Can toenail fungus spread to skin?

While toenail fungus is common, it's usually not harmful. Symptoms mostly affect the look of your toenail. Toenail fungus may spread to the skin between your toes or other areas of your body. When getting dressed, put your socks on first to reduce the chance of spread.

Can toenail fungus spread to other parts of the body?

The greatest danger of not treating the foot or toenail fungus is that it can spread to other parts of the body, such as the hands and groin. If for some reason you can't treat your toenails or your feet right away, at least use an antifungal topical cream on the surrounding skin, Dr.

Can you get nail fungus on your skin?

Fungus of the Skin or Nails

Fungus can infect the skin as well as the fingernails and toenails. Fungal infections can be caused by yeast or by dermatophytes (types of fungi). Fungal infection of the nails, called onychomycosis, may be caused by yeast or dermatophytes.

Can toenail fungus affect your whole body?

But it can spread to other parts of the body.

Goad says. In some people, the fungus can also spread to the surrounding skin, causing athlete's foot. Sometimes the fungus can be passed to the genitals (jock itch) when underwear is pulled on over infected toenails.

What happens if you leave toenail fungus untreated?

If you have toenail fungus and it goes untreated, you may experience: Pain in your feet and toes due to thickened, distorted toenails. Spread of the fungus to your skin, causing athlete's foot. Infection of the surrounding areas, causing cracked skin, and increasing bacterial spread.

How to prevent and treat nail fungus

Should I cut off my fungus toenail?

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.

What is the white hard stuff under my toenails?

In medical terms this is called onychomycosis or tinea unguium,” says Batra. The fungal infection breaks down the keratin in the nail to form a white or yellow chalky substance under the nail plate. "As keratin debris spreads under the nail, the nail plate typically becomes lifted up off of the nail bed.

Can foot fungus spread to legs?

Untreated, fungal athlete's foot can potentially spread to other body parts or other people, including family members. The fungus may spread locally to the legs, toenails, hands, fingernails, and essentially any body area. This type of fungus generally likes to live in the skin, hair, and nails.

Can foot fungus spread to face?

Tinea pedis affects the feet, and is also called "athlete's foot." Tinea cruris affects the groin, and is also called "jock itch." Tinea faciei affects the face.

Can toenail fungus spread to your brain?

Fungal meningitis can develop after a fungal infection spreads from somewhere else in the body to the brain or spinal cord.

What kills fungus on skin?

Antifungal medications work to treat fungal infections. They can either kill fungi directly or prevent them from growing and thriving. Antifungal drugs are available as OTC treatments or prescription medications, and come in a variety of forms, including: creams or ointments.

What does a fungal infection of the skin look like?

A fungal skin infection often looks bright red and can spread across a large area. A fungal skin rash may also have characteristics including: Color more intense at the border. Scale more intense at the border.

Can toenail fungus spread in the bathtub?

common foot infections like athlete's foot or toenail fungus. They also spread throughout households from contact with bath mats, bathroom floors and other communal areas where people walk in their bare feet. Dr.

Can foot fungus spread to hands?

In rare cases, athlete's foot can spread to the hands, this is known as tinea manuum. The symptoms are very similar to those experienced in the feet. People who do not wash their hands immediately after touching the affected area on their foot are at higher risk. Tinea manuum is a rare complication of athlete's foot.

How do you stop toenail fungus from spreading?

Wash them with soap and water every day. Dry them off very well afterward. Get in-between your toes, too. Clean and dry feet and nails are less likely to pick up a fungus.

What kills toenail fungus in shower?

Scrub your shower and disinfect it with a bleach-based cleanser, Andersen says. Spray your shoes with an antibacterial spray, especially if you've worn them without socks, and wash all socks in hot water with bleach to kill any fungi.

What are symptoms of fungus in the body?

Can a toe infection spread?

Is toenail fungus contagious? Yes, many types of toenail fungi are quite contagious. An infected person can spread the fungus to someone else through direct contact. You can also get toenail fungus by touching an infected surface.

What are the stages of toenail fungus?

How do I know if my toenail fungus is healing?

Nail fungus can be resistant to treatment and nails take a long time to grow out, so it can take several weeks or months for an infection to be fully resolved. You will know that the treatment is working and the infection is clearing up when you see growth of a new, healthy nail from the base of the nail bed.

Are thick toenails always fungus?

Although there are many potential causes of thick nails, a fungal infection is the most likely cause in the toenails. Other conditions, such as psoriasis or diabetes, may also cause thick nails to develop. The exact cause of thick nails will help decide a person's treatment to correct the condition.

Does nail fungus turn black when it dies?

A toenail can also become discolored from fungal infections in the skin under and around the nail. Toes can turn black from a lack of circulation causing gangrene, which is death of body tissue. If there is any doubt what is causing your black toenail, see your doctor or podiatrist.

What causes thick skin under toenails?

In the hyponychium and nail bed, the skin cells grow excessively, causing scaling and buildup. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. The skin underneath the nail might look: thick.

What kills toenail fungus fast?

What will a podiatrist do for toenail fungus?

If you recognize the symptoms of toenail fungus, you must meet with the right doctor, a podiatrist, for proper treatment. Podiatrists will treat toenail fungus by using topical creams, removing part of the nail, and or using more modern methods like laser therapy to eliminate the infection.