Toenail fungus is a common infection.  In many cases a person may have it and yet not know they need a toenail fungus treatment. Toenail fungus can go undetected for months before the symptoms become visible. And even once the symptoms are visible it is easy to confuse toenail fungus with athlete’s foot.

More common though is for victims to suspect they have toenail fungus, but fail to get it diagnosed by a foot doctor. Instead they ignore it, hoping it will go away on its own. It won’t. It must be effectively treated.

Here are some of the more common signs you may have a toenail fungus infection.

1. Your toenail turning yellow

Healthy toenails are usually pink and attached to the nail bed. If any of your toenails start turning yellow, brown or black, this generally indicates a toenail fungus infection and you should get it checked immediately.

2. Your toenail is crumbling, flaky, fragile or pitted

The nail texture changes from firm to very brittle. The nail often breaks as it becomes fragile. Because the toenail fungus attacks the nail-bed the nail begins to separate from it, causing the nail to disintegrate.  Additionally, the nail can become soft and powdery.

3. There’s bad-smelling debris under your nail

This is a definite sign of a toenail fungus infection. Normal healthy nails do not have debris under the nail nor any smell. What seems like foul-smelling dirt under the nail is really the result of the toenail fungus infection as it eats into the nail and the nail-bed.

4. Your toenail is gradually turning black

A toenail fungus infection may result in the toenail eventually turning black. The nail may begin by turning white (as mentioned above); yellow and/or brown – turning black is another stage in the process. Some toenail fungus victims may find their nail simply turns black with no progression from brown. In any event, the nail becomes a major embarrassment and difficult to hide.

5. Thickened, distorted toenails

As the infection takes hold and eats into the nail it causes thickening and distortion of the toenail. At this point the infection is advanced and many sufferers will find their nails become painful, and find it increasingly difficult to wear closed shoes or walk.

If you have any of the above toenail fungus symptoms you should go to a foot doctor who will diagnose it and suggest a treatment to clear up the infection.

Filed under: Toenail Fungus Symptoms by David M. Hughes
2 Comments »