Is there any future health problems if nail fungus goes untreated?

Untreated nails can affect your quality of life. When you have nail fungus, the nail will become increasingly thickened and discolored. An untreated toenail infected with nail fungus can worsen to the point that it is painful to walk. If the infection worsens, it can cause foot ulcers. This is especially dangerous for individuals with diabetes.





Without treatment, nail fungus will continue to infect your nail. Although it may take a while, untreated nail fungus usually gets worse. It may spread to other nails and sometimes the surrounding skin. Although it is not common, nail fungus also can spread to others in your family who share your bathroom and other living spaces.





Nail Fungus (also called tinea unguium or onychomychosis) affects the fingernails and toenails of an estimated 30-35 million Americans. This disease is commonly misunderstood and left untreated for various reasons. The fungi that cause toenail fungus are related to those that cause ringworm, athelete's foot, and other common fungal infections. Toenail fungus, in particular, is notoriously difficult to treat. These fungi can also be confused with other conditions, such as psoriasis of the nails, nail ridges, and sometimes bacterial infections.





Also known as Onychomycosis, fungal nail infections are caused by an organism that digests the keratin found in our fingernails and toenails. Our nails are naturally built to be strong barriers, and resistant to fungi and other infections. The strength of this barrier also makes nail fungus very difficult to eradicate once it is present.