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In This Section: Are Your Nails Infected?
What The Infection Looks Like
Treating Nail Fungus
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What the Infection Looks Like - Got discolored, brittle, or chipped nails?

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If you have thick, discolored, or flaky  nails you may have a nail fungus infection that lives under your nail. This infection is caused by an active, live fungus, or dermatophytes (der-mah-to-fites). The infection actually eats your skin and nail, so it can continue growing and may spread to other nails.

Your nails may look "different," be so thick they're hard to trim, and may cause you discomfort, pain or tenderness that disrupts daily activities.

The infection may have taken hold because:

Bullet You stubbed your toe and damaged the nail.
Bullet You may have cracked a fingernail or trimmed it too close.
Bullet Your bare feet may have come into contact with a place where someone with an infection recently stood, such as a locker room, shower, or pool area.
Bullet If you shared a nail file, emery board, or nail clippers with someone who has an infection, it may have gotten under your nail.

Any way you damage a nail gives this fungus an opening to get under your nail and grow. The sooner you visit your doctor and get diagnosed and effective treatment, the sooner, you can stop the infection from getting worse and begin to see healthier nails grow again.



As time passes, the infection can worsen and may cause pain or tenderness.

Bullet Nails may look brownish, yellowish, with little white patches. Some may even be brown or black.
Bullet Nails may get flaky, brittle, and chipped.
Bullet Bits of "gunk" or debris may collect under your nails.
Bullet Your nails may smell bad.
Bullet Toenails may get so thick that wearing shoes cause pain.
Bullet Discomfort from the infection may make it hard to walk, work, or do other activities. The daily task of putting on socks or stockings can even become difficult.

Why are Lamisil Tablets so effective? They get the infection where it feeds and grows.

Bullet The fungus under your nails is attracted to keratin, one of the substances in your nails and skin. The fungus feeds on keratin deep under your nail in your nail bed.
Bullet The active ingredient in Lamisil Tablets is terbinafine. Terbinafine is also attracted to keratin, so it can be there to attack the infection.
Bullet Unlike surface treatments, the medicine in Lamisil Tablets travels through the bloodstream to target the infection where it grows deep in the nail bed. Lamisil Tablets attack the fungus so the fungus can be sent packing. This helps the growth of clearer, healthier nails again.

A Treatment Story
"My nails were thick and brittle and discolored. And they were sort of flaking off. I slept with my socks on. I never wore sandals. Basically, no one ever saw my feet."

— Michael P. Get full story

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