Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWith Effective TreatmentStages of Nail RegrowthWith Ineffective TreatmentSelf-CareWhen It Returns
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
With Effective Treatment
Stages of Nail Regrowth
With Ineffective Treatment
Self-Care
When It Returns
This article will discuss howtoenailswith a fungal infection look compared to healthy ones, what treatments are available, how to support healing at home, and what happens when toenail fungal infections recur or won’t go away.
What Toenail Fungus Looks Like If Treatment Is Working
To determine if thetoenail fungusis dying, look at the base of the nail. When the new growth from the base is healthy, the infection is considered clinically cured.
If necessary,mycological(a branch of biology that deals with fungus) cure can be determined with a negativepotassium hydroxide(KOH) preparation (the sample is examined under a microscope) and negative fungal culture (a sample is given time to grow to see if fungus is present).
Available Treatments
Treatments that may be used for toenail fungal infectioninclude:
Natural remedies, such as tea tree oil, have not been well-studied for efficacy in treating toenail fungal infection.
Toenail Fungus Heals in Stages of Nail Regrowth
Toenails that have a fungal infection typically become discolored. They often start with a white spot, and can turnyellow, green, or brown.
Infected toenails may also:
Once the infection is successfully treated,new growth of healthy nailwill occur from the base of the nail.New nail cells push out old nail cells. A healthy toenail looks like a healthy fingernail, with a pinkish color from the tiny blood vessels on which the nail bed sits.
Treatment Not Working: Toenail Fungus Sticking Around
Toenail fungal infectionscan be difficult to treat. Medications are effective against the fungal infection in about 50% of those who use them, and the infection can return.
Depending on the extent of your infection and medical conditions you may have, your healthcare provider may start with topical treatment, which carries less risk.
Iftopical treatmentsdon’t work, your healthcare provider may suggest oral medications, if the benefits of this treatment outweigh the risks, such as potential damage to the liver. Oral medications tend to be more effective than topical.
Self-Care to Promote Toenail Fungus Healing
To help prevent toenail fungal infections, try measures such as the following:
Nail polish and artificial nails will not get rid of anail infection.
When Toenail Fungus Keeps Coming Back
The relapse rate for toenail fungus infection is up to 53%.
Infection is more likely to return in people who have conditions such as diabetes. Untreated, the infection can spread to other areas such as other nails. Fungal skin infections are also associated with fungal nail infections. It’s important to talk to your healthcare provider if you suspect you have a skin infection or that your fungal infection has returned.
If recurrence of toenail fungal infection is a concern, your healthcare provider may suggest removing the nail and using chemicals to destroy the nail matrix. This prevents the nail from growing back.
Contact your healthcare provider or seek immediate medical care if you have:
Toe and Foot Complications in People With DiabetesIt is important for people who have diabetes and those with a weakened immune system to treattoenail fungal infectionspromptly to avoid possible complications, such as:Bacterial skin infectionSores that don’t heal and lead to other serious health problemsIf you havediabetesor a weakened immune system, see your healthcare provider at the first sign of a toenail fungal infection.
Toe and Foot Complications in People With Diabetes
It is important for people who have diabetes and those with a weakened immune system to treattoenail fungal infectionspromptly to avoid possible complications, such as:Bacterial skin infectionSores that don’t heal and lead to other serious health problemsIf you havediabetesor a weakened immune system, see your healthcare provider at the first sign of a toenail fungal infection.
It is important for people who have diabetes and those with a weakened immune system to treattoenail fungal infectionspromptly to avoid possible complications, such as:
If you havediabetesor a weakened immune system, see your healthcare provider at the first sign of a toenail fungal infection.
Summary
Toenails that have a fungal infection can bediscolored, brittle, and thickened, while healthy toenails are clear and pinkish. The infection is considered cured when a healthy nail is growing from the base of the nail. To help prevent toenail fungal infection, take measures such as keeping your feet cool and dry, wearing footwear in public places, and trimming your toenails.
