Embarrassing as it may be, toenail fungus, medically known as onychomycosis, is a common condition that makes up 50% of nail abnormalities, and affects up to 18% of the worldwide population. Some research suggests that the number translates to around 35 million people worldwide. While it’s more prominent in adults, affecting around 10% of the adult population, the chances of getting toenail fungus increases as you age, with 50% of senior citizens suffering from some type of toenail fungus.
Toenail fungus occurs due to the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail. Because fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, certain factors and conditions can cause the fungus to naturally overpopulate. For instance, fungi that are already present in your body can spread to other parts and cause fungal nail infections.
It’s good to note that fungal nail infections typically develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first. However, toenail fungus symptoms are fairly easy to spot. It’s best to seek treatment immediately, especially at the earliest visible signs of a possible fungal nail infection. This is to ensure the efficacy of your chosen treatment method, and to avoid the spread of the infection to other nails as well as the chance of recurrence. A serious infection can also cause permanent damage to the nail.
Here are some of the initial toenail fungus symptoms to watch out for:
- Scaling under the nail (subungual hyperkeratosis)
- White or yellow streaks on or under the nail (lateral onychomycosis)
- Crumbling corners or tip of the nail (distal onychomycosis)
- Yellow spots at the bottom of the nail (proximal onychomycosis)
- Flaking white areas on the nail’s surface
- Loosening or complete loss of the nail
Toenail fungus can affect part of the nail, the entirety of the nail, or even several nails at a time. While there are other nail conditions that mimic the symptoms of a fungal nail infection, it’s easy to differentiate them from actual toenail fungus symptoms. If you notice one or more of the following symptoms, you may be suffering from a fungal nail infection:
- A white or yellow spot under the nail
- White or yellow streaks on the nail
- A whitish to yellow-brown discoloration on the nail
- A darker color nail caused by debris build-up under the nail
- Distorted or warped nail
- Loose nail or nail lifting off the nail bed
- Thickened nail
- Brittle and crumbling nails
- A foul smell or odor coming from the nail
If you are still unsure of the symptoms you are experiencing, you can seek advice from a medical professional, and find the right treatment method for you. The process is relatively simple. They will take a scraping of the nail, and send it to the laboratory for analysis, wherein they usually look under a microscope for signs of fungus. Not to worry, though. As mentioned prior, toenail fungus is relatively easy to treat, especially when spotted at its earliest signs. There are tons of home remedies and treatment methods available to get rid of the infection.
