What does tinea unguium look like?
Tinea unguium can change your toenail’s appearance in more than one way. Your toenail may:
- Change color, looking white, yellow or brown.
- Look chalky or cloudy in some spots.
- Thicken and possibly look misshapen.
- Separate from your nail bed (leaving space between your nail and the skin underneath).
- Crack or break in one or more spots.
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Is toenail fungus painful?
Not typically. Toenail fungus can be unsightly to look at, but it usually isn’t painful.
What causes tinea unguium?
A type of mold called a dermatophyte causes tinea unguium. Dermatophytes are fungal microorganisms (too tiny to see with the naked eye). They feed off of keratin, a protein found in your fingernails and toenails. Keratin makes nails hard.
Dermatophytes are the cause behind 90% of toenail fungal infections. But other types of fungi can infect your toenails as well.
Is tinea unguium contagious?
Yes, many types of toenail fungi, including tinea unguium, are quite contagious. You can spread the fungus to someone else through direct contact. You can also get toenail fungus by touching an infected surface.
What are common ways you can get toenail fungus?
Nail fungi like warm, moist, dark places. You can get toenail fungus by:
- Walking around the perimeters of swimming pools.
- Using a public locker room or shower.
- Walking barefoot in a public area.
Can toenail fungus spread to other areas of your body?
Yes. But toenail fungus usually doesn’t spread beyond your toe.
Some dermatophyte fungi spread easily to your skin. (Your skin and scalp also contain keratin.) When dermatophyte fungi affect your skin, the condition is called ringworm.
Toenail fungus may spread to:
