Is It Toenail Fungus?
By Jennifer Acosta Scott Reviewed by Pat F. Bass III, MD, MPH
Odd-looking toenail? It may be a toenail fungal infection, but there's a good chance that another condition could be to blame.
If you notice an odd spot on your toenail, you might assume that it’s a fungus. However, there’s a good chance that it’s not.
A toenail infection (onychomycosis) affects about 14 percent of the population at any given time, according to one study, yet only about half of all nail infections responded to treatment. Part of the confusion stems from the fact that some conditions that don’t involve an infection can mimic the symptoms of toenail fungus. “Sometimes the nail will be the first place to show another underlying problem,†says Richard Goad, DPM, a podiatrist with Baylor Scott and White Health in Temple and Killeen, Texas.
https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/toenail-fungal-infection-guide/is-it-toenail-fungus/