10 Signs Your Toenail Fungus Is Dying and Healing

How to know if toenail fungus is dying? You’ll notice your nails slowly returning to their natural colour, feeling less thick or brittle, and showing healthier growth. Other signs include reduced pain, odour, and debris under the nail. While this process takes time, recognising these changes can reassure you that your treatment, whether at home or prescribed, is working. 

In this blog, we’ll walk you through 10 clear signs that your toenail fungus is healing and what to do if progress seems slow.

Understanding Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus, or onychomycosis, is a common infection that affects the nails, causing thickening, discolouration, and brittleness. It usually develops slowly and can be stubborn to treat. The fungus thrives in warm, moist environments, so keeping your feet clean and dry is key to preventing and managing it. Early detection and consistent treatment can make healing easier and faster.

How to Tell if Toenail Fungus is Dying? 

When treating toenail fungus, it’s normal to wonder if your efforts are working. There are several clear signs that show the infection is improving and the fungus is dying. The healing signs include:

1. Improved nail colour
2. Nail becomes thinner
3. Reduced Brittleness & Crumbling
4. Healthier Nail Growth
5. No Odour
6. Less Pain or Discomfort
7. White Spots or Streaks Lighten
8. Nail Attachment Improves
9. Nail Appears Cleaner
10. Healing Seems Consistent

Let’s delve into the details of these 10 key signs in detail so you can track your progress and stay motivated throughout the healing process.

1. Improved Nail Colour

To know if toenail fungus is dying, check the colour of your nail. Fungal infections often cause nails to turn yellow, brown, or even black due to discolouration and debris buildup. As the fungus clears:

• The yellow or brown areas may start to lighten.
• The nail may regain a more natural pinkish hue at the base.
• Any dark spots or streaks due to the infection will fade with time.

In most cases, an entirely restored colour takes months as new healthy nail growth occurs, gradually replacing the damage.

2. Nail Becomes Thinner

Thickened nails are a typical sign of toenail fungus. As the infection heals, the fungal organisms responsible for the thickening are destroyed, allowing the nail’s natural structure to return.

You may notice:

• A smoother texture where previously the area had been rough and uneven
• The nails become less bulky and easier to trim.
• New, thickened areas do not form as the nail grows.

The cosmetic appearance of the thickened nails can be managed through regular filing and trimming until they heal.

Ready to achieve your aesthetic goals?

• CQC-Registered Clinic with Nationally Recognised Leadership
• Over a Decade of Surgical & Aesthetic Expertise
• Personalised treatment plans tailored to your needs

Book a Consultation

3. Nail’s Brittleness & Crumbling Reduces

Another sign to know if toenail fungus is dying is less brittle nails. Fungal-infected nails become brittle and crack, split, or crumble at the edges. When the fungus clears, your nails will feel stronger and less brittle. Some signs that brittleness is improving include:

• The nail is breaking or splitting less often.
• Less crumbling along the edges.
• Nails feel firmer.

Using a nourishing nail oil or moisturiser may help to enhance this healing process by hydrating the nail and surrounding skin.

4. Healthier Nail Growth

Healthier nail growth shows that your toenail fungus is improving. As the fungus clears, you may notice:

• A healthy and shiny segment of the nail emerges from the cuticle.
• Stemming out gradually from the damaged, discoloured portion of the nail
• Nail growth speed improved as this infection no longer hinders it.

Toenails grow very slowly, generally at 1 millimetre per month. Therefore, patience is key, as a healthy nail can take a long time to replace an infected one fully.

5. No Odour

Fungal infections can emit a foul smell due to the accumulation of fungal debris and bacteria. Once the infection starts receding, the odour will decrease noticeably. If your toenails no longer emit a foul or pungent smell, it’s a great sign that the fungus is dying off.

Take care of your feet properly—washing and drying your feet daily and wearing breathable shoes can ensure healthy and odour-free feet.

If you want a quick solution, explore what is the most effective treatment for toenail fungus?

