A bad smell from toenails is undesirable and for many, unattractive. Smelly feet are often socially associated with poor hygiene. It can feel embarrassing to try and determine the underlying cause. A medical issue may be underlying the scent. This is likely if you have noticed a smell that doesn’t wash off after you shower and gets worse when trimming your nails. Fungal infections are a common medical cause of smelly toenails.

Cause of the bad smell

The bad smell of the toenails is caused by fungal spores under the nail. These spores inhabit the nail bed and cause damage to the nail. Aside from the bad smell, fungal spores also affect the visual appearance of the nail. These changes can look like yellow, brown, or black spots and thickening.

If a bad smell from toenails is bothering you, you can try and determine if it is a fungus. Also, you might notice other fungal symptoms like discoloration or cracking, infection is likely. If you notice the smell is worse when you cut your nails, infection is also likely. When you cut your nails, you can expose the fungus and intensify the smell. The fungus could also be a culprit if the smell doesn’t go away after a shower. Lastly, bad smell from fungal infections tends to smell like cheese.

Treatment options for the bad smell from toenails

The bad smell under your toenails can’t be treated at home. To get this issue cured, you need to be seen by a licensed podiatrist. They are the best doctors to treat fungal toenail infections because they are specialized in the foot and ankle.

Medical treatment for a bad smell from fungus comes in different forms. The safest available is the PinPointe laser, which has no side effects or downtime. This is a huge benefit when compared to other treatments for fungus. Additionally, the laser only requires one treatment to cure the condition. To schedule a consultation with a licensed podiatrist at over 150 clinics nationwide, give us a call at 1-(800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information.