A toenail fungal infection may begin as white or yellow patches on the toenail. As the fungus spreads deeper into the nail, it may cause it to discolor, yellow, thicken and develop crumbling edges.

Once a fungal infection begins in the nails, it will persist indefinitely if not treated. See your doctor at the first sign of toenail fungus, to get the correct diagnosis and prevent complications. [1]

Most doctors will initially prescribe an antifungal nail paint, which you paint on to your infected nails once a day. Filing the nail down is recommended to make it easier for the medication to reach the infection. This treatment can take 6 - 12 months to be effective, and often no change may be noticed within the first 3 months. A recent development in antifungal nail treatments is Curanail, which only needs to be painted on once week.

If the nail laquer doesn't work, your doctor may prescribe an oral antifungal medication. These are known to be more effective although they still take months to work. However, oral antifungals have a high risk of side effects (ranging from skin rashes to liver damage), and doctors may not recommend them for people with liver disease, congestive heart failure or for those taking certain medications. [1] <ref name="nhs.uk">[2]

Whilst no scientific evidence exists for any alternative treatments for toe nail fungus, many people have found these three treatments highly effective:

Vinegar - try regularly soaking your feet in vinegar. Apple cider vinegar is highly recommended due to its antifungal properties.

Vicks VapoRub - numerous anecdotal reports claim that regularly rubbing Vicks VapRub on the affected toenails helps.

Tea Tree Oil - regularly dousing the toenails with tea tree oil is thought to be the most effective alternative treatment. Tea tree oil has both antifungal and antiseptic qualities. [1]

Nail fungus is a transferable infection that grows in moist environments. To prevent spreading infection to further nails, don't pick at the nails or skin, and sterilize nail scissors and clippers.

To prevent further infection or re-infection: Always make sure feet are completely dry after bathing. Wear socks and shoes that allow feet to breath. Keep taking medication and using alternative treatments until the fungus has completely disappeared