What is fingernail fungus?

Fingernail fungus is a fungal infection of the toenail or fingernail. The fungal infection can be caused by ringworm, yeast or mold, and leads to the destruction of the nail plate.

It is more likely to get a fungal infection in the first toenail than the fingernails. An infected nail may have a white/yellow color or develop orange/brown streaks. The nail may also have a foul odor, and could even detach from the nail bed.

A fungal infection usually begins with the skin. The toenail can act as a reservoir that leads to re-infection or spreads the fungus to other parts of the body.