Fungal nails

Nail fungus can occur on both toenails and fingernails. But how do you get it and what can you do about it?

With a fungal nail, the nail turns yellow or brown due to a fungal infection. The nail also thickens and crumbles, hence the name fungal nails.

Everyone has fungi on their skin, but the fungus can only penetrate the nails if they are damaged by, for example, sports, tight shoes, diabetes, poor blood circulation... The infections are transmitted to the damp floors of changing rooms and bathrooms. The fungus also spreads from one nail to another. You can prevent mold by not walking barefoot on wet floors and by drying your feet thoroughly.

The treatment usually consists of medications that must be taken for several months. The footwear also needs to be treated. For example, put it in the freezer for 1 night, then all the fungi will be dead. The nails are usually too hard to treat the fungus with anti-fungal liquids.

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 0000-00-00 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2025