Fungal nail infections cause the toenails to become thickened, discoloured, brittle, or crumbly. The infection develops when fungi invade the nail and the surrounding nail bed.
Fungal nail infections occur when fungi infect the nail plate, nail bed, or surrounding skin.
The condition often begins as a small discoloured patch on the nail, usually appearing white, yellow, or brown. As the infection progresses, the nail may become thickened, brittle, and misshapen. In some cases, debris may build up beneath the nail, and the nail may begin to separate from the nail bed.
The infection rarely resolves without treatment. Because the nail grows slowly, treatment can take time, as the damaged nail needs to grow out and be replaced with healthy nail.
Professional assessment helps confirm the presence of a fungal infection and ensures the most appropriate treatment approach is used. Early diagnosis and treatment can help improve nail appearance, reduce discomfort, and prevent the infection from spreading to other nails or surrounding skin.