How to get rid of toenail fungus

A fungal infection can make a toenail thick, brittle, crumbly, yellow, white, or brown, and debris may collect beneath it. The nail may lift from the nail bed or become uncomfortable in shoes. Trauma, psoriasis, eczema, and other nail conditions can look similar, so discolouration alone does not confirm fungus. Athlete's foot can affect the skin between the toes and may spread to the nails.

A clinician may examine the nail and take a small sample before selecting treatment. Topical antifungal treatment is applied to the nail and surrounding skin; oral antifungal treatment works through the bloodstream and requires a review of medicines, liver health, and possible monitoring. Keep feet dry, change socks when damp, let shoes air, trim nails carefully, and avoid sharing clippers. Laser treatment or nail surgery may be considered in selected cases, but neither replaces an appropriate diagnosis.

Arrange an assessment for a nail that remains thickened or discoloured, causes pain, or is separating from the nail bed. Seek earlier care if you have diabetes, poor circulation, reduced sensation, or a weakened immune system. Prompt review is also needed for spreading redness, warmth, drainage, marked swelling, fever, or a dark streak that is changing.

Ask whether a nail sample is needed, which medicine fits your health history, how long treatment may take, how to protect other nails, and what change would show that the infection is clearing.