Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a fungal infection that affects either the toenails or fingernails.
What is nail fungus?
Nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a fungal infection that affects the toenail or fingernail.[1]
What are the main signs and symptoms of nail fungus?
This infection causes nails that are brittle, thickened, painful, and have a brown/yellow discoloration. If untreated, these symptoms will worsen until the nail has completely disintegrated.[1]
How is nail fungus diagnosed?
A thorough examination from a healthcare provider is recommended. They will usually take a sample of the infected nail for analysis. Depending upon the severity of the infection, a more in-depth analysis may be ordered.[1]
What are some of the main medical treatments for nail fungus?
The main medical treatments are antifungal drugs. These drugs may be taken orally or applied directly to the nail.[2]
Have any supplements been studied for nail fungus?
In vitro (lab-based) and animal studies have tested supplements on other types of fungal infections, but no research has tested if these supplements treat nail fungus specifically in humans. Compounds like monolaurin (which is derived from coconut oil), or certain flavonoids (e.g., liquiritigenin) may have general antifungal effects.[3][4][5] Overall, more human evidence is needed before any supplement can be recommended for treating nail fungus.
How could diet affect nail fungus?
Currently, there is no research connecting diet and nail fungus.
Are there any other treatments for nail fungus?
Treatments that do not use antifungal drugs are limited. However, laser therapy (a treatment in which the nail is exposed to a powerful light source) has the potential as an alternative treatment for nail fungus.[6]
What causes nail fungus?
Fungal infections can occur anywhere on the body and typically develop in dark, warm and moist environments. For instance, if one is constantly wearing shoes that often get wet, this may increase the risk of developing nail fungus.[1]
Frequently asked questions
What is nail fungus?
Nail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a fungal infection that affects the toenail or fingernail.[1]
What are the main signs and symptoms of nail fungus?
Nail fungus leads to symptoms such as brittle, thickened, painful nails with brown or yellow discoloration. If left untreated, these symptoms can worsen and potentially result in the complete disintegration of the nail.
This infection causes nails that are brittle, thickened, painful, and have a brown/yellow discoloration. If untreated, these symptoms will worsen until the nail has completely disintegrated.[1]
How is nail fungus diagnosed?
Nail fungus is diagnosed through a thorough examination by a healthcare provider, who typically takes a sample of the infected nail for analysis. In cases of severe infection, a more detailed analysis may be conducted.
A thorough examination from a healthcare provider is recommended. They will usually take a sample of the infected nail for analysis. Depending upon the severity of the infection, a more in-depth analysis may be ordered.[1]
What are some of the main medical treatments for nail fungus?
The primary medical treatments for nail fungus are antifungal drugs, which can be administered either orally or applied directly to the affected nail.
The main medical treatments are antifungal drugs. These drugs may be taken orally or applied directly to the nail.[2]
When is nail fungus considered cured?
Quick answer:
Nail fungus is considered completely cured when there is both a clinical cure, which is defined as a 100% visually clear nail, and a mycological cure, which is indicated by a negative KOH preparation and fungal culture. However, even after treatment, the nail may not return to its original appearance, and there is a possibility of recurrence.
There are many definitions that describe the level at which nail fungus has been cured. A clinical cure is a 100% visually clear nail. A mycological (i.e., fungus-oriented) cure is a negative KOH preparation (a test used to diagnose fungal infections) and a negative fungal culture. Therefore, nail fungus is determined completely cured if there is both a clinical and mycological cure.[1]
After treatment, the affected nail may appear normal. However, this does not rule out the possibility of a fungal infection. Thus, it is not uncommon for nail fungus to return after treatment. Moreover, if the fungal infection is severe enough, it may cause permanent damage to the nail, which results in the affected nail never returning to its original appearance.[1]
How can nail fungus be prevented from reoccurring after treatment?
Quick answer:
To prevent nail fungus from reoccurring after treatment, it is important to use topical antifungal treatments, disinfect footwear and socks, and maintain proper nail hygiene. Additional measures include keeping nails short, dry, and cold; avoiding barefoot walking in public; and treating affected family members.
