What can toenail fungus do to your body?

A severe case of nail fungus can be painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. And it may lead to other serious infections that spread beyond your feet if you have a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other conditions.

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.

How does toenail fungus affect the body?

If a toenail fungus spreads to the skin and causes it to crack, bacteria can get in. This may cause cellulitis, a condition that produces swollen, red, tender skin and must be treated with antibiotics, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

Can toenail fungus enter your bloodstream?

Untreated skin infections of the toe may lead to severe cellulitis and if the infection enters the bloodstream it can become septicemia, also known as bacteremia or blood poisoning. Once the infection enters the bloodstream the bacteria and their toxins are carried through the bloodstream to your entire body.

Can nail fungus infect your body?

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.

How to prevent and treat nail fungus

What happens if you leave a fungal nail infection untreated?

It is uncommon for an infected nail to cause severe pain or permanent disfigurement, but this does occur in some cases. If left untreated, fungal nail infections can cause difficulties with walking, exercising or manual tasks such as typing. The main symptoms of onychomycosis include the nail becoming: Brittle.

What happens if fungal infection is left untreated?

If left completely untreated, your stubborn fungal skin infection may cause some or the other kind of permanent damage and in some cases your fungal infection may eventually lead to death.

Can a fungal infection affect your whole body?

Fungal infections can affect many parts of the body, including: Hair. Skin. Lungs.

What are symptoms of fungus in the body?

A fungal infection on the skin may cause redness, itching, flaking, and swelling. A fungal infection in the lungs may cause coughing, fever, chest pain, and muscle aches.

Can nail fungus affect joints?

The fungus can affect bone or joint tissue. One or more joints can be affected, most often the large, weight-bearing joints, such as the knees.

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.

What kills toenail fungus instantly?

Hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can kill fungus that grows on toenails. You can directly wipe hydrogen peroxide on your infected toes or toenails with a clean cloth or cotton swab. Hydrogen peroxide can also be used in a foot soak.

When should I go to the doctor for toenail fungus?

Fungal nail infections can get worse over time. See your doctor if you notice your nail has turned brown or black, if it suddenly hurts, or if it pulls away from the nail bed.

Can toenail fungus spread to legs?

But it can spread to other parts of the body.

If a fungus is affecting one of your toenails, the toenails surrounding it are more likely to develop it as well, Dr. Goad says. In some people, the fungus can also spread to the surrounding skin, causing athlete's foot.

Can nail fungus spread to hair?

Tinea infection can affect any part of the body. Tinea infections of the feet, nails, and genital area are not often called ringworm. This is because the red patches may not look like rings. But it most often occurs in moist areas of the body and around hair.

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.

What happens if a fungal infection gets into bloodstream?

When Candida is in your bloodstream, the condition is called Candidemia. Candida infection can spread from your bloodstream to other parts of your body (such as your eyes, kidney, liver, and brain). If this happens, it is called Invasive Candidemia.

What are 5 diseases caused by fungi?

Can fungal infection affect brain?

Fungal meningitis is a rare type of meningitis. It stems from a fungal infection reaching the brain and spinal cord. It primarily affects people with weakened immune systems. Meningitis is a serious condition in which the protective lining surrounding the brain and spinal cord, known as the meninges, becomes swollen.

Can a fungal infection make you feel sick?

There are millions of fungal species, but only a few hundred of them can make people sick. Mild fungal skin infections can look like a rash and are very common.

Can a fungal infection make you tired?

One of the most common symptoms associated with Candida is fatigue.

Can fungal infection cause death?

Fungal diseases can cause serious illness and death. Scientists are still learning about how many people in the United States are affected. The burden is difficult to estimate because: Many fungal diseases go undiagnosed.

Can you get sepsis from fungal infection?

While any type of infection — bacterial, viral or fungal — can lead to sepsis, infections that more commonly result in sepsis include infections of: Lungs, such as pneumonia.

How do I get rid of fungus in my body?

You can use over-the-counter antifungal sprays and creams to treat a fungal skin infection. If your condition doesn't improve, ask your doctor about prescription oral or topical creams. In addition, you can apply medicated creams to your skin to treat parasitic skin infections.

How does fungi spread in the body?

Fungi reproduce by spreading microscopic spores. These spores are often present in the air and soil, where they can be inhaled or come into contact with the surfaces of the body, primarily the skin.