Toenail fungus is a very common disease of the foot nails. Nail infection may affect toenails or fingernails, but toenail infections are particularly common. Some of the causes for this problem are sweating heavily, being in a humid environment, psoriasis and wearing socks and shoes that prevent ventilation and don’t absorb perspiration. Another common causes are going barefoot in damp public places such as swimming pools, gyms and shower rooms, having athlete’s foot, minor skin or nail injury, damaged nail or other infection, having diabetes or circulation problems and a weakened immune system.

When the toenail is infected, the most common symptom is that the nail becomes thickened and discolored, and as the infection progresses the nail can become brittle. If left untreated, the skin underneath and around the nail can become inflamed and painful.