Check if you have a fungal nail infection
Fungal nail infections usually affect your toenails, but you can sometimes get them on your fingernails, too.
Fungal nail infections usually start at the edge of the nail. 
The infection often spreads to all of the nail, making it thicker and turning it white or yellow. 
The nail may become brittle and crumbly. The whole nail can sometimes lift off, causing the skin around it to become swollen and painful. A pharmacist can help with fungal nail infections
Speak to a pharmacist if the look of your nail bothers you or it's painful.
They may suggest trying an antifungal nail medicine that you brush onto the affected nail.
These medicines:
should be used daily or weekly, depending on the typeneed to be used for 6 to 12 months – it may take several months before you start to see an improvementmay not be suitable for you if you're under 18, pregnant or breastfeedingThe infection is cured when you see healthy nail growing back at the base.
Find a pharmacy
Important: Diabetes or a weakened immune system
See a foot specialist (podiatrist) if you have diabetes or a weakened immune system and get a fungal nail infection. Left untreated, an infection can cause serious health problems.
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
You have a fungal nail infection that:
is severe and treatment has not workedhas spread to other nailsTreatment for a fungal nail infection
A GP can prescribe antifungal tablets if you have a fungal nail infection and treatments from a pharmacy have not worked.
But before they give you tablets, they should take a sample of your nail and have it tested, to find out what type of infection you have.
You may also need to have a blood test before starting treatment and during treatment to check your liver is working properly.
You may need to take antifungal tablets for up to 6 months.
The tablets can have side effects, including:
headachesan itchy rashstomach achefeeling sick and diarrhoeaYou cannot take antifungal tablets if you have certain conditions, such as liver or kidney disease. They may also not be suitable if you're pregnant or breastfeeding.
Badly infected nails sometimes need to be removed. It's a small procedure done while the area is numbed (under local anaesthetic).
Preventing fungal nail infections
You can get a fungal nail infection if your feet are constantly warm and damp.
You're more likely to get an infection if you wear trainers for a long time and have hot, sweaty feet.
There are some things you can do to help prevent fungal nail infections.
Do
treat athlete's foot as soon as possible to avoid it spreading to nails
keep your nails short
keep your feet clean and dry
wear clean socks every day
wear flip-flops in showers at the gym or pool
wear shoes that fit well and do not have high heels or narrow toes
throw out old shoes
Don’t
do not wear shoes that make your feet hot and sweaty
do not share towels
do not wear other people's shoes
do not share nail clippers or scissors
Page last reviewed: 27 March 2024
Next review due: 27 March 2027
