How to get rid of smelly Toenails? Why do my toenails smell bad? These are very common questions among people who experience nail fungus. Smelly toenails are usually associated with sweaty feet and poor hygiene. The smell would usually go away with a thorough wash. In some cases, the foul smell may have a medical cause. White, smelly gunk under the toenails that has a similar smell to cheese is likely to be toenail fungus.
A smelly odor coming from your nails can be alarming. Usually, a bad smell coming from the feet can be easily washed away. When the nail itself emits an odor, this may be because of an infection. If you have also noticed that there is a buildup of dirt or another residue that is emitting the odor, you likely are infected with a fungus.
Reasons to get rid of smelly toenail fungus
Smelly toenail fungus can be a very distressing condition for many people. In general, toenail fungus can be something that is a cause of embarrassment, shame, and discomfort for people. People with visible toenail fungus can be uncomfortable showing their toes at all because of the visual symptoms and damage that toenail fungus can cause. These symptoms can be pretty obvious and can make people stop doing activities that they enjoy, like going to the beach or wearing sandals. The resulting decrease in enjoyment of life can be one of the worst parts of toenail fungus. When the fungus causes a lingering or emanating smell, it can cause even more embarrassment, shame, and discomfort. This particular symptom is usually more noticeable than the other, aesthetic changes it causes in the nail’s surface, and people are more likely to both smell the fungus and to make a comment on the smell.
What should you do first if you have a smelly toenail?
The first thing to do when you have a smelly toenail problem is to identify the cause of the issue. If you can’t wait to get an appointment with a doctor, there are some signs you can look for. If the smell is coming directly from the toenails, this is one indication that the root cause is fungal. Fungal spores infect the nail bed, which is the area under the toenail. These fungal spores are associated with the bad smell that comes from toenail fungus.
It makes sense that the associated smell would come directly from the toenails as well. Fungal growth is not dependent on cleanliness and actually develops when a fungal spore from the outside environment attaches to the nail bed. While the initial attachment of the fungus to the nails can happen to anyone, certain behaviors and pre-existing conditions make the development of a more serious infection more probable. People who exercise a lot are especially prone to fungal infections since their feet tend to be sweaty and moist. Sweaty and moist environments are the perfect places for fungal spores to grow.
What happens if you don’t receive treatment right away for your smelly toenail?
If left untreated, a smelly toenail fungus infection will only continue to worsen over time. You need to receive a proper medical diagnosis from a licensed podiatrist if you want any results to show. One of the most important things about the treatment you receive is that it needs to be FDA-approved. This qualification ensures that the treatment you receive has been researched and proven to have some efficacy in dealing with the fungus.
DIY, at-home treatments for fungus are some of the treatments that aren’t FDA-approved; these treatments are always very ineffective and unlikely to have many positive effects on your condition. Some at-home treatments can actually cause serious harm to the nail and skin around it, for example, the dangerous recommendation from online sources to put bleach on your toenail fungus. Seeking a licensed medical professional, in particular a podiatrist, to give you an effective treatment is a much better option. A medical professional can both diagnose your condition and work with you to develop a treatment plan that will actually help.
Cause of stinky nails
Stinky buildup under nails is commonly a symptom of nail fungus infection. Nail fungus is contagious and spreads between people. Fungal spores are passed from infected nails to uninfected nails. The transfer of fungal spores commonly happens through a common surface that people walk on. Public pools and locker rooms are one of many places where toenail fungus spread is common. This is because there is high traffic of barefoot people. Another place where the fungus is commonly spread is at nail salons. Nail Technicians may reuse tools on multiple clients. When nail salons know how to properly sanitize the tools, this shouldn’t be an issue. However, some salons may not sanitize the tools at all or may not sanitize them properly.
Stinky buildup under nails is just one of many symptoms of toenail fungus. This buildup can look like gunk and can take many forms and colors. It can be crumbly, dusty, thick, or look like another nail growing under the original one. Nail fungus mainly causes aesthetic changes in the nail. Discoloration of the nail is the most common and usually the first to appear. Once infected with nail fungus, it can take some time before the symptoms are noticeable. The first signs of discoloration may be hard to notice. These signs show up as small dots or stripes on the nail. The discoloration will become more prominent and noticeable as the fungal infection grows.
