratin granules are areas of damage to the top layers of the nail. They show up as small, chalky white spots or rough patches and happen when nail polish, especially if left on too long, dries out and weakens the surface of the nail.
[1] Nail psoriasis symptoms can look a lot like nail fungus: pitting, thickening, and discoloration of nails. To complicate things, it's possible to have both at the same time. While nail psoriasis and nail fungus may appear alike, they have different causes and need different treatments.
People with toenail fungus are at a higher risk of developing other fungal infections—including those that affect the heart. Toenail fungus can sneak up on you—especially if you're immunocompromised or have preexisting health conditions.
Fungal diseases
Additionally, biotin deficiency can increase the risk of fungal nail infections and subsequent nail plate discoloration. Changes in nail shape and surface.
Onychomycosis together with plantar and interdigital mycoses was found in 31.5% of primary biliary cirrhosis cases in one study [7]. In another study, onychomycosis was the most common nail changes observed in patients with Hepatitis C virus (HCV), Hepatitis B virus (HBV), and liver cell failure (LCF) [8].
Symptoms
Men can get yeast infections. These infections can lead to a condition called balanitis that causes the head of the penis to swell. Yeast infections in men are common. The fungus that causes yeast infections typically is present on the skin, especially moist skin.
Ketoconazole and pregnancy
You can use ketoconazole cream or shampoo if you're pregnant. Only tiny amounts are absorbed into your body so it will not affect your baby.