What happens if you leave foot 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.

What happens if you don't take care of foot fungus?

Left untreated, athlete's foot can affect the toenails — which may thicken, become discolored or crumble — and even spread to your hands or groin. Additionally, athlete's foot can make you more vulnerable to bacterial infections, such as cellulitis.

Can foot fungus affect your health?

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 foot fungus go away on its own?

What will happen if athlete's foot is left untreated? Athlete's foot doesn't typically go away on its own. If it's left untreated, it can spread to other areas of your body, including your: Nails: Fungal nail infections can be more difficult to treat.

How long can you have a foot fungus?

How Long Does Athlete's Foot Last? Most mild cases of athlete's foot clear up within 2 weeks. But treatment can go for several weeks or longer if the infection is more serious or affects the toenails.

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Do I need to throw away my shoes if I have athlete's foot?

You do not have to throw away your shoes if you have athlete's foot unless they were worn without socks, have dirt in them, or you have another skin reaction to the material or color dyes.

Can foot 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.

What is the fastest way to get rid of foot fungus?

Hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide can effectively kill the fungus on the surface level of the foot, as well as any surface bacteria that could cause an infection. Pour hydrogen peroxide directly onto the affected area. Note that it may sting, and it should bubble, especially if you have open wounds.

Should I cut off my fungus toenail?

If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options: Trimming the Toenail Trimming the toenail is usually combined with medication, but having a podiatrist periodically trim the nail down is helpful and allows the medication to work better, says Sundling.

What does a foot fungus look like?

Athlete's foot looks like dry, flaky, scaly skin. The skin may also crack. The infection spreads easily. The fungus thrives in warm, damp environments like swimming pool areas and gym locker rooms.

Can you have toenail fungus for years?

Many people don't realize they have a nail fungus problem. Moreover, many do don't seek treatment. Still, fungal toenail infections are a common foot health problem. Such infections can persist for years without ever causing pain.

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 is a natural way to get rid of foot fungus?

How do you treat severe foot fungus?

Try over-the-counter antifungual creams or a drying powder two to three times a day until the rash disappears. Keep your feet dry, especially between your toes. Go barefoot to let your feet air out as much as possible when you're home. Dry between your toes after a bath or shower.

How do you know if you have a foot fungus?

Is Athlete's foot permanent?

Although athlete's foot doesn't cause any serious problems in people who are otherwise healthy, it normally doesn't go away on its own. If left untreated, it can spread to a nail and cause a fungal nail infection. The infection can spread to other areas of skin, such as the hands, but that rarely happens.

How do I know if my toenail fungus is dying?

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.

Do toenails grow back after fungus?

If the infection is deep and you've had it for a while, your doctor may want to remove all or part of your nail. A new nail usually grows back, but it might take a year or so. While it's coming back, your doctor will likely give you a cream or other treatment to put on your nail bed to keep fungus away.

Should I wear socks to bed with athlete's foot?

Wearing socks to bed can help prevent transmission of the fungus. Even if you avoid contact, your partner can still develop athlete's foot if you walk around the house barefoot.

Can toenail fungus spread through bed sheets?

If you share a bed with another person, the fungus may transfer to them via shared linens. Wearing clean socks to bed and washing sheets regularly minimizes transmission risk.

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 know if you have fungus in your blood?

Blood Test

Used to detect the presence of fungi in the blood. Blood tests are often used to diagnose more serious fungal infections. Test procedure: A health care professional will need a blood sample.

How do you stop foot fungus from spreading?

Each foot has over 250,000 sweat glands. To stop the spread of foot fungus, dry your feet after they get wet. Let your shoes air out before you wear them again.

What can be mistaken for athlete's foot?

Certain conditions, such as eczema and psoriasis, among other things, can also look very much like Athlete's foot. Sometimes, if the skin barrier is compromised, a secondary bacterial infection can occur.