What does toenail fungus look like symptoms

Here are 10 of these popular at-home treatments. Vicks VapoRub is a topical ointment. Although designed for cough suppression, its active ingredients camphor and eucalyptus oil may help treat toenail fungus. Shop for Vicks VapoRub online. Snakeroot Ageratina pichinchensis extract is an antifungal made from plants in the sunflower family. A study showed that the remedy is as effective against toenail fungus as the prescription antifungal medicine ciclopirox.

For the study, snakeroot extract was applied to the affected area every third day for the first month, twice a week for the second month, and once a week for the third month. Tea tree oil, also called melaleuca, is an essential oil with antifungal and antiseptic abilities. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health , some small-scale clinical studies showed that tea tree oil might be effective against toenail fungus.

Shop for therapeutic-grade tea tree oil online. Oregano oil contains thymol. According to a review , thymol has antifungal and antibacterial properties.

To treat toenail fungus, apply oregano oil to the affected nail twice daily with a cotton swab. Some people use oregano oil and tea tree oil together. Both products are potent and may cause irritation or allergic reaction.

Combining them may increase this risk. Shop for oregano oil online. An active substance in olive leaf extract, oleuropein, is thought to have antifungal, antimicrobial, and immune-boosting abilities. According to a review , taking one to three olive leaf capsules with meals twice daily is more effective than olive leaf salve in treating toenail fungus. Shop for olive leaf extract capsules or oil online. According to a study , this type of ozone exposure in low concentrations for a short duration can then inactivate many organisms such as fungi, yeast, and bacteria.

Another study found ozonized sunflower oil was more effective in treating toenail fungus than the prescription topical antifungal, ketoconazole Xolegel. Only anecdotal evidence exists supporting vinegar as a treatment for toenail fungus.

To use, soak the affected foot in one part vinegar to two parts warm water for up to 20 minutes daily. Listerine mouthwash contains ingredients such as menthol, thymol, and eucalyptus, which have antibacterial and antifungal properties. Supporters of the treatment recommend soaking the affected foot in a basin of amber-colored Listerine for 30 minutes daily.

Shop for Listerine online. A review found that garlic has some antifungal and antimicrobial capabilities. You may treat toenail fungus with garlic by placing chopped or crushed garlic cloves on the affected area for 30 minutes daily. It may be better, and less smelly, to treat it from the inside out with garlic capsules.

The nail becomes soft and crumbly in texture. Candida Infection of the Nail Candida is probably best known for causing vaginal yeast infections , but the fungus also lives on the skin.

The nail itself may thicken and separate from the nail bed if the infection persists. Several health conditions can affect the appearance of your toenails and may be mistaken for toenail fungus. Psoriasis Psoriasis can cause red, scaly patches on the skin. More than half of people with skin psoriasis also have it on their nails. Toenails and fingernails affected by psoriasis may be thick, discolored, crumbly, or loose.

Skin Cancer A discolored spot underneath a toenail may be a sign of melanoma , a potentially fatal form of skin cancer. Melanoma under a toenail usually looks like a brown or black streak or may appear similar to a bruise. Darier Disease This genetic disorder typically causes yellowish, wartlike blemishes on the body. However, some people with Darier disease also have fingernail or toenail irregularities, such as nails that are marked with red and white streaks, according to Genetics Home Reference.

Yellow Nail Syndrome This rare condition has been known to cause slow-growing, thickened, yellow nails, along with abnormalities affecting the lungs and other parts of the respiratory tract and swelling in various parts of the body, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders.

The exact cause of the syndrome is unknown. Alopecia Areata This autoimmune disorder most commonly causes round patches of hair loss from the scalp, although it can affect other areas of the body as well, according to Genetics Home Reference. Alopecia areata can also affect nails, which may become rough or pitted or develop white spots.

Minus Related Pages. Definition Fungal nail infections are common infections of the fingernails or toenails that can cause the nail to become discolored, thick, and more likely to crack and break. Infections are more common in toenails than fingernails.

Physical appearance. Yellowish, brownish, or whitish discoloration begins under the distal edge or sides of the nail and spreads over the entire nail plate. The big toenail is most often affected, but all nails are susceptible. Proximal subungual onychomycosis : Infection originates from the proximal nail fold and spreads distally. Superficial onychomycosis : Fungi invade the superficial layers of the nail plate and spread deeper into the nail plate as the infection progresses.

Lesions are often white and are most often caused by T. Endonyx onychomycosis : Nail bed is not involved in the infection; only the interior of the nail plate is infected.

Totally dystrophic onychomycosis: Often a sign of end-stage distal or proximal subungual onychomycosis. Nail bed is thickened and raised with copious keratotic debris. Yeast onychomycosis: Affects fingernails more commonly than toenails, and is often caused by Candida. May be a sign of underlying immunodeficiency. Fungal melanonychia: 6 An uncommon nail infection caused by melanin-producing molds such as Scytalidium, Alternaria, and Exophiala, causing brownish or blackish discolorations of the nail plate.

May present similar to subungual melanoma. Diagnosis of onychomycosis can often be made by visual inspection alone; laboratory tests may not be needed, but include: Microscopy: Potassium hydroxide KOH stain is a commonly-used method because it is inexpensive and easy to perform. Nail clippings or scrapings are placed in a drop of KOH and examined under a microscope for the presence of fungal elements. J Am Acad Dermatol. The epidemiology, etiology, and pathophysiology of onychomycosis external icon.