If your toenails are turning yellow and becoming thick and crumbly, it’s likely that you’ve developed a fungal nail infection. While one of the most common problems we see in our London foot clinics, they’re more than a cosmetic nuisance. This stubborn foot condition can take ages to clear up – and it won’t simply go away on its own.
What Is a Fungal Nail Infection?
Fungal nail infections, or onychomycosis, are caused by microscopic fungi that work their way into the nail plate and damage the nail from within. They usually start at the edge of your toenail before spreading inwards, causing discolouration and making your nails thick, brittle and liable to crumble or lift away from the nail bed.
They thrive in warm, moist environments and are highly contagious, spreading to other toenails or parts of the body with ease. This can be via direct contact or indirect contact, such as sharing a towel or walking barefoot in a shower or public pool.
Why Fungal Nails Don’t Simply Grow Out
Unlike verrucae, a fungal nail infection won’t go away on its own. Once established, it feeds off the keratin in your nails, multiplying and causing unsightly and often painful damage.
Toenails grow slowly compared to fingernails, taking between 12 and 18 months to fully grow out. So even after destroying the fungus, the visible damage takes much longer to clear.
If you have diabetes or circulation problems, leaving a fungal nail untreated can increase the risk of skin breakdown and other complications, which is why it’s better to act as soon as possible.
Why Over-the-Counter Products Often Fail
Over-the-counter products like creams, lacquers and powders are available and they may help a little. But they don’t penetrate deep enough into the nail to reach the infection.
While you may notice a slight improvement, there is a likelihood that the fungus will come back stronger if it isn’t fully eliminated. That’s why seeing a podiatrist is so important for treating fungal nail infections.
How a Podiatrist Treats Fungal Nails
Seeing a podiatrist takes the guesswork out of knowing what’s going on with your nails. At your chiropody appointment, we’ll talk over your symptoms and general health, examine your nails and, if needed, send a small sample away for testing.
We can then identify the exact type and extent of the infection and discuss the best treatment options for you.
Our treatments might include:
- Nail debridement: Carefully reducing the thickness of the nail so that the treatment can reach the root cause of the infection.
- Stronger, targeted treatments: We prescribe topical medications and antifungal nail lacquers designed to penetrate the nail.
- Referral for oral antifungals: We work with your GP when oral antifungal tablets are needed for stubborn or widespread infections.
- Footwear & hygiene advice: Your shoes can reinfect you, so we offer advice on how to disinfect footwear and avoid cross-contamination at home.
Our aim is to clear as much of the infection as possible, while keeping you comfortable and reducing the likelihood of the problem returning.
Keeping Your Nails Healthy
A few small habits make a big difference, whether you’re trying to prevent fungal nails or protect the progress you’ve already made. It helps to:
- Keep feet clean and dry, especially between the toes.
- Change socks daily and give shoes time to dry out between wears.
- Wear flip-flops in communal showers, gyms and around the pool.
- Avoid sharing nail clippers, nail files and towels.
- Treat athlete’s foot quickly, before it spreads to the nails.
Say Goodbye to Embarrassing Toenails
If you’ve been battling thick, discoloured or crumbly nails, it’s time to stop hoping it’ll go away on its own. Book your fungal nail assessment at Feet By Pody today and we’ll guide you along the path back to clear, healthy nails.