Fungal nail questions, answered

Everyone has fungi on their skin and under the edges of their nails. If the fungus gets into the skin or nail and spreads, an infection develops.

A fungal nail can start in different ways. For example during pregnancy, after an injury to the nail, through sport or from stubbing a toe. Taking antibiotics for a long time, going to swimming pools or saunas, or using the nail clippers of someone who has a fungal nail can also be a cause.

Children often pick it up walking barefoot in school sports halls and changing rooms. People with diabetes also have a higher risk of fungal nails. And sometimes there’s an underlying cause that isn’t clear straight away.

Read more about what a fungal nail is.

Fungal nails aren’t hereditary. But some people are more prone to a fungal infection than others.

Yes, the fungi that cause fungal nails are contagious. Whether they actually lead to an infection depends partly on your resistance.

No. A fungal nail is always the result of a fungal infection. A thick or discoloured nail can also have other causes, such as poor circulation, a skin condition or simply getting older, and then it isn’t contagious. Both can look very similar: the nail thickens, crumbles and changes colour, and neither looks great. But a nail without a fungal infection doesn’t always need treating. If you’re not sure, ask your GP or a podiatrist.

Yes, children can get a fungal nail too. Our products are suitable for children from age 4, used under adult supervision. Read more about fungal nails in children.

Yes, it can. That’s why good hygiene matters so much. Read more about fungal nail care.

You can usually recognise a fungal nail by a thick, crumbly nail that has turned yellow, white or brown. Sometimes it smells unpleasant too. Not sure? Take our free nail test, or ask your GP or a podiatrist to find out for certain what’s going on.

It’s best not to wear nail polish during the routine. Polish seals the nail, so the drops can’t reach it as well. Once the affected nail has grown out, you can wear nail polish again without a second thought.

If you do wear it, choose a breathable polish. Don’t use gel polish or false nails: they seal the nail off completely, and the lack of air can damage the nail even further.

Usually not. Fungi tend to spread and work their way deeper into the nail. So a fungal nail usually needs treating, to stop it getting worse. The earlier you start, the less nail there is to grow out.

Some people try natural remedies such as tea tree oil or vinegar. They sometimes show a slight improvement, but there’s no scientific evidence that they clear a fungal nail completely. If the fungus sits deeper in the nail, a home remedy simply can’t reach it. Our tiptoe naildrops contain a patented peptide, and scientific publications have been written about it. They’re biodegradable and you can use them without a prescription.

Yes, as long as you don’t have any pain or irritation. Make sure you wash and dry your feet well after sport. If you’ve been barefoot, use tiptoe protect your feet afterwards to look after your feet.

The spray is for your shoes too: after sport, spray tiptoe protect your feet inside your trainers, so you don’t reinfect yourself.

Yes, you can start at home with the tiptoe routine. We recommend using the drops, the foam and the spray together, so the nail, the skin and your feet all get attention. If your nail is badly affected, talk to your GP or a podiatrist first. Not sure how far along your nail is? Take our free nail test to see which approach suits you.

A nail grows about 1 mm every 6 weeks, so think months, not weeks. The affected part has to grow out completely before your nail looks normal again, and that takes time. How long it takes depends on how deep the infection goes and on your own nail growth.

Use tiptoe naildrops twice a day: in the morning and in the evening. Sticking to that rhythm is what matters. Apply the drops with the dropper, and make sure it doesn’t touch the affected nail, so the liquid stays clean.

Gently squeeze the dropper to form one very small drop; more doesn’t add anything. Apply the drop between the nail and the cuticle, and spread it gently with the side of your little finger.

Repeat this for every affected nail. You apply the drops at the base of the nail, where new nail grows. As your nail grows, the affected part grows out with it.

The first thing many people notice is the skin around the nail: it becomes softer and more supple. The nail itself takes longer, because the affected part has to grow out completely. A nail grows about 1 mm every 6 weeks, so think months, not weeks. Results vary from person to person and depend on how deep the infection goes.

Good to hear. A few simple habits help to keep it that way:

• Keep your feet clean and dry: Fungi love damp places, so always dry your feet well, especially between your toes.
• Wear breathable shoes: Choose shoes made of materials that let air through, and swap pairs regularly so moisture doesn’t build up.
• Use a foot spray: tiptoe protect your feet is for your feet and your shoes, so you don’t reinfect yourself.
• Cut your nails the right way: Keep your nails short, straight and clean. Use a separate pair of clippers for your toenails, so fungi don’t spread.
• Wear flip-flops in shared spaces: Think swimming pools, gym showers and saunas. Fungi pass easily from person to person there.
• Keep looking after your nails: Make nail care a habit, for example with tiptoe naildrops.

With these simple habits, your nails stay in good shape and your feet are ready for flip-flops.

Adults and children from age 4 (under adult supervision) can use tiptoe naildrops when they notice signs of a fungal nail: visible damage to the nail such as thickening or a change in shape, discolouration (yellow, brown or black, for example), deposits, a nail that lifts, becomes brittle or splits, and discolouration or changes in the skin around the nail. With a fungal nail, fungi, yeasts, bacteria and the like can sit in the keratin of the affected nail. A fungal nail is often seen as a cosmetic problem, but it’s an infection of the nail that can spread to other nails if you leave it untreated. It can hurt, especially under pressure, and the nail can even come off completely. If you’re not sure whether it’s a fungal nail (onychomycosis), ask your GP.

Good hygiene is the first step. Our care foam is for the skin around the nail and between your toes: the skin where reinfection often starts. That matters all the more if you play sport. Kit gets heavy use and isn’t always cleaned properly, so it stays damp and becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and fungi. Small cuts can then easily become inflamed and hold you back. After swimming or a sauna, care foam is especially good for looking after your skin. It supports the skin’s natural balance.

The tiptoe protect your feet spray is made for the everyday hygiene of feet that are prone to fungal infections. Use it after showering, sport, swimming or a sauna, so you don’t reinfect yourself.

Spray it evenly over your feet, including the skin between your toes. The mild formula doesn’t dry out your skin, even with daily use. The spray supports your skin’s natural balance, which is handy if you often walk barefoot in public places or damp spaces.