Most of the nails' portion is dead and senseless, though nails carry importance in our body. Apart from protecting the skin at those terminal parts of the body, they are considered as one of the most important factors in cosmetology. You might have observed women taking extra care for their nails! Women across the world, spend millions of dollars just to shape up their nails and to polish them. But then, what happens when this important structure gets infected? Those nails that were fine long and stylish, now become ugliest structures.

A healthy nail is transparent and features pinkish as the skin beneath it is highly vascular (highly blood supplied). This we talk about the nail that is within the fingers' or toes' frame but it grows further and becomes longer, it is white with no deformities. The fungus, when attack the nail first starts digesting the substance named 'keratin' that protects the nail from damage. It is like a coating and hence, necessary for nail's shape and structure.

Fingernail fungus comes from cut, wound or poor hygiene (wet or moist nails and surrounding). It first locates by sides of the nails like cuticles and then feeds itself. It then starts growing and covers surrounding area spreading its wings. Some of the most important symptoms of fingernail fungal infections include -

1. Yellow, purple or brownish discoloration that starts at the end of the finger and working its way back underneath.

2. The nails become brittle, flaky and chipped losing its firmness and healthiness.

3. Some of the fingernail infections appear like white or black patches on the nails that cannot be removed by simply rubbing any solution.

4. Some worse cases wherein the fungal infection has grown drastically and has deep seated in skin and nail tissues, it may generate pus and so there will be highly offensive smell.

5. There will be overproduction of the 'keratin' that has been digested by fungi and therefore, there is a hint of nail being detached from its bed.

6. The nail becomes thick though brittle and it becomes hard to trip it.

7. Cutting of nail may turn into bleeding or oozing pus with pain.

8. The tenderness affects daily activity such as walking, wearing socks and shoes and if it is on hand's fingernails, holding, typing and pressing.

9. Fingernails that are affected by fungal infection start coming out of their original shape. They may bulge and get curved on any side (generally upwards or side-wards).

10. In more advanced stage, the nail may turn into something called 'powdery nail' in which, the nail becomes extremely brittle and appear as of there is yellowish powder below the nail.

Whatever the cause and symptoms fingernail fungus has, the situation is to be treated as early as possible as once it remains untouched or untreated, the fungus has full chance to spread and to cover other parts those are nearby. The entire portion may get necrosed (death of the living cell) and then finally, local incision removing the structure itself remains as the only treatment.