Mitchell J. Mandel, MD, FAAD
Dermatologist, founder · All offices
Nail fungus
Medically reviewed by Mitchell J. Mandel, M.D., F.A.A.D., Board-Certified Dermatologist. Last reviewed .
Nail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a common infection that makes nails thick, yellow, white or brown, and brittle. It is much more common in toenails than fingernails and often starts with athlete's foot.
Not every thick or discolored nail is fungus. Psoriasis and injury can look similar, so testing before treatment is important.
Signs and symptoms
- Thickened, discolored nails
- Crumbly or ragged nail edges
- A nail lifting from the nail bed
- Debris under the nail
How we treat it
- Nail clipping or scraping sent to a lab to confirm the diagnosis
- Prescription nail solutions
- Oral antifungal medicine, which may be effective but requires review of medication interactions, liver health and appropriate monitoring
- Treating athlete's foot and tips to prevent reinfection
Where it is offered
Offered at all of our offices.
Q&A
How long does treatment take?
Nails grow slowly. It can take 12 to 18 months for a healthy toenail to grow out fully.
Can it come back?
Yes. Keeping feet dry, wearing sandals in public showers and treating shoes help prevent it returning.
Who you can see
Dustin Marks, MD, FAAD
Dermatologist · Upper East Side
Emily Tongdee, MD, FAAD
Dermatologist · Downtown Brooklyn
Emma Newman, PA-C
Physician assistant · Upper East Side
Grace Jarrett, PA-C
Physician assistant · Downtown Brooklyn
Leah Aminov, PA-C
Physician assistant · Greenvale
Karen Chen, PA-C
Physician assistant · Streeterville
Paige Yurick, PA-C
Physician assistant · Streeterville
Arielle Ades, DNP, FNP-BC
Nurse practitioner · Boulder
Francesca Raedel, FNP-BC
Nurse practitioner · Boulder
Jennifer Telgener, FNP-BC
Nurse practitioner · Boulder
Christine Sacco, FNP-C
Nurse practitioner · Palm Beach Gardens