Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails.
If your condition is mild and not bothering you, you may not need treatment. If your nail fungus is painful and has caused thickened nails, self-care steps and medications may help. But even if treatment is successful, nail fungus often comes back.
It’s easy to ignore nail fungus since you may not have any pain but if left untreated, it can cause pain and irreversible toenail damage.
You may have nail fungus if one or more of your nails are:
- Thickened
- Whitish to yellow-brown discoloration
- Brittle, crumbly or ragged
- Distorted in shape
- A dark color, caused by debris building up under your nail
- Smelling slightly foul
When to see a doctor
You may want to see a physician if self-care steps haven’t helped and the nail becomes increasingly discolored, thickened or deformed. Also see a doctor if you have diabetes and think you’re developing nail fungus
Contact our office to discuss treatment options
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