Fungal Nail Treatment

Everything you never knew you needed to know about nail fungus.

Fungal nails. Onychomycosis. Trichophyton rubrum. Nail fungus. Fungal nail infection.

No matter which way you spin it, or what word you use, your nail isn’t looking particularly pretty. You probably took one look at what was growing on your toe and started freaking out and Googling things, which led you here.

Well, that’s good. Because we’re here to help and reassure you that even though you’ve got some weird nail fungus growing on your finger or toe, you’ve got nothing to be embarrassed about! More people than you probably realise are affected by fungal nail infections and there are dozens of ways to treat it (though some are better than others). We’re here to be your source of information, education, and reassurance when it comes to nail fungus.

Inspecting infected feet isn’t a particularly glamorous job, but hey, we try our best to put the ‘fun’ back in ‘fungal’.

So, what's going on with my nail?

Let’s start you off with the basics about that discolouration on your nail.

It is more than likely a fungus or a fungal infection (scientifically known as onychomycosis). It’s caused when a fungus infects the space between the nail and the nail bed.

Now, when you think about the word ‘fungus’, you probably picture some lush, deciduous forest with towering trees, underbrush, and lichen on rocks. Basically, fungus is a type of spreading plant – imagine moss or mushrooms – which thrive in dark, moist locations.

So, what does that mean for you? Does having a fungal infection on your toe mean you’re more in tune with Mother Gaia? Maybe...we haven’t got the results of that study back yet. What it does mean is that your nail probably just lifted a little, allowing some space between the nail and the nail bed – the dampness of this area allows the fungi to thrive and thus spread.

Check the symptoms

If you’re unsure if you’ve got a fungal infection in a fingernail or toenail, you should probably look for these things in your nails: discolouration, deterioration, and chalkiness.

Nails that are beginning to change in colour from a healthy, normal tone to a darker yellow/grey colour are a good indication that you may have a nail fungus. If the fungal infection is a little further on, your entire nail can become fully discoloured, look and feel chalky, and begin to fully deteriorate, exposing the nail bed.

Some good news

While the idea of something living and growing under your nail sounds slightly terrifying, rest assured, you’re not alone. Estimates say that around 10% of the population are affected by fungal nail infections – so even if you’re embarrassed about it, that means that there are around six million others in the UK who are in the same fungal boat as you.

While it is more likely for older people to get nail fungus, your risk for it can be increased if you have athlete’s foot, damaged nails, tight footwear, circulation problems, a weakened immune system, or you come into contact with fungi regularly (like public pools, sweat rooms, or saunas).

There are dozens of ways to treat nail fungus (which we go into detail about in different sections on this website), so please: don’t worry. Your nail fungus does not need to be a hideous gargoyle that you hide away forever under socks or gloves – there are ways to treat and correct it.