Fungal nail infection

Check if you have a fungal nail infection

• A nail that has turned white, yellow or brown
• A thick, brittle or crumbly nail
• A nail lifting away from the skin underneath
• Athlete’s foot on the skin around the nail

Things you can do yourself

Do

• Keep your feet clean and dry
• Wear clean socks every day and shoes that let your feet breathe
• Try an antifungal nail paint from a pharmacy for a mild infection
• Treat any athlete’s foot at the same time

Don’t

• Share towels, socks or nail clippers
• Cover infected nails with nail varnish or gel

Non-urgent advice: See a podiatrist if:

• the nail is thick, painful or hard to cut
• pharmacy treatment hasn’t helped after several months
• you have diabetes or circulation problems

Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

• the skin around the nail becomes red, hot, swollen and painful

You can call 111 or get help online at 111.nhs.uk. In an emergency, call 999.

How we can help

We thin and trim infected nails so they’re comfortable and so that topical treatments can reach the infection, and advise when it’s worth asking your GP about tablets.

Foot conditions

Related conditions

• Ingrown toenail A nail edge growing into the skin, causing pain, redness and swelling.
• Thickened toenails Hard, overgrown nails that are difficult to cut and press in shoes.
• Diabetes and your feet Why foot checks matter and the warning signs not to ignore.