As this discoloration worsens, other changes can happen to the nail. Nails infected with toenail fungus can often become damaged and may look cracked, brittle, or decayed. They can also start to lift up or detach from the nail bed, which can make it seem like the nail is going to fall off. The nail can also seem to grow multiple layers or become very thickened or hardened. Debris buildup underneath the nail and these other symptoms are caused by the fungal organism itself growing and degrading the nail.
Nails in the Summer
Smelly toenails and fingernails are usually at their peak during the summer season. Because fungal infections grow more easily in damp, moist, and dark environments, shoes during the summer form their perfect breeding grounds. The sweat that accumulates in shoes and socks throughout the day during a period of hot weather can make toenail fungus more common. Additionally, the heat itself can make the smell from an already present fingernail and/or toenail fungus infection more prominent.
There are steps you can take to reduce the smell from smelly toenails and fingernails. First of all, be sure to wash your hands and feet regularly and thoroughly. This will remove sweat from your hands and feet and reduce odor from non-fungal sources. You can also try using foot antiperspirants or deodorants to reduce odor as well.
Causes of toenail fungus
Toenail fungus or Onychomycosis usually causes the toenails to smell like cheese. The unpleasant odor is caused by the organism, tinea unguium. Other symptoms of toenail fungus include discoloration and brittleness of the toenail. This condition is common in people who wear closed shoes for long periods of time. The feet are unable to breathe and become sweaty. This becomes the perfect environment for fungus to grow. The fungus thrives in dark and damp environments. It can be worse when you do not wear socks. This makes it extremely hard to get rid of smelly toenails.
To get rid of the smelly odor from your nails, you should take preventive measures against fungal growth. If you are an athlete, change your socks and shoes immediately every time you exercise. Wash your feet when you shower and dry your feet well immediately after washing them. If the smelly odor from your nails is persistent, try wearing foot deodorant or antiperspirant.
You can follow this routine to get rid of the smelly toenail fungus from your feet and prevent toenail fungus:
- Dry your feet after washing. Don’t leave your feet damp because this encourages fungus to grow
- Wear antifungal socks
- Change socks regularly, especially if you have sweaty feet.
- Use foot antiperspirant or antifungal shoe spray on your shoes.
- Wear properly fitting shoes that allow your feet to breathe
- Clean under your toenails
- Keep your toenails trimmed
- Apply the antifungal solution to your feet and toenails twice a day after washing.
In truth, it is not the nail fungus that causes the smell of cheese. There is a type of bacteria called Brevibacterium that is responsible for the odor. Brevibacterium is used to mature certain types of cheese, which is what causes the commonly known funky smell. The same bacteria live on your feet and cause a cheese-like smell.
So you may now be wondering what this has to do with nail fungus, and why the smell and fungal infection so frequently occur together. This is simply because both fungus and Brevibacterium thrive in the same conditions, meaning dark, moist places like inside sweaty shoes.
Will good hygiene get rid of stinky nails?
Cleaning the stinky buildup under nails won’t be enough to get rid of the smell if the fungus is the root cause. The fungal organisms will remain under the nail in the nail bed even after a thorough wash. It will still be able to emit odor. To eliminate the smell from toenail fungus permanently, you will need to eliminate the fungus. You should consider an FDA-approved treatment from a licensed podiatrist. These doctors specialize in treating issues of the foot and will be able to provide you with effective and safe treatment. Medical treatments for toenail fungus vary, but if you receive an effective treatment, your fungus will be gone. A new healthy nail can start to grow behind the old damaged one, free of stinky debris or buildup. However, future infections with fungus are always possible, so you must also take steps to avoid such reinfection. pharmacy
What happens if the smelly toenail fungus is not treated
If left untreated, toenail fungus would just get worse, along with the smell. The fungus can also spread to the foot and cause athlete’s foot. You should take care of your feet and clean them on a regular basis to avoid infection. If you suspect you have toenail fungus, you should seek treatment as soon as possible to prevent it from getting worse. Otherwise, if treatment is not sought out, it will get worse over time.
Best treatment option for smelly toenail fungus
To get rid of smelly toenails and prevent the cheesy, smelly odor of toenails from becoming noticeable to other people, the root cause should be treated as quickly as possible. A podiatrist will be able to tell you if the smell is because of a toenail fungus or some other issue. The nail doctors in the San Francisco office will be able to treat your toenail fungus with the PinPointe laser immediately. To schedule a consultation with a licensed podiatrist for the PinPointe laser treatment, give us a call at 1-(800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information.
