The smelly fungus can be distressing for many people. Toenail fungus in general can be something that causes embarrassment, shame, and discomfort. Often, people feel uncomfortable showing their toes at all because of the visual changes that toenail fungus can cause. This can make people stop going to the beach, or stop wearing sandals.

This detriment to the quality of life is the worst part about toenail fungus. When the fungus smells, it can cause even more embarrassment, shame, and discomfort. A bad smell is often more noticeable than a visual change in the nail’s surface, and people around you are more likely to comment on a foul odor. 

Why is my toenail smelly?

If you have a smelly toenail problem, you may be wondering what the cause of them is. The nail itself smelling is caused by toenail fungus or onychomycosis. The fungal organisms themselves infect under the nail, grow and proliferate. Fungal growth under the nail occurs when the nail comes into contact with a fungal spore in the environment.

Once the initial infection occurs, certain people are more prone to it developing and growing faster. Particularly, fungal growth is worse in people who wear closed-toed shoes, exercise frequently, or sweat excessively. Fungal spores thrive in moist, dark environments like sweaty feet. 

Symptom of Toenail Fungus

The cause of a smelly toenail problem can be narrowed down to fungus by a few things. For one, toenail fungus odor usually smells similar to cheese. If you have noticed a cheesy odor emanating from your nails, a fungus is a likely culprit. Additionally, the fungal smell gets worse when the nails are trimmed. This is because the nail clippers free up fungus from the toenail into the environment.

The biggest indicator of a fungal toenail smell is the co-occurrence of visual signs of a fungal infection. If you have noticed discoloration of the toenails that are black, white, yellow, or brown, a fungal infection is probable. Additionally, fungal infections can cause the nail to lift from the nail bed and become brittle, hard, crumbly, or cracked.

Other Symptoms of Toenail Fungus

Fungal infections can also cause debris buildup under the nail, which can be a cause of the smell. While these signs can help you narrow down the cause of your infections, a diagnosis can only be made by a medical professional. The best professional to seek care from is a podiatrist, since they are licensed doctors who specialize in feet.

If untreated, the smelly fungus problem will get worse and worse. Fungal growth continues with time unless a proper medical intervention is performed. To prevent the smell coming from your nails from becoming worse, you should seek an FDA-approved medical treatment from a licensed podiatrist. They will be able to provide you with safe, effective treatment for fungal infections.

At-Home Treatments

Trying to cure toenail fungus at home is a bad idea. At-home treatments are all very ineffective, and usually futile. Some of them can even be very dangerous, like using bleach on the toenail. Because of this, seeking medical treatment for a smelly toenail problem is a much better option. A medical professional will be able to diagnose your fungus and recommend the best treatment option for you.

Topical and Oral Treatments

However, not all smelly toenail treatments and prescriptions are made the same. For example, topical treatments are very ineffective at curing fungus. These topical medications, both over the counter and prescription, don’t penetrate the nail into the nail bed well enough to eliminate the fungus. Oral antifungals are another prescription option, but these come with more negatives.

They have a big risk of toxic side effects like damage to the liver and are unsafe for many patients. Blood screenings are required before and during their course to try and ensure that the antifungal drugs aren’t interfering with normal bodily functioning. These treatments aren’t very effective at treating the fungus either. Because of this, you may need multiple courses of the medications to see any results, which further increases the risk of side effects.

Laser for Toenail Fungus

There are other options to treat a smelly fungus problem that aren’t topical or oral antifungal medications. In fact, some of the best options for treating a fungal infection don’t include chemicals at all! The safest treatment for toenail fungus is the PinPointe laser, which has no side effects at all. Additionally, this laser is the most effective laser on the market to treat toenail fungus.

The treatment only requires one session to completely eliminate the fungus, so most patients don’t need to come in for multiple treatments. To read more about the experiences patients have had with the PinPointe Laser treatment, visit our website here.