Because a nail infected with a fungus is compromised, it can also break or split easily. As the condition progresses, itchiness and pain can occur, and the nail becomes separated from the nail bed.
If you’re thinking you can just live with it, we don’t advise letting toenail fungus go untreated. It’s an insidious problem, and without treatment, you have to deal with the discomfort of the nail as well as feeling self-conscious about its unsightliness. If you let a nail fungus infection go for too long, several problems emerge. The infected nail can become misshapen and increasingly separated from your nail bed. Itching and pain are unpleasant side effects; if they’re too severe, you can have trouble wearing shoes or walking.
You need to be especially attentive to treating toenail fungus if your immune system is compromised. If you’re living with diabetes, it’s critical not to ignore the fungus. Even a mild infection like this can snowball into something more serious, like cellulitis, a severe bacterial skin infection. Another problem is that untreated fungus eventually can spread to either neighboring toenails or to the skin of your foot, causing athlete’s foot. Possibly the worst outcome of untreated nail fungus is needing to have your nail surgically removed.
Do you need to treat your nail fungus? Maybe it doesn't hurt, and the yellow, thick nails don't bother you. 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. There are a number of ways to take care of it, including:
Nonprescription options. You can buy antifungal creams, gels, and nail polish at the store and online without a prescription. You might want to try one of them first if the infection doesn't look bad. Some people also swear by home remedies like menthol rub, tea tree oil, mouthwash, or snakeroot extract -- but studies show mixed results.
Prescription polish and creams. Your foot doctor will likely trim your nail and file away its dead layers. They may also take a piece of your nail and send it to the lab to make sure it’s really a fungus and to find out what type it is. The doctor might suggest an antifungal drug that you paint on your nails. This may work on its own, or they may suggest you take it with antifungal pills.
Prescription medications. One of several antifungal pills may help. They work, but it may take many months to do the job. They also come with side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches. They may cause liver damage too, so your doctor will watch you closely while you take them. Be sure to tell them about any other meds you’re taking -- some antifungal pills might not work well with them.
Nail removal. 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.
Laser treatment. You might have success getting your toenails zapped with targeted lasers. Several types of lasers are used. There isn't a lot of research on them, and the results are mixed. Laser treatment isn’t covered by insurance, though, and it can cost a lot.
Sometimes it’s possible to treat your toenail fungus at home. You can try:
Here are some things to think about when deciding on a nail fungus treatment.
There's a chance the infection can come back -- even if you get rid of it. So take these simple steps to help prevent that:
https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/treat-toenail-fungus
https://www.eastondermatology.com/blog/why-you-should-never-let-toenail-fungus-go-untreated
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