Fungal Nail infection | Nail fungus | fungal infection | Onychomycosis

 


Nail fungus is a very common nail infection. Usually, it starts the infection as a white or yellow-brown spot that always comes under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. If this fungal infection goes longer and deeper, the nails may become discolouration, thicken and also crumble at the edge of your nails. These fungal infections can also affect several nails.


If your infection is mild and it is not bothering you, you do not need any treatment for it. If your nail infection is more painful and causes thickened nails, you may need a self care routine and medications. Even if the treatment is successful for you, nail fungus will often come back.


Nail fungus or nail fungal infection is also called onychomycosis.  When the fungus infects the part between your toes and the skin of your feet is called athlete's foot or tinea pedis.


Symptoms


Usually, the symptoms of fungal nail infection include a nails that are:


  • Thickened

  • Discolored

  • Brittle, crumbly or ragged

  • Misshapen

  • Separated from the nail bed

  • Smelly

  • Fungal nail infection can also affect your fingernails, but it is common in toenails.


Causes


Generally, this nail fungus is caused by various types of fungal organisms called fungi. One of the most common types of fungi is called dermatophyte. And also yeast, bacteria and molds also cause your nail infections. But  some type of yeasts and molds can also cause these fungal infections, these includes:



  • Trichophyton rubrum which is one of the most common types of dermatophyte fungi which causes nail fungal infections.

  • Trichophyton interdigitale.

  • Epidermophyton floccosum.

  • Trichophyton violaceum.

  • Microsporum gypseum.

  • Trichophyton tonsurans.

  • Trichophyton soudanense.


Some of the common mold causes include:


  • neoscytalidium

  • scopulariopsis

  • aspergillus


Usually, the main cause of fungal nail infection is pathogens that enter the skin through small open cuts or small spaces between the nail and nail bed. Generally, these fungi can grow healthily when your nail living area provides a suitable warm and moist environment to live in.


But the bacterial infection tends to be green or black discoloration. Fungal infection of the foot (athlete’s foot) can spread the fungus to the nails, likewise fungal infection of the nail can spread the fungus to the foot. You can get the fungus infection when you contact spaces where fungi live in some dark places like the floor tiles in a gym shower or in sweat, moist shoes.


Risk factors


Some of the Factors that increase your chances of getting nail infection include:


  • Older age

  • If you wear shoes that makes your feet more sweat 

  • Having past experience of athlete's foot 

  • If you are walking barefoot in contaminated public places like swimming pools, gyms and shower rooms

  • Having a minor or very small skin or nail injuries

  • Having a skin problem which affects the nails, like psoriasis

  • If you are having diabetes, blood flow problems or a low immune system


Exams and Tests


Your physician will examine your nails to identify if you have a fungal infection. Diagnosis will be confirmed by looking at scrapings from the nail which is seen under a microscope. This will help you to determine the type of fungus. Some samples can also be sent to a lab for a culture test. Results will take up to 4 to 6 weeks for the test.


Treatment


You should consult your doctor if you experience any fungal nail infection. This infection can be hard to get rid of and you are successful with a prescribed medicine. Treatments are:


  • Oral antifungals: Your physician might give you drugs to kill fungus in your body. This is the best way to treat the nail infection. Treatment always lasts 2 months for a fingernails infection and 3 months for your toenail infection.


  • Topical antifungals: you can rub or brush these drugs onto your nails. These will work for a mild infection but they can't go deeper into the nail to cure serious infection. You can use these topical medication treatments with a combination of pill.

  

  • Surgery: If other treatments won’t work, your provider needs to remove your nail completely and let them grow a healthy nail in its place. And new nails can also get infected back often.


  • Laser or photodynamic therapy. Your providers are studying newer treatments which use the special light to kill the fungus.


Fungal Nail Infection Complications


Usually, this can take a year or more for your nails to look healthy before the infection. And you can continue to have problems:


  • The fungal infection can come back.

  • Your nails might be permanently discolouration or misshapen.

  • This fungus infection can spread the infection to other parts of your body.


Prevention


Preventing nail fungus infections needs hand and foot hygiene. Some of the suggestions are:


  • You should keep your nails short, dry, and clean

  • You can use socks that breathe, usually synthetic

  • using antifungal sprays or powders in specific places

  • You can use rubber gloves to avoid overexposure to water

  • Avoid picking or biting nails

  • You must wear a shoes or sandals in public area and pools

  • You should sterilize the tools you use for manicure or pedicure salon

  • You should less using artificial nails and nail polish

  • You must wash your hands after contact with infected nails.

  • You must avoid sharing shoes and socks


Frequently Asked Questions


Q1. How do I get rid of a fungal infection in my nail?

Ans: Terbinafine and itraconazole are the 2 medicines most commonly prescribed for fungal nail infections. 


Q2. What is the fastest way to get rid of nail fungus?

Ans: Antifungal pills also work more quickly than medicine applied to the nails. 


Q3. Can nail fungus be serious?

Ans: In rare cases, toenail fungus can cause an infection called cellulitis. Without prompt treatment, cellulitis may pose a serious danger to your health.


Q4. What kills foot fungus fast?

Ans: Hydrogen peroxide can effectively kill the fungus on the surface level of the foot.


Q5. Is foot fungal infection serious?

Ans: Athlete's foot isn't serious, but sometimes it's hard to cure.

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