THINK YOU HAVE TOENAIL FUNGUS?
Slide the scale below to find a visual match with your toenail.
Think you have toenail fungus?
Slide the scale below to find a visual match with your toenail.
Mild
Moderate
Severe
Next step
If you suspect you have a toenail fungus infection, TALK TO A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL right away.
Consider taking clear photos of your toenails to help your healthcare professional check your condition.
FIND A HEALTHCARE PROFESSIONAL
In some places, healthcare professionals other than doctors can prescribe treatment for toenail fungus. Choose your province or territory to see who can help.
Please select your province or territory to continue
- Alberta
- British Columbia
- Manitoba
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland and Labrador
- Northwest Territories
- Nova Scotia
- Nunavut
- Ontario
- Prince Edward Island
- Quebec
- Saskatchewan
- Yukon
WHAT IS TOENAIL FUNGUS?
Toenail fungus—or onychomycosis—is very common and affects about 10% of people
It's a fungal infection
- About 50% of all nail problems are fungal infections
It must be treated
- Toenail fungus can worsen with time
- Toenail fungus usually does not go away on its own
- Untreated infections can be painful and make it difficult to walk
It's contagious
- Toenail fungus can spread to other nails and to the surrounding skin
- Areas like locker room floors and public pools have higher exposure risks
WHAT ARE SOME SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF TOENAIL FUNGUS?
Yellow, white, or brown toenail discolouration
Brittle and crumbly toenail(s)
Toenail(s) that are thicker and raised
Debris under the toenail(s)
Loose or lifting toenail(s)
Mild
Area Affected
20% or less
Although up to 20% of the nail is affected, it can be easy to miss. At this stage, the sooner you get a diagnosis, the better the chance of successful treatment. Show it to a healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Nail Crumbling
The nail may be flaky, and its condition may get worse over time.
Photos provided by Dr A.K. Gupta, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Nail Deformation
You may see nail thickening which gets worse over time.
Discomfort
You may feel some discomfort where the nail is ingrown, deformed and thick enough to rub on inside of shoes.
Nail Discolouration
The colour generally stays the same throughout the stages and is often cream, white, yellow or orange coloured.
Note: The colour doesn’t usually show how far along the nail fungus infection is. Instead, as the infection gets worse, the discoloured part of the nail gets larger.
Do these photos look like your toenails? If so, show your nails to a healthcare professional.
Next Step
You should show your nails to a healthcare professional,
who can recommend a treatment plan.
Moderate
Area Affected
20% to 60%
20-60% of the nail plate is affected. It will not go away on its own. Show it to your healthcare professional as soon as possible.
Nail Crumbling
The nail may be flaky, and its condition may get worse over time.
Photos provided by Dr A.K. Gupta, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Nail Deformation
You may see the nail thickening, which gets worse over time.
Discomfort
You may feel some discomfort where the nail is ingrown, deformed and thick enough to rub on inside of shoes.
Nail Discolouration
The colour generally stays the same throughout the stages and is often cream, white, yellow or orange coloured.
Note: The colour doesn’t usually show how far along the nail fungus infection is. Instead, as the infection gets worse, the discoloured part of the nail gets larger.
Do these photos look like your toenails? If so, show your nails to a healthcare professional.
Next Step
You should show your nails to a healthcare professional,
who can recommend a treatment plan.
Severe
Area Affected
60%
60% of the nail plate is affected. Make sure to talk to a healthcare professional as soon as you can.
Nail Crumbling
The nail may be flaky, and its condition may get worse over time.
Photos provided by Dr A.K. Gupta, MD, PhD, FRCPC
Nail Deformation
You may see nail thickening which gets worse over time.
Discomfort
You may feel some discomfort where the nail is ingrown, deformed and thick enough to rub on inside of shoes.
Nail Discolouration
The colour generally stays the same throughout the stages and is often cream, white, yellow or orange coloured.
Note: The colour doesn’t usually show how far along the nail fungus infection is. Instead, as the infection gets worse, the discoloured part of the nail gets larger.
Do these photos look like your toenails? If so, show your nails to a healthcare professional.
Next Step
You should show your nails to a healthcare professional,
who can recommend a treatment plan.