When left untreated, nail fungus, or Onychomycosis, can become very painful.
It can also get so bad that you will need to have your toenail removed completely. Don’t worry as it doesn’t have to be this way. If you have toenail fungus that hurts, there are ways to stop the pain while killing the fungus at the same time.
It is a highly contagious condition. People may not even know that they have a problem until they start to notice the early visual signs of a fungal infection. Even when there are no signs or symptoms, the fungus is still living and growing under your nail, or in the nail bed.
As soon as you spot the initial symptoms, it’s time to start treating it. The sooner that you take action, the easier it will be to heal. Don’t think that it will go away on its own because it won’t. The fungus will only become stronger, and it will infect your nail and skin, leading to more serious problems.
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What does Toenail Fungus Look Like?
There are a few different types of toenail fungus. They are all treated the same way, but the treatment times vary depending on how long you have had the fungus. Below is a list of the most common types of toenail fungus and a description of what they look like:
- White Superficial Onychomycosis – The first signs are a white powdery substance on your toenail. As the area becomes larger, the nails will become brittle and start to crumble. The fungus enters through the layers of your nail, gradually getting into the nail bed itself.
- Black Toenail Fungus – Sometimes this is mistaken for dried blood under the nail or trauma, but you can’t recall banging your toe.
After a while, though, the fungus will grow, and the nail discoloration will become worse. You will notice changes in your nail such as thickening, crumbling, and an unpleasant odor.
Untreated Toenail Fungal Infection
When left untreated, the nail fungus can easily lead to infection. This can quickly become very painful and will require medical treatment.
The longer that you leave the infection untreated, the worse it will get. You may not realize it, but it can cause you to lose your toenail completely, or a dermatologist may have to remove it surgically. This can be prevented if treated early enough.
Fungus Spreads to the Other Nails
When fungus gets into the skin under your toenail, which is called the nail bed, it starts to dig deeper into your skin and nail. If it doesn’t go away, it can start to spread to your other toes or friends/members of the family.
Difficulty Walking without Pain
There have been reported cases of fungal infections that have become so bad that it’s hindered the ability of some people to walk. The swelling is so extreme that they couldn’t wear any foot covering at all, because of the pain.
Is Toenail Fungus Painful?
Onychomycosis isn’t initially painful, only ugly and embarrassing. If you don’t treat it soon, however, it can lead to swelling and pain.
Most of the time nail fungus will only cause discoloration, thickening, cracking and crumbling of the nail, and an unpleasant smell.
There are over-the-counter treatments that you can use, even at this late stage, that will help with the pain and treat the fungus, such as Omiera Labs Nail Fungus Treatment.
One of the things that can happen is a thickening of the toenail. Also, the skin around your toenail will become red and swollen, and the fungus can spread to other toes. It becomes easier for other people to notice, so most people tend to avoid showing their feet in public.
Start a Program of Treatment When You Have Mild Toenail Fungus
This is the stage where you should start a fungal treatment. You won’t have any pain at this point, only a toenail that is starting to change. The yellowing and discoloration, and the toenail starting to get thicker are symptoms of mild toenail fungus.
Treating it now will ensure that it doesn’t get so bad as to cause you any pain. When your nail fungus is mild, you can easily treat it with any treatment, although a tea tree oil foot soak is highly recommended.
Foot soaks can get into your skin and nail at the same time. They will also soften the nail, letting you file off the extra layers of nail. As more layers come off, the treatment will work faster. You can make the experience more pleasant with a quality foot spa machine. Many people use them to improve circulation and reduce stress after a busy/hectic day.
Types of Toenail Fungus Treatment That Work
You may be surprised at how many different treatments are available. These include creams, liquids, gels, and foot soaks. There are prescriptions and complete systems that will kill the fungus and heal the nail.
Which one should you choose? If you don’t want to take a lot of time, then creams and liquids may be the best option. A particularly good option (one that’s recommended by many podiatrists) is Xenna Nonyx nail gel. No product works for everyone, but the overwhelming majority of sufferers have enjoyed good results with this formula.
Foot Soaks for Nail Fungus
Using a foot soak is also a good treatment and can help you to relax a little, as well. Using a complete treatment is one of the best things that you can use to treat toenail fungus. This is because there are different parts of the system that can restore the health of your nail. It will kill the fungus on and under your nail, as well as the surrounding skin.
One of the best treatments, when you have toenail fungus that hurts, is Purely Northwest Toenail Fungus System. We’ve already recommended the use of tea tree oil (above), but this is a 3-part system that’s getting results for people who’ve had infections for years.
Removing toenail fungus that hurts isn’t always quick and easy. In fact, serious infections can take months to clear up. But, by using the proper treatments that will get rid of toenail fungus for good, you won’t have to put up with the pain for as long, and your nail will become healthier that much faster. The longer that you delay in taking action, the worse that things will get. A fungus doesn’t go away on its own, sadly.
