Pain with a nail fungus
Nail fungus causes pain by thickening the nail. Thus the thickened nail presses on the underlying, highly sensitive nail bed. In case of inflammation of the toenail, the pain can affect the patient so severely that it causes pain when walking.
Additional pressure from tight shoes can further intensify the symptoms. This is the case in about 50% of nail fungus patients. If, however, only the upper layer of the nail plate is affected and the nail has not yet thickened, there is not necessarily a pain symptomatology, since the nail itself is not penetrated by nerves and there is no pain sensation.
Pain can be caused not only by a thickening of the nail, but also by an inflammation of the nail bed. Since the nail is fundamentally changed and loosened in its structure, bacteria and viruses can more easily reach the underlying nail bed and cause an inflammation there. Often, however, the nail fungus is – in contrast to the skin fungus – not painful and is therefore wrongly regarded by those affected only as a cosmetic problem. Whether pain occurs or not depends on the localization and strength of the infestation.
Smell of the nail fungus
The nail fungus is divided into three stages depending on its severity. In the third and heaviest stage, the nail begins to decompose and a brown, crumbly substance is formed. This process is accompanied by an unpleasant moldy-sweetish smell.
It comes from the dissolution of the keratins by the nail fungus.This stage is considered to be particularly difficult and recurrent, because the fungus sits deep in the nail, and already infects the growing nail. An appropriate treatment is also accordingly complicated. Therefore a physician is to be consulted at the latest now for the therapy in any case, since self-therapy in this stage does not promise any more success, and the infestation is in the process of spreading.
Itching of a nail fungus
A strong itching can occur with advanced nail mycosis, especially when wearing closed shoes between the toes. It is often accompanied by small blisters on the side of the toes or fingers. In the early stages of the nail fungus infection, itching is rather untypical. If it should occur nevertheless, fungicide-containing creams help to apply, up to the systemic therapy with antimycotics. Home remedies such as tiger balm, vinegar (see here: ), or alcohol may alleviate the symptoms, but have no proven clinical benefit.
