How to Identify a Toenail Infection

Toenail infections, usually caused by constant overexposure to a warm, moist environment, might seem on the surface to be a trivial problem. But, left untreated, toenail infections can spread from nail to nail, disfiguring and discoloring your nails, and eventually they can cause pain in the surrounding areas, Learning how to identify a toenail infection can help you realize when it's time to seek medical help to fix the problem.

Instructions

How To Identify A Toenail Infection

• 1

  Look for a change of color. The most common symptom of toenail infections is when the nail turns a different color. Depending on the type of toenail infection you have, the color can vary. Nails might turn yellow, white, black or brown. Nails also might develop a white or yellow spot close to the cuticle. The various colors can represent different levels of severity, so you should talk to a doctor at the first sign of color change.

• 2

  Look for a change in the way the nail looks. Toenail infections can cause all manner of changes to the nail and surrounding areas. The nails might become thickened or brittle. They might start to crumble, or the shape might become distorted. In some cases, debris can build up underneath the nail as a symptom of the infection. If the condition worsens, the nail can become separated from the nail bed.

• 3

  Be aware of other symptoms. You might be able to detect a foul odor emanating from the toe, which is sometimes symptomatic of toenail infections. Eventually you might feel pain not just in your nails but in the surrounding areas, affecting basic acts like standing and walking. If the toenail infection is causing this much distress, clearly you should seek a doctor's help.