Can onychomycosis (gray nail) cause itchy feet?
Disease description:
I have toenails on my feet, but recently some of them have become inflamed. I’m concerned this might be caused by a fungal infection. Can toenail fungus (onychomycosis) cause itching?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Liu Wan
Onychomycosis (gray nail) typically does not cause itching of the feet. Since the nail plate lacks sensory nerve endings responsible for itch sensation, itching does not occur in the nail itself. However, if other areas of the foot are concurrently infected with fungi, localized symptoms such as pruritus (itching), vesicles, and scaling may develop. In contrast, onychomycosis primarily affects the nail, causing symptoms including brittleness, yellow discoloration, thickening, and loss of luster.
