The nail may become loose, discolored, brittle, or thicker than its normal state. Blackened areas or white patches can often be signs of infection. You may see growths underneath the nail itself. Any of these changes should be reported to your doctor. The nail can be evaluated by a simple, painless culture. You should not hesitate in getting a diagnosis for the problem, as leaving fungal infections untreated can lead to the infection spreading.

While there are numerous over-the-counter preparations available for fungal nail infections, they are usually a waste of money. A good rule of thumb is preparations you can buy without a prescription do not provide the strength of ingredients necessary to cure the problem.