Fungal infections

Fungal infections can occasionally involve unusual areas of the body, such as your nails, scalp, or groin.

A fungal infection in your fingernails is not a serious threat to your overall health, but it may make your nails brittle and unsightly. You can also spread the infection to other areas of your body, such as your scalp, by scratching with infected nails.

See your health-care team or a dermatologist to treat the infection. This involves taking a sample from under your nails and examining it under the microscope to confirm the diagnosis.

Nail infections are difficult to cure, and you will probably require treatment with an oral drug for several months.

Because these drugs may damage your liver or bone marrow, you may need to take blood tests every few weeks to monitor your blood-cell counts and your liver function.

After all of this effort, you may be rewarded with a return of healthy fingernails.