Fungal infections can be an irritating experience and can often be difficult to treat. Unfortunately, they’re also extremely common. Medical experts estimate that nearly a billion people around the world have some type of skin, nail, or hair-based fungal infection!
Toenail fungus is a particularly resilient fungal infection that you should be aware of. While symptoms are generally irritating at worst – infected toenails are unsightly and might elicit raised eyebrows – toenail infections are one of the more difficult fungal infections to treat. Here’s what to know.
What Is Toenail Fungus?
The medical name for toenail fungus is onychomycosis.
This fungal infection primarily affects the toenails, but it can occasionally infect the fingernails.
Toenail fungus is one of the most common types of fungal infection. It’s estimated that nearly 20% of people under the age of 60 will experience toenail fungus at some point. The odds skyrocket to 75% for those over the age of 70.
You can become infected with toenail fungus when a specific type of fungus works its way in between your toenail and nail bed. This is usually the result of a crack or cut in your toe.
After entering your toenail bed, the fungus will create a white or yellow spot underneath your toenail as it grows. The fungus will continue to burrow deeper and spread, and an infected toenail can become discolored, thicken, crumbly, and form cracks. Onychomycosis manifests in a variety of ways for different people.
Toenail fungus is highly contagious and can quickly spread to your other toenails and even other people. It usually doesn’t spread to your skin, but it can infect your fingernails, groin, beard, and scalp.
What Causes Toenail Fungus?
There are a few types of fungi that can result in onychomycosis. The most common is a family of fungi called dermatophytes.
These fungal microorganisms are impossible to see with the naked eye. They feed off keratin. Keratin is a protein that is found in your nails and hair, which is why onychomycosis has a tendency to spread to certain parts of your body, including nails and the scalp.
Dermatophytes thrive in warm, moist, and dark areas. Community showers, swimming pools, and locker rooms are breeding grounds for dermatophytes.
Wearing tight shoes and sweating into your socks can also contribute to an infection. Tight shoes can apply extra pressure on your toenails and separate them from their nail bed. This allows dermatophytes to easily invade the space underneath your toenail.
Anyone can get toenail fungus, but research shows that a few particular risk factors increase the odds. If any of the following conditions apply to you, take extra care:
- You are over the age of 60
- You recently injured a toenail or the area surrounding your nail
- You are currently dealing with Athlete’s foot or have a history of it
- You have a weakened immune system
- You have diabetes
- You have poor blood circulation
- You have dry skin or psoriasis
- You sweat frequently or have hyperhidrosis
What Are the Symptoms of Toenail Fungus?
The only good thing about toenail fungus is that it’s usually painless. Unfortunately, that can end up being a problem in the long run as people ignore it and allow it to grow.
The symptoms of toenail fungus aren’t the same for everyone, but they typically involve the following:
- Discoloring your toenail and making it appear yellow or brown
- Creating white spots on your toenail
- Making the toenail look dark, chalky, or cloudy
- Causing your toenail to grow much thicker
- Distorting the shape of your toenail
- Weakening your toenail and making it crumble
- Emitting a foul and unpleasant odor
- Separating the toenail for the nail bed
- Cracking or breaking your toenail in one or more places
How Do You Treat Toenail Fungus?
Toenail fungus is notoriously difficult to treat and one of the most stubborn fungal infections.
It can take a few months of treatments before you are finally rid of toenail fungus. Even if you are successful and remove it, toenail fungus has a nasty habit of coming back.
You can usually treat toenail fungus at home if you’re able to catch it early enough. The problem is that by the time you start experiencing visible symptoms, it’s usually well past the early stages.
If you have any of the symptoms listed above, you should probably enlist the help of a dermatologist, primary care physician, or podiatrist. They will examine your infected toenail and determine the best course of action for eliminating your toenail fungus.
These are a few of the most effective treatments for eliminating toenail fungus:
Oral Medications for Toenail Fungus
The medical professional that you visit will most likely prescribe you one of a few antifungal medications.
Terbinafine, itraconazole, griseofulvin and fluconazole are among the most commonly prescribed medications for toenail fungus. You’ll usually need to take a daily dose for several months to get rid of symptoms. Even after symptoms are gone, you’ll still often need to take the medication to kill off what remains of the fungus.
Make sure to tell your prescribing doctor if you take any other medications or have issues with your liver. These drugs can interact with other medications and can be harmful to your liver.
Topical Medications for Toenail Fungus
There is no short supply of topical antifungal medications available over the counter. Applying topical medication will help you to fight the fungus from the outside. Be sure to look for products that contain clotrimazole or tolnaftate, as research shows these are highly effective. They are especially effective when paired with oral medication.
Two of the most popular medications for toenail fungus are amorolfine and ciclopirox. These medications typically come as a sort of colorless nail polish. You’ll need to apply a new layer every day after removing the previous day's layer with rubbing alcohol. In some cases, these medications have been shown to eliminate toenail fungus without the help of oral medications.
Home Remedies for Toenail Fungus
There is some research to suggest that home-made remedies with the following ingredients can be helpful in eliminating toenail fungus, but they generally aren’t the recommended treatment option.
Here are a few potential home remedies for toenail fungus:
- Tea tree oil has several antifungal properties and is commonly found in anti-dandruff shampoos. Rubbing tea tree oil onto the infected area could help fight off the fungus.
- Baking soda mixed with a little bit of water can help prevent the fungus from growing.
- Vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, and rubbing alcohol are popular home remedies, but studies are yet to support their effectiveness. It’s unclear if soaking your feet for a few minutes will help kill the fungus or not.
How Can You Prevent Toenail Fungus?
It’s virtually impossible to completely prevent toenail fungus. However, you can greatly reduce your risk by making a few lifestyle changes.
Some of the following can further your chances of preventing toenail fungus:
- Thoroughly dry off your feet when you get out of the shower and before you put on socks.
- Wear proper fitting shoes and socks that are made of a breathable material.
- Discard old shoes or disinfect them with antifungal powder.
- Change your socks throughout the day.
- Remove damp shoes and/or socks as soon as possible and dry your feet.
- Wear sandals or shower shoes in community showers, swimming pools, or locker rooms.
- Avoid making direct contact or sharing footwear with someone that you know has toenail fungus.
- Clean your nail trimmer before using it and avoid clipping your nail too short.
How Rex MD Can Help
Toenail fungus is a resilient type of fungal infection that can be hard to get rid of. It can take several months of consistent treatments to get rid of toenail fungus.
Over-the-counter topical solutions, when used consistently, are an effective treatment option. Additionally, prescription toenail fungus medications are likely to speed the process.
