What is the white stuff under my toenails?

Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails.

Why is there white stuff under my toenail?

Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis. People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.

What is the white stuff under my toenails that smells?

Foul-smelling debris also may accumulate under the nail. As the infection continues, the nail may crumble gradually and fall off. Or, it may become so thick that the affected toe feels uncomfortable or painful inside shoes. A less common variety of toenail fungus is called white superficial onychomycosis.

How do you get rid of stuff under your toenails?

You can use a loofah, sponge, or washcloth to really clean around the toenails. Try a foot soak. If you don't take a shower every day, consider soaking your feet in a tub of lukewarm water and soap. This can help break up or dislodge dirt underneath toenails.

How do you treat thick white stuff under toenails?

In white superficial onychomycosis, for example, the white patches of fungus that form on the nails can sometimes simply be filed off and an over-the-counter antifungal topical medication can be applied to the nail to kill the fungus.

What is the white stuff under my toenails that smells?

Can you scrape out toenail fungus?

Prescription Medicines

If your fungus doesn't clear up at home, you should check in with a dermatologist (a skin, hair, and nail specialist) or podiatrist (a foot doctor.) They may gently scrape under your nail to get rid of some of the fungus or send it to the lab for diagnosis.

Can nail fungus go away by itself?

But nail fungus doesn't go away by itself. And if you don't treat it, there's a chance it could get worse. It could spread to other nails or through your body. It could cause pain when you walk.

What kills toenail fungus fast?

Why are my toenails white and chalky?

White chalky patches on the nail can simply be a result of excessive dehydration of the keratin molecules on the nail surface, causing keratin granulations.

Are thick toenails always fungus?

It is natural for toenails to get thicker with age, but thick toenails may be caused by other factors, including fungal infections, autoimmune conditions, or mechanical stresses, such as from poorly fitting shoes.

Why does my toenail smell like cheese when I cut it?

In fact, one type of bacteria, brevibacterium, lives in between the toes, thrives in a damp, salty environment, and produces the cheese-like smell of feet. That same bacteria is actually used in the cheese-creation process for Muenster, Entrammes, and Limburger cheeses.

How do I know if toenail fungus is dying?

What is toe cheese?

toe cheese (uncountable) (slang) The sticky, smegma-like substance that accumulates between one's toes in case of insufficient hygiene. Love is: learning to appreciate the smell of your sweetheart's toe cheese!

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 do you get healthy toenails?

Why are my nail beds white?

Do they look pale or white? This could mean you have a low red blood cell count. White nails also can signal liver disease, diabetes, an overactive thyroid, heart failure, or a lack of nutrients in your diet. If your nails are mostly white with a narrow pink band at the tip, you have a condition called Terry's nails.

Why are my big toenails white?

One of the most common causes of white toenails or spots is a fungal infection (onychomycosis) or a yeast infection (Candida). Unfortunately, they overtake the normal nail cells and changes of the nails persist.

How did I get toenail fungus?

Many people pick up the fungi when they have skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a fungal infection such as athlete's foot or ringworm on their hands. Another common way to get a fungal nail infection is by walking barefoot in a warm, moist area such as a pool deck or locker room.

What does a fungus toenail look like?

Nails with fungus might look yellow. Sometimes a white dot shows up on the nail and then gets bigger. When fungus builds up under your nail, it can loosen and even separate the nail from the bed. The fungus can also spread to the skin around your nail.

What is the number one cure for toenail fungus?

The best pill for toenail fungus is terbinafine. Evidence suggests it works better than the alternatives with the fewest side effects. Terbinafine results in resolution of toenail fungus 76% of the time. Common side effects may include headaches, skin rash, and vomiting.

What is the fastest home remedy for toenail fungus?

Does nail polish worsen fungus?

Covering up infected toenails with regular nail polish might look great, but it can make infections worse. Fungus grows in dark and moist environments. Nail polish gives fungus an environment to thrive in. Non-medicated nail polish can be applied over antifungal nail polish.

Should I file down my nail fungus?

With that in mind, I generally encourage healthy adult patients with mild toenail fungus to not treat it or to treat it just using topical measures. For example, you can buff the nail down with a file to keep it thin, so the fungus has less of a home to live in. You should also keep the nail trimmed.

How long does nail fungus last?

Results of treatment

It can take between 6 and 18 months for the appearance of the affected nail to return to normal, and in some cases the nail may not look the same as before the infection.

How do you cut thick toenails with fungus?