Toenail fungus: slow care works better than quick fixes

Toenail fungus usually shows up as thickening, a yellowish or dull colour and a nail that becomes crumbly over time. It is a slow problem because toenails grow slowly. That is why the most useful product is usually the one you can keep using long enough.

Toenail care often goes better when the nail is kept shorter and the feet are kept dry. Socks should be changed often enough, and shoes need time to dry between uses. A product that is easy to fit into the day is more likely to be used consistently than a stronger-looking one that is awkward in practice.

If several nails change at once, the nail becomes painful, the skin around it swells or the nail starts to lift away, the situation should be assessed. If you have diabetes or poor circulation, the threshold for checking the foot should stay lower.

Read more: Foot care in diabetes.