How To Cure Fungus On Your Toenails

Why Does It Develop

A fungal nail infection occurs from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, so this type of environment can cause them to naturally overpopulate. The same fungi that cause jock itch, athletes foot, and ringworm can cause nail infections.

Fungi that are already present in or on your body can cause nail infections. If you have come in contact with someone else who has a fungal infection, you may have contracted it as well. Fungal infections affect toenails more commonly than fingernails, likely because your toes are usually confined to shoes, where theyre in a warm, moist environment.

If you get a manicure or pedicure at a nail salon, be sure to ask how the staff disinfects their tools and how often they do it. Tools, such as emery boards and nail clippers, can spread fungal infections from person to person if theyre not sanitized.

Does Toenail Fungus Turn Black After Death

Toenail fungus does usually turns black after the death of the nail.

If there is not enough blood flow, the toenail will usually start to rise and turn black.

This can usually create a foul toenail odor and cause the toenail to decay. This can contribute to foot odor.

A dead toenail will eventually be overrun with bacteria and toenail fungus.

The recommended treatment is to come to see a great toenail fungus podiatrist such as us if you are in Michigan!

How Can You Prevent Black Toenails

Black toenails may not be preventable, but it is possible that you can lower the risk of getting black toenails in the future. Here are few things you can do to minimize the risk:

• Always practice trimming your toenails. Keeping them short will make it more difficult for toenail fungus to grow and thrive. This will also help the treatment you use to get underneath the nails easier.
• Keep your feet dry, because fungus tends to grow in moist places. So keeping your feet dry is very important. If your someone suffering from stinky sweaty feet, then take extra precaution by changing your socks regularly and giving your shoe time to breathe whenever you get the chance.
• You should avoid places where it is easy to get toenail fungus. So we dont recommend going barefoot in public places, locker rooms and community showers. Also when getting a pedicure at a nail salon, you should make sure all the tools are properly sanitized, a fungus could be spread from a previous customer on to you.
• Always practice good hygiene, make sure to take the time out of each day to take care of your feet. This will help to prevent a fungal infection from occurring. Keep your nails trim and dry at all time.
• Always take the time to treat any issue with your toenails as soon as you notice a change or any symptoms.

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Signs And Symptoms Of A Fungal Nail Infection

A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first.

As it progresses, the infection can cause:

• discolouration of the nail it may turn white, black, yellow or green
• 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

Sometimes the skin nearby may also become infected and be itchy and cracked or red and swollen.

How To Tell If Your Toenail Fungus Is Dying Off

If youâve found a good toenail fungus treatment and now are wondering about the signs your toenail fungus is finally dying off, youâve come to the right place.

In this short guide, we are going to walk you through what to expect when youâre treating toenail fungus.

This treatment can be a lengthy process, so itâs important to stick with it and see it all to the very end.

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How Is Athletes Foot Treated

Athletes foot can often be treated with over-the-counter topical antifungal medications. If OTC medications dont treat your infection, your doctor may prescribe topical or oral prescription-strength antifungal medications. Your doctor may also recommend home treatments to help clear up the infection.

Toenail Fungus Is Contagious

The most common way to end up with a fungal nail infection is due to exposure to the fungus, either from direct contact with an already infected person or from contact with a contaminated surface, such as the floor of a shower in a public pool or gym facility.

Unlike many bacterial and viral infections, fungi dont usually spread via airborne transmission. In order to contract a fungal nail infection, the fungus must come into direct contact with an opening in your body, such as a cut or sore. On the other hand, fungi can survive on surfaces outside of the human body for much longer than most viruses and bacteria. As a result, it is possible to contract fungal nail infection from someone youve never even met, such as someone who used a public shower hours before you did.

The highly contagious nature of toenail fungus means that you must be incredibly careful if you are already infected to avoid spreading it to other people, including those you live with.

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Take Care Of Your Toes

Use soap and water to wash your feet, and dry well, including between toes. Trim your toenails — straight across — to keep them shorter than the end of your toe. Make sure the tools you use are clean, too. Wash clippers and files with soap and water, then wipe with rubbing alcohol. You might be tempted to cover up discolored nails with polish, but don’t. Your nail bed can’t “breathe,” which keeps fungus from going away.

Black Toenail Fungus Or Black Toenail Melanoma

A subungual melanoma can develop underneath the toenail. This is a dangerous toenail cancer and toe cancer.

Toenail cancer is sporadic and accounts for only about 1-2% of all diagnosed melanomas in the human body.