14 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections.National Health Service.Fungal nail infection.Gupta AK, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management. F1000Res. 2019;8:968. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18646.1Harvard Health.Staying one step ahead of toenail fungus.Christenson J, Peterson G, Naunton M, et al.Challenges and opportunities in the management of onychomycosis. JoF. 2018;4(3):87. doi:10.3390/jof4030087American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nail fungus: overview.MedlinePlus.Fungal nail infection.Healthdirect.Toenail infection.Nemours KidsHealth.Your nails.Angelo T, Borgheti-Cardoso LN, Gelfuso GM, Taveira SF, Gratieri T.Chemical and physical strategies in onychomycosis topical treatment: A review. Med Myco. Published online October 4, 2016:myw084. doi:10.1093/mmy/myw084DermNet.Fungal nail infections.Canadian Dermatology Association.Nail fungus and infection.Kaiser Permanente.Surgical nail removal for fungal nail infections.MyHealth Alberta.Toenail fungus: care instructions.
14 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections.National Health Service.Fungal nail infection.Gupta AK, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management. F1000Res. 2019;8:968. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18646.1Harvard Health.Staying one step ahead of toenail fungus.Christenson J, Peterson G, Naunton M, et al.Challenges and opportunities in the management of onychomycosis. JoF. 2018;4(3):87. doi:10.3390/jof4030087American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nail fungus: overview.MedlinePlus.Fungal nail infection.Healthdirect.Toenail infection.Nemours KidsHealth.Your nails.Angelo T, Borgheti-Cardoso LN, Gelfuso GM, Taveira SF, Gratieri T.Chemical and physical strategies in onychomycosis topical treatment: A review. Med Myco. Published online October 4, 2016:myw084. doi:10.1093/mmy/myw084DermNet.Fungal nail infections.Canadian Dermatology Association.Nail fungus and infection.Kaiser Permanente.Surgical nail removal for fungal nail infections.MyHealth Alberta.Toenail fungus: care instructions.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections.National Health Service.Fungal nail infection.Gupta AK, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management. F1000Res. 2019;8:968. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18646.1Harvard Health.Staying one step ahead of toenail fungus.Christenson J, Peterson G, Naunton M, et al.Challenges and opportunities in the management of onychomycosis. JoF. 2018;4(3):87. doi:10.3390/jof4030087American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nail fungus: overview.MedlinePlus.Fungal nail infection.Healthdirect.Toenail infection.Nemours KidsHealth.Your nails.Angelo T, Borgheti-Cardoso LN, Gelfuso GM, Taveira SF, Gratieri T.Chemical and physical strategies in onychomycosis topical treatment: A review. Med Myco. Published online October 4, 2016:myw084. doi:10.1093/mmy/myw084DermNet.Fungal nail infections.Canadian Dermatology Association.Nail fungus and infection.Kaiser Permanente.Surgical nail removal for fungal nail infections.MyHealth Alberta.Toenail fungus: care instructions.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Ringworm and fungal nail infections.
National Health Service.Fungal nail infection.
Gupta AK, Stec N.Recent advances in therapies for onychomycosis and its management. F1000Res. 2019;8:968. doi:10.12688/f1000research.18646.1
Harvard Health.Staying one step ahead of toenail fungus.
Christenson J, Peterson G, Naunton M, et al.Challenges and opportunities in the management of onychomycosis. JoF. 2018;4(3):87. doi:10.3390/jof4030087
American Academy of Dermatology Association.Nail fungus: overview.
MedlinePlus.Fungal nail infection.
Healthdirect.Toenail infection.
Nemours KidsHealth.Your nails.
Angelo T, Borgheti-Cardoso LN, Gelfuso GM, Taveira SF, Gratieri T.Chemical and physical strategies in onychomycosis topical treatment: A review. Med Myco. Published online October 4, 2016:myw084. doi:10.1093/mmy/myw084
DermNet.Fungal nail infections.
Canadian Dermatology Association.Nail fungus and infection.
Kaiser Permanente.Surgical nail removal for fungal nail infections.
MyHealth Alberta.Toenail fungus: care instructions.
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