How to get rid of nail fungus

Fungal nail infection can make a nail yellow, white or brown, thickened, brittle or partly separated from the nail bed. Similar changes can come from injury, skin disease or other nail problems, so colour alone does not establish the cause. Athlete’s foot can coexist with nail fungus and may provide a source for reinfection.

See [Nail Fungus](/conditions/nail-fungus/), [Discoloured Nails](/symptoms/nail-discoloration/) and [Athlete's Foot](/conditions/athletes-foot/) for related symptoms and conditions.

A clinician may take a nail sample before choosing treatment. [Topical Antifungal Treatment](/treatments/medical-dermatology/topical-antifungal-therapy/) is applied to the affected nail, while [Oral Antifungal Treatment](/treatments/medical-dermatology/oral-antifungal-therapy/) reaches the nail through the bloodstream and may require medication-safety checks. Improvement follows healthy nail growth, so the damaged portion does not change overnight.

Keep nails short and dry, change damp socks, avoid sharing nail tools and clean footwear as advised. Do not cover a suspected infection indefinitely with polish. [Laser Treatment For Nail Fungus](/treatments/laser-and-energy/laser-nail-fungus-treatment/) or [Nail Surgery](/treatments/surgical-dermatology/nail-surgery/) may be discussed when standard care is unsuitable or the nail is causing a specific problem.

Arrange an assessment for a nail that is painful, swollen, draining, rapidly changing or lifting, or when several nails are affected. Seek prompt care if redness spreads into the surrounding skin, walking becomes difficult or you have diabetes, poor circulation or reduced immunity. A dark streak or pigment under one nail also needs examination rather than automatic treatment for fungus.

Ask whether a sample is needed, how long the chosen treatment is expected to continue, whether your medicines affect oral treatment, how to manage athlete’s foot and what nail changes should prompt review.