Fungal toenails are one of the most common things I treat in my office. It's not just a cosmetic issue. It's a real infection.
The fungus lives in the nail bed. Not just on top of the nail, but underneath it. That's why so many treatments don't work — they never reach the source.
People think they can use tea tree oil or some over-the-counter liquid and the nail will get better. It doesn't. The reason is because the fungus is not just sitting on the surface. It's inside the nail, under the nail, and in the nail root.
The way I explain it to patients is simple. Think of it like this: the fungus hides where you can't see it. You have to go deeper than just wiping something on the outside.
Fungus spreads from one toe to another. That's why if one nail is infected, the others usually follow. And it spreads in your shoes. It spreads in your socks. It spreads in showers and nail salons.
A lot of people get it from the nail salon. Someone gets their nails done right before you and the instruments weren't sterilized properly. That's how you get fungus.
Once it gets into the nail, it's hard to kill. The nail acts like a shield that protects the fungus. It's a perfect hiding place.
The other thing I always look at is the patient's immune system and circulation. If you have poor blood flow, diabetes, or a weakened immune system, you're more likely to get a fungal infection and have trouble clearing it.
Fungus loves warm, dark, moist environments — like shoes. Especially shoes that get sweaty and don't dry out.
If you leave it alone, it doesn't go away. It usually spreads. And it can lead to thick, discolored, brittle nails that are painful, hard to cut, and sometimes even break off.
If you want to get rid of it, you have to treat it from all angles — surface, deep tissue, and from inside your body.