What happens if you let toenail fungus go untreated?

Infection & Other Conditions

If toenail fungus is left untreated, it can spread to the surrounding skin on the foot, causing another condition known as athlete's foot. An athlete's foot is a condition resulting in itchy, red, and cracked skin, which can become very uncomfortable.

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.

What happens if you ignore toe fungus?

Sometimes untreated toenail fungus can spread to the surrounding skin on the foot. This may result in athlete's foot, a condition marked by itchy, red, cracked skin.

What happens if you don't treat fungal toenail?

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.

Does toenail fungus go away by itself?

Fungal nail infections typically don't go away on their own, and the best treatment is usually prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a healthcare professional might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.

Listerine for Foot & Toenail Fungus - Complete Treatment Guide.

Can toenail fungus be life threatening?

It's not usually serious, but can be unpleasant and difficult to treat. The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted. Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails. The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

How do you treat years of toenail fungus?

What are the stages of toenail fungus?

Why is toenail fungus so hard to get rid of?

The difficulty in effective treatment is due to the nail itself and where the nail fungus infection is located – being able to get under the protective nail to treat the fungus is no easy task. Our toenails are there to act as a structural support for our toes and provide more grip.

What is the best treatment for severe toenail fungus?

They may recommend a prescription-strength topical medication, or an oral anti-fungal pill that you take for two or three months. Oral treatment is usually more effective but may interact with other medications.

Should you cut your toenails if you have 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.

Should I remove my nail if it has fungus?

Nail removal: If you have a severe infection or other treatments just don't work, your dermatologist may recommend removing the nail(s) to get rid of the infection.

Will toenail grow back after removal for fungus?

The wound should heal within a few weeks. Fingernails may take 6 months to grow back. Toenails may take 12 to 18 months to grow back.

When should I worry about toe fungus?

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 toenail fungus cause sepsis?

Invasive Fungal Infections Can Lead to Sepsis—And Have a High Mortality Rate. 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.

Can toenail fungus be cured without medication?

Home remedies are typically not effective for treating toenail fungal infections. While some options may help temporarily suppress milder infections, they are unlikely to treat the infection. Instead, people should use prescription-strength oral and topical antifungal medications.

Why have I had toenail fungus for years?

There are several risk factors for developing nail fungus: tight shoes; damaged nails; walking barefoot in moist areas like swimming pools, saunas, and public showers; poor blood circulation in your legs; a weakened immune system; and other skin conditions, such as psoriasis.

What should I do if I have toenail fungus everyday?

Effective products include efinaconazole (Jublia), tavaborole (Kerydin) and ciclopirox (Penlac). All require daily applications, and it may take as long as a year to see noticeable improvement. These products may work for early, superficial fungal infections because they kill fungi on the surface of the nail.

Can thick toenail fungus be cured?

Toenails that grow thicker over time likely indicate a fungal infection, also known as onychomycosis. Left untreated, thick toenails can become painful. Prompt treatment can be key to curing the nail fungus. Fungal infections might be difficult to cure and may require months of treatment.

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.