Fungal nail infections, medically referred to as onychomycosis, are very common. They are caused by a fungus which attacks the fingernails or more commonly the toenails. This makes the nail brittle, discoloured and weak. Nails can turn white, green, yellow or black, become thickened or crumbly.

There are a variety of treatments available which have anti-fungal ingredients to clear the infection. These include paint-type nail varnishes which you can buy from pharmacists or have prescribed by your GP. They involve filing the surface of the nail and applying the liquid regularly. Your GP can also prescribe anti-fungal medication, but the side effects from these oral drugs can be severe so they are often not recommend for mild infections.

These treatments are often considered ineffective and many turn to laser treatment options. Lasers use high energy light to destroy the fungus in the nail without affecting the surrounding tissue.

In all cases, following effective treatment, you will need to wait some months for the nail to grow again and reveal new, healthy nail to replace the damage.