Why Do My Toenails Smell Like Cheese?

Introduction

Have you ever taken off your socks at the end of a day, when things are so tiring, and then your entire body smells and feels a stale, sharp smell? It is not just you who has smelly toenails that smell like cheese.

This is a very embarrassing issue that many people are familiar with, though they are not aware of what actually lies behind it. The reality is that the odor of toenails can also be correlated to many factors, and it may be fungal, bacterial, or elemental, or even bad habits when it comes to hygiene.

1. Common Causes of Smelly Toenails

1.1 Toenail Style and Hygiene Habits

The kind of toenails you have, and their hygiene are much more influential than you may believe. Toenails or acrylic-covered nails can hold sweat, dirt, and bacteria under them. The broken-down sweat and dead skin cells emit volatile substances when broken down by these microorganisms, and these substances have a foul smell resembling some cheeses.

• Nails that are not trimmed also enable any debris to accumulate underneath the nail plate.
• Lack of appropriate post-laundering of areas, post-exercise, or bathing leaves behind the sweat.
• Artificial nail polish or artificial nails have the capacity to store moisture, which forms the ideal habitat for bacteria and fungi.

Caring for the odor can be greatly reduced by keeping the toenails trimmed and undertaking hygiene on a daily basis on the feet.

1.2 Fungal Infections (Onychomycosis)

 

 

A frequent source of smelling like cheese in a toenail is cancer, which is caused by fungus. Onychomycosis is a fungal infection (e.g., dermatophytes, yeasts, or molds) that attacks a toenail.

Why does fungus cause odor?

• Fungi also consume nail keratin, which is the protein of your nails.
• By degrading keratin, they bring up byproducts that emanate a smack of cheese.
• Other signs and symptoms of the infection include discoloration of the fetus’s nails, thickening, and splitting.

The fungal infection thrives in perspiration-filled and moist conditions of shoes and socks, just to mention a few. That is why, especially during a long period of time, sportsmen such as artists and those who wear closed shoes are especially vulnerable to stinky toenails.

1.3 Nail Mold and Bacterial Growth

Although in most cases, fungus is the primary cause of toenail odor, bacteria also can be the cause. Fungal infection is usually accompanied by mold and bacteria that cause an additional bad smell.

• The growth of bacteria results in compounds of sulfur that have a very strong smell.
• Pseudomonas aeruginosa causes green nail syndrome that may result in a musty or fruity smell.
• When nails are moldy, they are dark green, black, and even yellow in color with a foul odor.

Mostly, bacterial infections are acrider and sharper in smell than fungal ones, though both may give the impression of a cheese-like smell.

1.4 Shoes and Footwear

Even more of a problem than your toenails (though not as big) may be your shoes. Non-breathable materials are usually used to manufacture tight-strapping shoes, which trap moisture and sweat, which together form the ideal environment where fungus and bacteria thrive.

• Artificial shoes are moister than leather and mesh.
• Shoes do not get the chance to dry when one wears them day in, day out.
• The old shoes will have bacteria and fungi in the crevices of the fabric.

Assume that your shoes became a greenhouse that is surrounded by microorganisms. After the bacteria and fungi get into them, you can always smell them, which makes your toenails odorous at all times.

1.5 Socks and Sweat

Your socks also matter. Socks need to avoid the effect of shoes, which can keep your feet dry or make the issue worse.

• Artificial fabrics entrap moisture and sweat.
• Cotton socks absorb moisture and remain wet, thereby promoting bacterial growth.
• They have to be of moisture-wicking bamboo or merino wool.

Hyperhidrosis individuals (excessive sweaters) may have a harder time with smelly toenails since they keep having wet socks all day.

2. What About “Toenail Cheese”?

2.1 Why Toenail Fungus Smells Like Cheese

Often, people say that toenail fungus has a smell of cheese, and that is not an accident.

The odoriferous (stinky) microbe used to ferment Limburger cheese appears on the skin of humans. These bacteria decompose sweat and produce isovaleric acid, which is an ingredient of the pungent cheese smell.

Since toenail fungus is added to the mixture, the smell of cheese grows even cheesier. Basically, the circumstances that exist between your toenails and socks are identical to cheese, since there is heat, wetness, and bacteria.

3. Best Treatment Options for Smelly Toenails

3.1 At-Home Remedies

In case your toenail odor is mild or not so old, and in your case, you can first think of treatment:

• Observing good hygiene: Wash and dry off the feet using antiseptic soap.
• The important oils: Tree tea and oregano. These oils are natural anti-fungal oils.
• Vinegar will always do, or Listerine: both vinegar and Listerine are considered acidic environments to which fungus has an allergy.

Such approaches assist in dealing with the initial cases but could be unproductive when dealing with gross infections.

3.2 Medical Treatments

Medical interventions are warranted in the long-term or chronic toenail diseases.

• Topical antifungals: Nail polishes such as ciclopirox and Wrenchers medicated.
• Oral antifungals: prescribed by a psychologist, terbinafine or itraconazole.
• Laser treatments: Heat the nail treatments of fungi.
• Nail removal surgery: When the infection has become incurable.

Treatment is also a thing to follow consistently, as it is possible to rely on the toenail fungus taking years to cure.

3.3 Preventive Care

So, it is better to prevent than cure.

• Wear great shoes: Select mesh, canvas, or leather.
• Rotate footwear: Allow the shoes to dry fully, that is, at least 24 hours, and then wear.
• Replace socks every day: However, change more frequently in case of foot sweating.
• Cut toenails regularly: Make them short and clean.
• Put anti-fungal sprays in the shoes: a fungus and bacteria killer.

Breathable shoes, good hygiene, and pre-management will help you to avoid the odor of cheese on your toenails.

Conclusion

Scurrying toenails are fraught with cheese, and their fragrance is most generally due to fungi, bacteria, or improper washing. The unpleasant smell is due to the decomposition of sweat and keratin by microorganisms, as in some cheeses.

It is good that stinky toenails are curable. Nails have cultural and hygienic cleanliness, and nail rotation is destroyed. You can kill nail odor with antifungal drugs and require little enhancement with hygiene.

Considering that your toenail smell, which appeared after home care or aggravated her condition, may not dissipate, it is always better to seek the help of a podiatrist.