Of the subungual melanomas, 60% are found in the fingernails, and about 40% are found in the toenails. It is sporadic ever even to consider the black toenail fungus or toenail melanoma question.

Subungual melanomas are more common in older individuals 60+ years or older and have a history of cancerous skin growth.

A subungual melanoma or a toenail melanoma black toenail line is usually very wide .The black line extending into the epidermis is called a Hutchinson sign. It is usually associated with a thickened toenail nodule. It might also possibly show bleeding that extends into the surrounding toenail skin.is

Usually, only one toenail is infected. It is scarce for there to be multiple subungual melanomas.

Important melanoma warning: It is essential to see your podiatrist or your oncologist perform a biopsy.

If a subungual melanoma is not detected, it can spread through the rest of your body. Going to see your podiatrist is a great start to diagnose whether you had a black toenail fungus or a black line associated with subungual melanoma.

Recommended Reading: What To Do If You Have Fungus Under Your Nail

How Quickly Do Treatments Work

If your toenails have turned black due to toenail fungus, then it will take much longer to treat. We always recommend treating the infection at its early stage before it gets more severe and starts to spread throughout your body. Some people dont like to use medications that may cause side effects. But we always recommend going with an over the counter product for faster recovery, although natural home remedies are safer to use it may take a long time before you see any improvement.

There Is A Wide Range Of Options With Varying Success Rates

Other than keeping your toenails trimmed and perhaps painted, you may not pay much attention to them unless a problem develops. Healthy toenails are pink, shiny and smooth, but a fungal infection can cause them to become discolored, thick, brittle and even painful.

Toenail fungal infection, known as onychomycosis, is a common but challenging condition toenail fungus treatments include a wide range of options with varying success rates.

Causes of toenail fungus

Fungal nail infections are usually caused by fungi called dermatophytes that infect the skin beneath the nail yeast is another common culprit. Toenails are especially vulnerable to infection when your bare feet contact damp surfaces such as showers, swimming pools and locker rooms. If you have athletes foot, the infection can spread to the nails.

Wearing closed shoes such as athletic shoes for extended periods also can contribute to infection if your shoes and/or socks are damp from perspiration or heat. Moreover, if your shoes fit snugly enough to put pressure on your toes, they can damage the nail bed, making it more susceptible to infection.

People with chronic diseases, such as diabetes or circulatory problems, also may be more prone to toenail infections.

Symptoms of toenail fungus

Toenail fungus symptoms can develop slowly over time and may go unnoticed at first. Symptoms can include:

Toenail fungus treatments

• Tolnaftate
• Terbinafine

When to see a doctor for toenail fungus

Preventing toenail fungus

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Toenail Fungus Treatment Complications

Here are some things to think about when deciding on a nail fungus treatment.

If you have a disease like diabetes, your doctor will make sure you treat nail fungus. This illness often makes you more likely to have other problems from minor foot issues.

You may not be able to take antifungal pills because of side effects or because they donât work well with other drugs you take. If that’s the case, try a product that goes onto your nail. Your doctor will call this a topical treatment.

Be patient. Your nails may not look “normal” after treatment. It can take as long as a year to 18 months for your nail to grow out a fungus.

How To Cure Nail Fungus

This article was medically reviewed by Luba Lee, FNP-BC, MS. Luba Lee, FNP-BC is a board certified Family Nurse Practitioner and educator in Tennessee with over a decade of clinical experience. Luba has certifications in Pediatric Advanced Life Support , Emergency Medicine, Advanced Cardiac Life Support , Team Building, and Critical Care Nursing. She received her Master of Science in Nursing from the University of Tennessee in 2006. This article has been viewed 331,808 times.

Onychomycosis, or nail fungus, is a common infection that affects toenails and, less frequently, fingernails. It is caused by a group of fungus called dermatophytes, which thrives in warm, moist environments, like your shoes. If you suspect you have a nail infection, try to treat it quickly and routinely, as the fungus will continue to come back if allowed to take hold.

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Know It May Have To Be Permanent

At this point, if he or she has not discussed this with you earlier, the doctor may recommend that you have the nail permanently prevented from growing back. This is only done in severe cases of fungus or other disorders where the problem would simply keep occurring if the nail grew back.

To do this, the doctor must destroy the nail matrix, which is the part of the toe that produces keratin, the element that toenails are made of.

The matrix can be dissolved chemically, which is the most common. This is called chemical cauterization, and involves the application of a chemical called phenol. Occasionally, some patients report their nails growing back, but generally this method is effective.

