Fungal Nail Infection: Causes & Treatments Q&A

An infected toenail can be identified initially by an either white or a yellow-brown spot beneath the tip of the nail. As the infection worsens the nail may start to separate from the nail bed, causing the nail to become even more discolored, and eventually falling apart at the tip. The edge of the nail could start to thicken as well before disintegrating. As well, the nail may start to appear deformed. An abscess that is filled with puss may form at the base and the sides of the nail and may develop to the point of requiring draining from a professional. The skin surrounding the infection may also become red and swollen.

The most common type of nail infection is a distal or lateral subungual onychomycosis which is caused by a specific fungus known as a dermatophyte. Symptoms of subungual onychomycosis include a yellow-toned spot spreading from the edges to the center of the nail, eventually leading to the nail separating from the nail bed. Another type of nail infection is white superficial onychomycosis, primarily affecting the toenails and causing the surface of the nail to turn white and essentially crumble. Proximal subungual onychomycosis is a type of nail infection that is very rare, typically only affecting those suffering from an immune condition such as HIV. The symptoms of this infection include white spots appearing at the cuticle in the center of the nail bed, gradually moving outward as the nail grows. The final common type of nail infection is candida onychomycosis, which is caused by a yeast specifically targeting the nails, causing them to become inflamed and swollen, possibly leading them to fall off of the nail bed entirely.

The easiest and least painful method of treating nail infections is by visiting a physician to receive a prescription for oral antifungal medication. It will be likely that you will need to take this medication daily for multiple months to completely eliminate the infection. For more severe cases of nail infection, it could be recommended that the nail be removed entirely if it is causing pain or discomfort and cannot be treated with just medication. Nail infections can be persistent, taking several months to even a year to completely go away. There are some topical creams or other kinds of treatments that may be available for at-home use from your local pharmacy, but they may not be sufficient in eliminating the problem altogether. It is safest and easiest to just visit a health care professional to assess the nail and prescribe a course of treatment that will alleviate any pain or discomfort as effectively as possible.

Fungal nail infections can often just be very mild and are treatable with just over-the-counter remedies, but can also worsen with time if not properly treated. They can start to become quite uncomfortable or even painful, causing inflammation, swelling, or even puss-filled abscesses to form. If an abscess forms and fills, you will likely require a health care provider to drain the abscess to ensure no further infection develops. It is recommended that you seek medical attention for your infected nail if it hurts suddenly or has worsened, turns black or brown, or if it looks to be separating from your nail bed.

For more information about nail infection and its treatment, contact us. We serve patients from Lutz FL, New Port Richey FL, Land O’ Lakes FL, Cheval FL, Greater Northdale FL, Greater Carrollwood FL, River Ridge FL, Seven Springs FL, Port Richey FL, Bayonet Point FL, Hudson FL, and Elfers FL.