How do I know if I have a fungal infection of my nails?

In general, if you develop a fungal infection of the nails, initially you will not have any symptoms. Fungi grow slowly and it takes them time to damage the nail. However, within 3-6 weeks, you will see the following changes

-  The nails will become unevenly thick. The thickness is very unsightly

-  Even the slightest trauma will cause the nails to crumble. the nails often are brittle and easily crack

-  The shape of the nails is uneven and the texture is very rough

-  The nails will appear dark, lifeless and not polished

-  The nails will start to darken with time

In some cases, the entire nail may separate from the nail bed. Pain is also a common complaint in individuals who have a fungal infection.  The pain is constant but not intense. As the infection progresses, there may be a foul smell associated.

In short, the cosmesis of your nails will SUCK. Most people either cover the nail with nailpolish or apply all types of crap thinking that this is a cosmetic problem, which delays treatment.