If this does not work, your doctor will perform a surgical matrixectomy. A flap of skin is surgically created at the base of the nail, where the matrix is located. After retracting the flap, the matrix is surgically removed.

Nail Fungus Consumer Review

Did you take off your shoes and discover a black toenail? Once youre over the bad surprise of finding it, its important to determine the cause to apply the best possible treatment. Is it black toenail fungus? Was your toe injured? Could it be related to cancer or diabetes?

Most often a black toenail is caused by an injury or a fungal infection. Sometimes a home treatment solves the problem. Sometimes you should visit a doctor. Whats the right thing to do?

Keep reading to learn how to identify, prevent, and treat black toenails in the most appropriate way.

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How Does The Condition Spread

Toenail fungus will go from one nail to another, trying to get as much space as possible for its growth. In the latest stages, there is a chance your whole toenails will start falling apart, which will be followed with lots of pain.

While the condition is not life-threatening, it can be really annoying. Some people have to deal with toenail fungus for months and even years! In some cases, traditional medication may not provide the right results.

Furthermore, oral drugs that doctors prescribe can be really dangerous, leading to various side effects.

Because of all of that, a lot of people are willing to try home remedies for nail fungus. The patients are willing to try solutions such as hydrogen peroxide for toenail fungus.

Best Medicated Nail Polish: Arishine Toenail Fungus Treatment

• Treats discoloration, brittleness, and cracked nails

• Easy, on-the-go treatment

• Only works on nail plates

• Treatment process can be slow

The Arishine Toenail Treatment has the design and convenience of a pencil. Perfect for storing in a bag or pocket while at work, the repair pencil allows you to use a paintable nail polish on your infected toenail three times a day with ease to treat a nail fungal issue.

The Arishine treatment uses two percent deacetylated chitin, three percent O-hydroxybenzoic acid, and Angelica dahurica as active ingredients to get rid of fungus and heal the damage. This solution can help treat discoloration, brittleness, split, rough, and cracked nails. Ultimately, this medicated nail polish can lead to stronger and healthier nails.

Arishine is made of natural ingredients and does not conduct animal testing. Treatment requires three applications a day and should be used for four to 12 weeks, although improvement may be visible in as few as two weeks. Arishine offers customers a satisfaction guarantee.

Active Ingredients: Deacetylated chitin , O-hydroxybenzoic acid , and Angelica dahurica | Dose: Applicator automatically delivers correct amount with two to three clicks. Apply around nail on cuticles and under nail bed. | Uses: Treats fungus infection on and around nails helps heal discolored, brittle nails

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What Should I Ask My Healthcare Provider About Toenail Fungus

If you have toenail fungus, you may find it helpful to ask your provider:

• What type of infection do I have?
• Do you recommend I treat it? Why or why not?
• How long will I need treatment?
• What steps can I take to stop it from coming back?
• Should I be aware of any potentially serious complications or treatment side effects?

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Toenail fungus is an incredibly common infection that can be difficult to treat. The condition usually isnt painful, but it may make you feel self-conscious about how your foot looks. If it bothers you, talk to your provider about your treatment options. A trained specialist can provide guidance on whats most likely to address your concerns while protecting your overall health.

Last reviewed by a Cleveland Clinic medical professional on 12/17/2020.

References

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Can Toenail Fungus Turn Black

• Yes, toenail fungus can turn black if the toenail is ripped away from the skin.
• As the toenail rips away from the skin, the small blood vessels called capillaries can rip and bleed.
• This dry blood can quickly create a scab.
• This can cause the toenail fungus to turn black and become thick over time.
• A bacterial infection can also cause a black toenail in some cases.
• Black yeast can also result in black toenail fungus.

Know It Need Not Be Your Only Option

As already mentioned, nail removal is usually a last resort, after other methods have failed to be effective. As such, your doctor is not likely to recommend or even mention nail removal before trying oral and topical medications, ointments, and various other treatments.

Depending on the precise issue, many people have found great success and healing using all kinds of other treatments. Because nail fungus is a very common reason for toenail removal, look at thesedifferentoptions for how to safely and effectively treat toenail fungus.

However, the more severe the case and the longer it has gone without treatment, the more likely your doctor will insist on nail removal as the only possible option.

Read Also: How To Stop Toenail Fungus Pain

What Tests Might I Have For Toenail Fungus

Your provider will probably take a small sample from underneath your nail to further analyze it. Viewing the cells under a microscope can confirm a toenail fungus diagnosis. If the initial test is negative, a scraping can be sent to see if the fungus grows out in a culture. It also helps your provider identify the type of fungus.