What happens if you have toenail fungus for too long?

A severe case of nail fungus can be painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. And it may lead to other serious infections that spread beyond your feet if you have a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other conditions.

Can you have toenail fungus for years?

Moreover, many do don't seek treatment. Still, fungal toenail infections are a common foot health problem. Such infections can persist for years without ever causing pain.

Can toenail fungus become serious?

Most fungal nail infections are not serious. However, some people may experience pain or be bothered by the appearance of their nails. Fungal nail infections may cause nails to become discolored, thick, fragile, or cracked. The nail may also become separated from the nail bed.

Can you live with toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus isn't a pressing health problem. Yet a fungal infection can ruin the appearance of your nails and cause pain as it lifts the nail away from the nail bed.

How long can fungus live on toenails?

As fungal spores can stay dormant but viable for up to three months in their favoured environments, your family may still remain vulnerable long after you've started covering up your feet or taking other protective measures.

Why does it take so long for a fungal toenail infection to go away?

Should I cut off toenail fungus?

If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options: Trimming the Toenail Trimming the toenail is usually combined with medication, but having a podiatrist periodically trim the nail down is helpful and allows the medication to work better, says Sundling.

Can I ignore toenail fungus?

If you have a case of toenail fungus, please do not ignore this problem. Serious complications can arise if you do not have the fungus treated, including foot pain, widespread infection, the loss of your nail and more.

What is the number one cure for toenail fungus?

Terbinafine for toenail fungus treatment

The best pill for toenail fungus is terbinafine. Evidence suggests it works better than the alternatives with the fewest side effects. Terbinafine results in resolution of toenail fungus 76% of the time.

Can toenail fungus spread to bloodstream?

Toenail fungus, after all, is hardly life-threatening. “It feeds on the skin; it doesn't go into the bloodstream, doesn't spread to other parts of the body,” says Dr. Richard Scher, nail specialist and professor of dermatology at Columbia University.

What should you not do if you have toenail fungus?

How do you know if toenail fungus is severe?

If your nail gets brittle and breaks easily, it's a sign the fungal infection is changing the composition of the nail. If it becomes soft and chalky and starts to crumble away, the infection is starting to become severe.

When should you seek medical attention for toenail fungus?

The sooner you go, the sooner your doctor can help. Fungal nail infections can get worse over time. See your doctor if you notice your nail has turned brown or black, if it suddenly hurts, or if it pulls away from the nail bed.

Can toe fungus cause sepsis?

Approximately 15% of all infections are caused by fungi, and invasive fungal infections are an increasingly frequent cause of sepsis, particularly in critically ill patients. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition that can result from an infection anywhere in the body.

What are the stages of toenail fungus?

How long can fungus live in nail polish?

Created: January 14, 2015; Last Update: June 14, 2018; Next update: 2021. Nail fungus can be very persistent. Topical treatment with nail polish may take up to one year.

Can I wear nail polish while treating nail fungus?

Nail polish traps in moisture from your nailbed (the tissue below your toenail). Because fungi thrive in moist environments, wearing nail polish may make a fungal infection worse.

What happens if you touch toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus is actually very contagious, and can be spread by touching infected surfaces. A common fungus is athlete's foot, which is spread when you step barefoot in an infected area, like a locker room or public space.

What kills toenail fungus permanently?

Does hydrogen peroxide work on toenail fungus?

Hydrogen can kill the fungus that grows on toenails, causing the unsightly disfigurement that comes with this condition. There are two common ways to use hydrogen peroxide to treat your toenail fungus.

How long does it take for hydrogen peroxide to get rid of fungus?

Kill mold and mildew

To kill them without having to breathe in toxic bleach fumes, spray with undiluted 3 percent hydrogen peroxide and allow it to sit for 30 minutes. Rinse. The peroxide will kill the mold and mildew, but you may still need to remove the stains they left behind.

Why can't they cure toenail fungus?

Toenails are made up of multiple layers stacked on top of each other. Toenail fungus can be tough to get rid of because it can get into and in between those layers. It may also sit on top of the nail or grow underneath it. In some cases, fungus can get into the cells that make the nail, called the nail matrix.

What happens if you leave a fungal nail?

The infection often spreads to the middle of the nail, making the nail discoloured and sometimes thicker in parts. The nail becomes brittle and pieces can break off. Sometimes the whole nail lifts off. This can cause pain and swelling in the skin around the nail.

Will toenail grow back after removal for fungus?

Toenails may take 12 to 18 months to grow back. The area exposed by the nail removal should be kept clean. You may cover the area with a thin layer of petroleum jelly, such as Vaseline, and a nonstick bandage. Apply more petroleum jelly and replace the bandage as needed.

What is the fastest way to cure toenail fungus?

The fastest way to eliminate the infection is through toenail laser treatment. Laser nail therapy specifically targets the microorganisms under your nail while leaving the keratin intact. In just a few treatments, the infection can be entirely eliminated.

What happens if fungus gets in your blood?

When Candida is in your bloodstream, the condition is called Candidemia. Candida infection can spread from your bloodstream to other parts of your body (such as your eyes, kidney, liver, and brain). If this happens, it is called Invasive Candidemia.