society and community | March 20, 2026

How do you get rid of smelly toenails?

How do you get rid of smelly toenails?

Home treatments for smelly feet

  1. Use a mild soap and scrub brush to wash your feet at least once a day.
  2. Clip your toenails often so they’re short, and make sure to clean them regularly.
  3. Remove the hard, dead skin from your feet with a foot file.
  4. Change your socks at least once a day.

Why do my toenails have a smell?

Getting a fungal infection on your toenails can cause the nails to turn yellow and brittle, and the bugs that cause the infection often emit a foul odor as they feed on your body. The same microorganisms that cause athlete’s foot also are the cause of fungal toenail infection.

What does toenail fungus smell like?

An infected nail often will have unsightly white/yellow or orange/brown patches or streaks. It can also turn thicker, crumbly, ragged or dull, according to the Mayo Clinic. In some cases, the nail will emit a slightly foul odor and it may separate from the nail bed, a process known as onycholysis.

What is the white stuff under my toenails that smells?

“Nail keratin debris results from a fungal infection of the nail. In medical terms this is called onychomycosis or tinea unguium,” says Batra. The fungal infection breaks down the keratin in the nail to form a white or yellow chalky substance under the nail plate.

Why do my toenails stink when I cut them?

When a toenail develops a fungal infection, it typically turns yellow or brown. It becomes thick and overgrown. Foul-smelling debris also may accumulate under the nail. As the infection continues, the nail may crumble gradually and fall off.

Why does my infected toe smell?

If an ingrown nail causes a break in the skin, bacteria may enter and cause an infection in the area, which is often marked by drainage and a foul odor.

Does toenail fungus stink?

Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, forms when fungal infections occur underneath the surface of the nail, causing color change, pain, and even unpleasant odor.

Why does it smell like cheese when I cut my toenails?

In fact, one type of bacteria, brevibacterium, lives in between the toes, thrives in a damp, salty environment, and produces the cheese-like smell of feet. That same bacteria is actually used in the cheese creation process for Muenster, Entrammes, and Limburger cheeses.

Why do toenails smell so bad?

Bad odor under the toenails can be due to two pathogens such as fungus and bacteria. Since both have different symptoms with one common symptom of bad odor, it becomes easy for anyone to distinguish between them.

What kills toenail fungus instantly?

White vinegar is one of the best ingredients in treating toenail fungus because it fights the infection and helps restore the skin’s pH balance. Make a solution by mixing 1 part of white vinegar with 2 parts of warm water. Soak the infected toenail in this solution for 10 to 15 minutes.

Why do toenails smell like cheese?

The reason why toenail gunk smells like cheese is due to a type of bacteria known as brevibacteria. It is the same bacteria used to mature cheese. Most of the time brevibacterium grows harmlessly on the skin of humans, but in moist areas like feet develop a sulfur compound which emits a pungent smell.

Why does my toenail smell?

These are the indications of fungal infection. When you are suffering from bacterial infection it also emits bad smell, when the toenail is damaged, bacteria gets chance to enter the toe nail and this is one classical symptom of toenail infection causing smelly toenail.