When you start to notice debris buildup under your toenails, you may be worried. You might think that it is indicative of an urgent medical condition or poor hygiene. Commonly, this buildup can occur with toenail fungus. Toenail fungus is an infectious condition that is easily spread between people. If you have caught a toenail fungus, you may have started to notice discoloration or change in the texture of your nail. When textural changes continue to worsen, toenail fungus can cause a buildup of material under the nail.

Why do you debris under toenails?

Debris buildup from toenail fungus occurs because of the growth of the fungal spores infecting the nail bed. As the fungus grows, it can thicken the nail and create a layer of growing fungus. This often presents as a buildup that looks flaky, crumbly, and often yellow. Some people with this debris buildup compare its aesthetic appearance to that of crumbly cheese. Additionally, the fungus can cause the actual toenail to become thickened. This thickening of the nail can make it seem like there is additional fungal buildup. 

Buildup from toenail fungus isn’t an indication of poor hygiene or a need to clean better. Toenail fungus can infect anybody, regardless of cleanliness. The debris you see is caused by the infection itself, and not a lack of hygiene. Because of this, trying to clean the debris out yourself won’t be effective at treating the underlying condition.

Treatment Options

Some treatment options include topical solutions and oral medication. Topical solutions are not as effective. It does not penetrate all the way through the nail bed to kill all the fungus. Oral medication is more effective but it can lead to liver toxicity.

Laser Treatment

Our nail doctor in Manhattan, NY recommends the PinPointe Laser treatment. In order to have the actual fungus infection cured, you should seek an FDA-approved treatment from a licensed podiatrist. The best treatment available is the PinPointe laser; this treatment only takes one session to cure fungus. It has the highest cure rate in the market. There are no side effects and no recovery period. You can go about your daily activities right after treatment. The PinPointe laser also is safe, with no side effects, downtime, or pain. To schedule a consultation with a licensed podiatrist for the PinPointe laser treatment, give us a call at 1-(800) 672-0625 or visit our website for more information.