Over-the-counter treatment for nail fungus

Nail fungus can make a nail yellow, white, or brown, thicker, brittle, crumbly, or separated from the nail bed. The infection may start at an edge and gradually involve more of the nail. Athlete's foot can coexist and may re-seed the feet or nails if untreated.

A single discoloured nail is not automatically fungal. Injury, eczema, psoriasis, nail products, and other conditions can look similar. A clinician may examine the nail and decide whether testing is useful before committing to a long treatment course.

Ask a pharmacist whether a topical antifungal is suitable and apply it exactly as directed. Nail treatments need consistent use because healthy nail must grow forward as damaged nail clears. Keep nails short, dry feet carefully, change damp socks, and avoid sharing clippers or footwear. Treat scaling between the toes if present.

Do not paint over a worsening nail to hide the change, and do not file aggressively. Oral antifungal treatment may be considered by a clinician when infection is extensive or topical care is unlikely to reach it. Laser treatment and nail surgery are not first steps for every discoloured nail.

Arrange assessment if several nails are involved, the nail is painful, the skin is inflamed, or pharmacy treatment is not helping. People with diabetes, poor circulation, reduced immunity, or repeated foot infections should seek tailored advice early. Prompt review is needed for a dark streak that changes, reaches the surrounding skin, or bleeds.

Ask whether the nail change is fungal, whether a topical or oral antifungal is appropriate, how long treatment should continue, and how to protect nearby skin and nails from reinfection.