Why Are My Toenails Turning Yellow?

If your toenails are turning yellow, you probably have a fungal infection, and it’s best to get treatment so it doesn’t spread to other nails or other parts of your body.

At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, our board-certified podiatrists know that toenail fungus can affect anyone, and it can look quite unsightly. Fortunately, we offer treatments that can help. Here, we explain more about fungal infections and how we can help you eliminate them.

What is toenail fungus?

Toenail fungus is an infection by opportunistic fungi that affects your nails, especially your toenails. The fungi make their way into the toe between the nail and the nail bed — the tissue directly underneath your nail — through a small cut in your toe.

When a dermatophyte causes the infection, the condition is referred to as tinea unguium or onychomycosis. A dermatophyte is a type of mold that feeds on keratin. Keratin is the main structural protein in your nails that gives them their strength. Dermatophytes cause 90% of toenail fungal infections.

Fungal infections are very common, especially as you get older. It’s estimated that it affects 1 in 10 people overall, jumping to 1 in 2 for those over 70.

You also have a higher risk of developing toenail fungus if you have:

Athlete’s foot (tinea pedis)
Diabetes
Hyperhidrosis (sweat a lot)
A nail injury (common with athletes)
Poor blood circulation in your feet
Psoriasis

Your risk also increases if you have a compromised immune system that can’t fight off the infection.

Toenail fungus symptoms

Tinea unguium changes your nail’s appearance in more ways than one. The nail can:

Appear white, yellow, or brown
Look chalky or cloudy in spots
Thicken and appear misshapen
Separate from your nail bed
Crack or break in one or more spots

Fortunately, while the fungus can be unsightly, it typically isn’t painful.

Toenail fungus usually doesn’t spread beyond your nail, but some dermatophyte fungi spread easily to your skin, as your skin, scalp, and hair also contain keratin. When they attack the skin, the condition is called ringworm.

When they affect the skin between your toes, it’s called athlete’s foot. When they spread to the groin area, it’s called jock itch.

Treating toenail fungus

At Chicagoland Foot and Ankle, we can help you get rid of toenail fungus. Treatment options include:

Oral antifungal medication

There are several oral antifungal medications that can treat toenail fungus: terbinafine (Lamisil®), itraconazole (Sporanox®), or fluconazole (Diflucan®).

You have to take these every day for several months (or longer). But since these medications can interact with other drugs and have unwanted side effects, they're not for everyone.

Topical medication

Topical medications are those that you apply directly onto the nail, like nail polish. They’re most effective when paired with oral medications.

Laser treatments

Lasers are FDA-approved for “temporary increase of clear nail” in nail fungus, but they aren’t a cure. In fact, cure rates are lower than for either oral or topical medications, so lasers aren’t a first-line treatment.

If your toenails are turning yellow and chalky, you’re probably dealing with a fungal infection. To get prompt treatment, call any of our Chicagoland Foot and Ankle locations (Mount Greenwood and Portage Park areas of Chicago, as well as Orland Park, Bartlett, Niles, and New Lenox, Illinois) to schedule a consultation, or book your appointment online today.