Nail fungus: Signs and symptoms

The first noticeable sign is often color change on part of a nail. It’s common to see yellow, brown, or white. You can also see orange, greenish black, or black. Color change usually begins at the tip of the nail and spreads toward the cuticle.

One type of nail fungus causes one or more white nails. The white color develops on the surface, so you may be able to scrape some of it off. The affected nails often feel soft, dry, and powdery. You may notice that the affected nails feel thinner. If you scrape a white nail, be sure to wash your hands. Nail fungus can spread easily and can infect other nails.

Here you can see yellow and white, along with another sign of nail fungus — redness on the skin around the nail. If you have a darker skin tone, infected skin around the nail tends to be a bit darker than your natural skin tone.

Here you can see common signs of nail fungus, such as a color change and discoloration on the skin. You can also see another telltale sign. Nail fungus can cause infected nails to split, crack, or crumble.

Without treatment, the fungus can burrow deeper into the skin beneath a nail. Over time, this can cause the nail to lift or separate, and you may see build up under the nail.

Over time, the fungal infection can cause infected nails to thicken. In darker skin tones, the thickened nail is often brown. People with lighter skin tones tend to see a thickened, yellowish nail.

Without treatment, nail fungus can burrow deep into the skin beneath a nail. This can damage the nail, causing a change to a nail’s shape. Sometimes, an infected nail falls off.

Nail fungus is usually painless. However, if it becomes severe, it can damage a nail and cause pain. When this happens, everyday activities, such as walking or standing, are often painful. Severe toenail fungus can also cause pain because shoes fit poorly.