After being treated with antifungal drugs, preventative measures should be taken to prevent reoccurrence. These measures include topical antifungal treatments and removing any other potential sources of infection.
Although the nail may appear healthy, the fungus may not be fully eradicated. For that reason, antifungal creams are recommended to be applied to the affected nail to prevent further fungal growth.[9]
It is also recommended to either throw away or disinfect footwear and socks. Be sure to wash socks in hot water. Proper disinfection is important, as cold water washes have been shown to be ineffective in eradicating the fungus that causes nail fungus.[10] To disinfect shoes, treatments include terbinafine spray, ozone gas, or ultraviolet light.[11][12][13]
Other preventative actions include keeping nails cold and dry, avoiding walking barefoot in public places, keeping nails short, treating other family members with nail fungus, and meticulous nail hygiene.[1]
Have any supplements been studied for nail fungus?
Although some supplements have shown antifungal effects in lab and animal studies, there is currently no research that has specifically examined their effectiveness against nail fungus in humans. More human evidence is needed before any supplement can be recommended for this condition.
In vitro (lab-based) and animal studies have tested supplements on other types of fungal infections, but no research has tested if these supplements treat nail fungus specifically in humans. Compounds like monolaurin (which is derived from coconut oil), or certain flavonoids (e.g., liquiritigenin) may have general antifungal effects.[3][4][5] Overall, more human evidence is needed before any supplement can be recommended for treating nail fungus.
Why aren’t there more supplements for nails?
Quick answer:
The scarcity of reliable studies on nail health limits the availability of supplements specifically for nails; most benefits are anecdotal or based on hair studies. Some preliminary evidence suggests that minoxidil and biotin may aid nail growth and brittleness, but other vitamins and minerals do not improve nail health in people without deficiencies.
While the market abounds in “hair and nails” products, reliable studies on nails are scarce. Benefits to nails from supplements are most often anecdotal or inferred from studies on hair. Preliminary evidence suggests that minoxidil might help with nail growth; vitamin B7 (biotin) might help with brittle nails, triangular worn-down nails, trachyonychia, or habit-tic deformity; and vitamin E might help with yellow nail syndrome and brittle nails. Current evidence suggests that supplementation with calcium, copper, iron, selenium, silica, zinc, vitamin A (retinoids), vitamin B12, or vitamin C doesn’t improve nail health or appearance in non-deficient people.[7][8]
How could diet affect nail fungus?
There is currently no research that links diet to nail fungus. Therefore, diet does not appear to have an effect on nail fungus.
Currently, there is no research connecting diet and nail fungus.
Are there any other treatments for nail fungus?
Alternative treatments for nail fungus are limited, but laser therapy, which involves exposing the nail to a powerful light source, shows potential as a non-antifungal option.
Treatments that do not use antifungal drugs are limited. However, laser therapy (a treatment in which the nail is exposed to a powerful light source) has the potential as an alternative treatment for nail fungus.[6]
What causes nail fungus?
Nail fungus is caused by fungal infections that thrive in dark, warm, and moist environments. Wearing wet shoes frequently can increase the risk of developing this condition.
Fungal infections can occur anywhere on the body and typically develop in dark, warm and moist environments. For instance, if one is constantly wearing shoes that often get wet, this may increase the risk of developing nail fungus.[1]
What can increase the risk of developing nail fungus?
Quick answer:
The risk of developing nail fungus is influenced by both environmental factors, such as humid conditions and tight-fitting shoes, and genetic factors, including mutations that impair immune function. Additional risk factors include older age, psoriasis, nail trauma, peripheral vascular disease, smoking, and immune suppression.
The development of nail fungus results from the interaction of environmental and genetic factors. Environmental factors consist of conditions that allow for fungus to grow. Examples include humid environments and tight-fitting shoes.[1] Genetically, certain mutations related to impaired immune function may increase the risk of developing nail fungus.[14] This may explain why some people do not develop nail fungus while being exposed to the same environmental factors.
Other things such as older age, psoriasis, nail trauma, peripheral vascular disease, smoking, and immune suppression also increase the risk of developing nail fungus.[1]