6. Less Pain or Discomfort

How to know if toenail fungus is dying? You will feel less pain or discomfort. The fungal infection in the toenails may become painful, significantly if they thicken or rub on the surrounding skin.

It’s healing if you notice:

• Tenderness and pain in the infected nail begin to decrease.
• Discomfort with wearing shoes or walking diminishes.
• No swelling or redness around the nail bed.

If you continuously experience pain even after treatment, it would be appropriate to seek advice from a medical expert to rule out other disease conditions.

7. White Spots or Streaks Lighten

Fungal infections sometimes cause white spots or streaks on the nail’s surface. As the infection clears, these markings will begin to fade, and the nail will have a more uniform and healthy appearance. Regular filing and care help speed up visual improvement.

8. Nail Attachment Improves

The growing fungus detaches. Separates or lifts your nail from its bed. It is called onycholysis. To know if toenail fungus is going away, look out for the nail attachment’s health. 

• The following signs tell that the fungus has died:
  The nail starts reattaching to the nail bed.
• The lifted areas begin to shrink.
• The connection of the nail with the skin will be tighter and firmer.

Do not attempt to push or trim the separated portion aggressively since this might hurt the healing nail.

9. Nail Appears Cleaner

Fungal infections tend to collect debris under the nail, and this can look like powdery or crumbly material. As the treatment continues:

Ready to achieve your aesthetic goals?

• CQC-Registered Clinic with Nationally Recognised Leadership
• Over a Decade of Surgical & Aesthetic Expertise
• Personalised treatment plans tailored to your needs

Book a Consultation

• The amount of debris under the nail will decrease.
• The nail bed will appear cleaner and clearer.
• The cloudiness on the surface of the nail, if present, will reduce.

Any remaining debris can be gently removed with a soft brush, but over scrubbing is best avoided as it can irritate the area.

10. Healing Seems Consistent

Consistent improvement over time is a positive sign that your toenail fungus is healing. If you’ve been following a treatment plan and notice ongoing progress without recurring symptoms, this suggests that the fungus is being effectively managed.

• Keep track of your nail’s growth and appearance with photos or notes.
• Stay consistent with your prescribed or over-the-counter treatments.
• Avoid skipping steps in your hygiene routine to maintain progress.

How to tell if toenail fungus is improving and going away? All the above-mentioned signs 

What to Do if Toenail Fungus Healing is Slow

Healing toenail fungus takes time, but if you’re not seeing noticeable improvements after several months of treatment, consider the following:

• Consult a Doctor: A podiatrist or dermatologist can provide stronger treatments, such as prescription antifungal medications or NeoGen plasma treatment.
• Check Your Routine: Ensure you’re using treatments correctly and consistently.
• Prevent Reinfection: Replace old shoes, disinfect nail tools, and avoid walking barefoot in communal areas.

Concluding the Signs that Show If Toenail Fungus Is Dying

You can tell toenail fungus is dying when your nails gradually return to a natural colour, become thinner, less brittle, and show healthy new growth. Pain, odour, and debris under the nail should also decrease. 

To speed up healing, treatments like NeoGen plasma therapy can effectively eliminate fungal spores. Consistent care, proper hygiene, and following your treatment plan are key, and if you’re unsure about progress, always seek professional advice.

FAQs

1. What colour does nail fungus turn when it dies?

When the toenail fungus is dying, you may notice the dark brown colour changing to a lighter, natural tone. 

2. Should I cut off toenail fungus?

Nail hygiene is essential if you have a toenail fungus infection. Keep your nails trimmed. You may also buff down your nail with a filer to keep it thin. 

3. What does severe toenail fungus look like?

If the fungal infection is severe, your nail may look discoloured ( black, yellow or green), thick, brittle, and lifted from the nail bed. 

4. How to tell if a toenail fungal infection is healing?

When the fungal infection is healing, you may notice your nails becoming thin, less brittle, natural colour, and less painful.