Nail fungus

Alternative Names

Nails - fungal infection, Onychomycosis, Tinea unguium

What is Nail fungus

Nail fungus is a fungal infection in one or more of nails. An infection with nail fungus may begin as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. It spreads deeper into your nail and may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and develop crumbling edges an unsightly and potentially painful problem.

Signs and symptoms

There are different types of nail fungus depending on type of fungus and manifestation which may have different signs and symptoms. A nail fungal infection is also called onychomycosis and its signs and symptoms may include:

• Thickened
• Brittle, crumbly or ragged
• Distorted in shape
• Dull, with no luster or shine
• A dark color, caused by debris building up under your nail

Infected nails also may separate from the nail bed, a condition called onycholysis. You may feel pain in your toes or fingertips and detect a slightly foul odor.

Possible complications

Sometimes nail fungus can be painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. It also may lead to other serious infections that can spread beyond your feet if you have a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other conditions.

People with fungal infections of the nail may have a serious health risk if they have diabetes and for those with weakened immune systems, such as people with leukemia or AIDS or organ transplant recipients. If you have diabetes, your blood circulation and the nerve supply to your feet can become impaired. There is also a risk for cellulitis, a potentially serious bacterial skin infection. Therefore, any relatively minor injury to your feet including a nail fungal infection can lead to a more serious complication, requiring timely medical care. See your doctor immediately if you suspect nail fungus.

What causes

Fungal infections include mold-like fungi that cause:

• Athlete's foot
• Jock itch
• Ringworm on the skin of the body or head

Fungal nail infections are most often seen in adults. They often follow fungal infection of the feet. Toenails are affected more often than fingernails.

People who often go to public swimming pools, gyms, or shower rooms, and people who sweat a great deal, often have mold-like infections. The fungi that cause them thrive in warm, moist areas.

The following increase the risk of a fungal infection:

• Getting manicures and pedicures using utensils that have been used on other people
• Getting minor skin or nail injuries
• Having a nail deformity or nail disease
• Having moist skin for a long time
• Poorly functioning immune system
• Wearing closed-in footwear

Prevention

Here are some prevention steps of fungal nail infections:

• Wash your hands and feet with an antibacterial soap
• Ensure that your feet is dry after washing and before wearing your socks and shoes
• Cut your nails as short as possible, this will prevent the fungus from staying and cradling in your nails
• Avoid wearing the same socks every day, unless it’s already washed
• Make sure you wear some kind of shoe or sandals when going to a public shower

There are lots of products and remedies that can be used to treat the nail fungus infection. However, only a few of them would work and most of them have side effects. Alternatives such as home remedies can also be used but it takes time and a lot of patience when utilizing. With proper hygiene and some common sense precautions, we can easily reduce the chances of having nail fungus infection.

Treatment

There are some common treatments for a nail fungus that include topical creams or oral medications (antifungal drugs), but topical antifungal drugs likely won't cure the infection. Rarely, surgery may be required. Removal of the infected nail can be performed to permit direct application of a topical antifungal. Oral drugs, such as terbinafine, can cure about 50% of nail fungus infections.

Toenail infections are more difficult to treat than fingernail infections because the toenail grows more slowly. In addition, a damp, warm environment of a shoe or boot can encourage fungal growth.