Fungal nail infection

A fungal nail infection is an infection that occurs when a fungus gets into your fingernail, toenail, or nail bed. Fungi can infect your nails through small cuts in the skin around the nail or through the opening between the nail and nail bed. If you're healthy, the infection probably won't cause serious problems.

Symptoms often develop slowly over time. A nail with a fungal infection may:

• Turn yellow, white, or brown.
• Get thicker.
• Crumble or split and may separate from the skin.

A fungal nail infection usually isn't painful. But over time, you may be uncomfortable or even have pain when you wear shoes, walk, or stand for a long time. The fungus could also spread to other nails or your skin.

To diagnose a fungal nail infection, your doctor will:

• Look at the skin and nails on your hands and feet.
• Ask about your medical history. This includes any previous symptoms of nail damage or fungal nail infections.

The doctor may take a sample of skin and nail fragments from under the infected nail or a sample of the nail itself. The sample will then be looked at under a microscope. Sometimes it is sent to a lab to confirm what type of fungus it is.

It may take time to treat a nail infection. You may need to try several treatments to find one that helps. Even when a treatment works, the nail can get infected again.

Treatment often starts with antifungal medicine.

• Antifungal pills give the best chance of curing a severe nail infection.
• You can try an over-the-counter medicine that comes in a cream, lotion, or nail polish.
• Your doctor can also prescribe a stronger antifungal medicine that you apply to your nail.
• If you have a severe nail infection or the infection keeps coming back, your doctor may remove the infected nail.

If you have diabetes or a weak immune system, your doctor may suggest treating the infection, even if it doesn't bother you.

• If your doctor gave you a cream or liquid to put on your child's nail, use it exactly as directed.
• Have your child take medicines exactly as prescribed. Call your child's doctor if your child has any problems with a medicine.
• Wash your child's hands and feet often, and wash their hands after they touch their feet.
• Keep your child's nails trimmed, clean and dry. Dry their feet completely after they bathe and before they put on shoes and socks.
• Change your child's socks often. Have them wear dry socks that absorb moisture.
• Don't let your child go barefoot in public places.
• Use a spray or powder that fights fungus on your child's feet and in their shoes.
• Don't let your child share shoes, socks, nail clippers, or nail files with others.
• Help your child avoid nail injury. For example, don't cut the nails too short.
• Don't use nail polish or fake nails on your child's nails.