
A fungal nail infection, also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium, happens when a fungus that’s normally in your fingernails or toenails overgrows. The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted. Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails. The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis. A fungal nail infection can cause the nail to become thick, yellow and brittle.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Symptoms | Thickening and distortion of the nail, discolouration, yellow, brittle, pain or discomfort |
Treatment | Medicine for 2 to 3 months, laser treatments, nail removal |
Time | Up to a year for a new clear nail to grow |
What You'll Learn
Fungal nail infections develop slowly
Fungal nail infections are common and are caused by fungi that live in the environment. They enter through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin, causing infection. Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. But when a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails.
Fungal nail infections usually affect your toenails, but you can sometimes get them on your fingernails, too. Fungal nail infections usually start at the edge of the nail. The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted. Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails. The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis. A fungal nail infection can cause the nail to become thick, yellow and brittle.
The infection often spreads to all of the nail, making it thicker and turning it white or yellow. A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first. Thickening and distortion of the nail – it may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim · pain or discomfort – particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger · brittle or crumbly nails – pieces may break off and come away completely.
You will need to take the medicine for about 2 to 3 months for toenails; a shorter time for fingernails. Your provider will do lab tests to check for liver damage while you are taking these medicines. Laser treatments may sometimes get rid of the fungus in the nails. This is less effective than medicines. In some cases, you may need to have the nail removed. The fungal nail infection is cured by the growth of new, non-infected nails. Nails grow slowly. Even if treatment is successful, it may take up to a year for a new clear nail to grow.
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Infection spreads to all of the nail
A fungal nail infection, also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium, happens when a fungus that is normally in your fingernails or toenails begins to overgrow. The infection often spreads to all of the nail, making it thicker and turning it white or yellow.
Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. But when a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal infections normally develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first.
The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted. Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails. The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis. A fungal nail infection can cause the nail to become thick, yellow and brittle.
Fungal nail infections usually affect your toenails, but you can sometimes get them on your fingernails, too. Fungal nail infections usually start at the edge of the nail.
You will need to take the medicine for about 2 to 3 months for toenails; a shorter time for fingernails. Your provider will do lab tests to check for liver damage while you are taking these medicines. Laser treatments may sometimes get rid of the fungus in the nails. This is less effective than medicines. In some cases, you may need to have the nail removed. The fungal nail infection is cured by the growth of new, non-infected nails. Nails grow slowly. Even if treatment is successful, it may take up to a year for a new clear nail to grow.
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Medicine takes 2-3 months for toenails
Fungal nail infections are common and are caused by fungi that live in the environment. They enter through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin, causing infection. Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. But when a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal infections normally develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first.
The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted. Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails. The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis. A fungal nail infection can cause the nail to become thick, yellow and brittle. The infection often spreads to all of the nail, making it thicker and turning it white or yellow.
You will need to take the medicine for about 2 to 3 months for toenails; a shorter time for fingernails. Your provider will do lab tests to check for liver damage while you are taking these medicines. Laser treatments may sometimes get rid of the fungus in the nails. This is less effective than medicines. In some cases, you may need to have the nail removed. The fungal nail infection is cured by the growth of new, non-infected nails. Nails grow slowly. Even if treatment is successful, it may take up to a year for a new clear nail to grow.
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Laser treatments may get rid of the fungus
Fungal nail infections are common and are caused by fungi that live in the environment. They enter through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin, causing infection. Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. But when a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal infections normally develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first.
The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted. Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails. The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis. A fungal nail infection can cause the nail to become thick, yellow and brittle. Fungal nail infections usually affect your toenails, but you can sometimes get them on your fingernails, too. Fungal nail infections usually start at the edge of the nail.
Laser treatments may sometimes get rid of the fungus in the nails. This is less effective than medicines. In some cases, you may need to have the nail removed. The fungal nail infection is cured by the growth of new, non-infected nails. Nails grow slowly. Even if treatment is successful, it may take up to a year for a new clear nail to grow.
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Nails grow slowly and may take a year to grow
Fungal nail infections are common and are caused by fungi that live in the environment. They enter through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin, causing infection. Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. But when a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal infections normally develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first.
The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted. Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails. The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis. A fungal nail infection can cause the nail to become thick, yellow and brittle. Fungal nail infections usually affect your toenails, but you can sometimes get them on your fingernails, too. Fungal nail infections usually start at the edge of the nail.
The infection often spreads to all of the nail, making it thicker and turning it white or yellow. Fungal nail infections may not cause any obvious symptoms at first. Thickening and distortion of the nail – it may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim · pain or discomfort – particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger · brittle or crumbly nails – pieces may break off and come away completely.
You will need to take the medicine for about 2 to 3 months for toenails; a shorter time for fingernails. Your provider will do lab tests to check for liver damage while you are taking these medicines. Laser treatments may sometimes get rid of the fungus in the nails. This is less effective than medicines. In some cases, you may need to have the nail removed. The fungal nail infection is cured by the growth of new, non-infected nails. Nails grow slowly. Even if treatment is successful, it may take up to a year for a new clear nail to grow.
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Frequently asked questions
A fungal nail infection, also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium, happens when a fungus that is normally present in your fingernails or toenails begins to overgrow. It enters through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin, causing the infection.
The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted. It may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim.
The fungal nail infection is cured by the growth of new, non-infected nails. Nails grow slowly and even if treatment is successful, it may take up to a year for a new clear nail to grow.
You will need to take the medicine for about 2 to 3 months for toenails; a shorter time for fingernails. Your provider will do lab tests to check for liver damage while you are taking these medicines. Laser treatments may sometimes get rid of the fungus in the nails. This is less effective than medicines. In some cases, you may need to have the nail removed.