NAIL FUNGUS:   SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

Without treatment, the fungus can spread and damage more nails.

If you are infected with nail fungus, there’s a high chance of you seeing one or more of these changes to your nails:

• Some parts of your nails become white, brown, yellow, or some other colour. Initially, you will see a kind of discolouration on your nail’s tip. If you don’t treat it, the discolouration might spread and cover more parts of the nail.
• Debris accumulates beneath the nail.
• There occurs a lifting of the nail on its own since it is no more firmly attached to the toe or finger.
• Nails become white, and the surface will feel dry, powdery, and soft. There might also be a thinning of the nail so you may likely scrape the nail off.
• The nail becomes thick then turns brown or yellow; this may affect all the fingernails.
• The nail either crumbles or splits.

Nail fungus is usually painless. At least, you don’t feel any pain in the beginning. If you opt not to get treatment, nevertheless, the fungus can grow. When there is a worsening of the fungus on toenails, it can become uncomfortably painful to put on shoes.

If you notice any change on your nails, you need to see a dermatologist. When you start treating this infection early, the nail fungus may clear. The more the growth in the fungus, the more difficult it will be to remove the infection.