What are the dangers of leaving gray nail untreated?
Disease description:
Recently, I noticed that I have a fungal nail infection on my foot and would like to know what potential risks or harms could arise if it's left untreated.
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wenmin
Gray nail, also known as onychomycosis, is caused by infection with dermatophytes. If left untreated, gray nail can lead to several adverse effects, mainly including the following aspects:
1. Pain and discomfort: As the condition progresses, thickened nails may compress the nail bed, causing pain and discomfort during walking or touching.
2. Aesthetic impact: Gray nail causes significant changes in the appearance of the nail, such as nail plate opacity, thickening, discoloration, atrophy, and shedding, which severely affect the nail's appearance.
3. Contagiousness: Gray nail is contagious and can spread to others, including family members and friends, through direct or indirect contact (e.g., sharing shoes, socks, towels, etc.).
4. Triggering other diseases: Long-term untreated gray nail may serve as an entry point for bacterial infections, leading to complications such as paronychia and subungual abscesses, and in severe cases, even systemic infections.
5. Psychological impact: If not treated promptly, gray nail may persist for a lifetime. The long duration of the disease may cause patients to develop negative emotions such as irritability and anxiety, increasing their psychological burden.
Therefore, once symptoms of gray nail appear, timely medical treatment should be sought.
