Nail fungal infections are common, and they often begin as a white or yellow-brown spot that forms under the tip of a finger or toenail. As the infection goes deeper into the tissues around the nail, the nail will get thick, grow discoloured, or crumble at the edge. This condition can affect only one nail or multiple nails that are near each other. If the condition is not bothering you, you might not need treatment. If the condition is painful, you should speak to your doctor. This type of nail infection often returns even after treatment.
The symptoms of this condition are:
This condition is most common in feet and is less likely to affect fingernails.
Nail fungal infections are caused by various fungal organisms. Dermatophyte is the most common of these, but yeast and moulds can also cause nail fungal infections. Bacterial infections are usually black or green, which helps identify them in comparison to fungal infections of the nails.
The risk factors for this kind of nail infection are:
Diagnosis of this nail infection type can often be made just by looking at the appearance of the patient’s nails. Debris can be scraped from under the nail, or nail clippings can be sent to the lab to identify which organism is the cause of the infection. Some other conditions can show the same symptoms as fungal infections, such as yeast and bacteria, so testing can be ideal to confirm that the right course of treatment is going to be pursued.
Prevention of this kind of nail health issue requires that you keep your nails clean and dry and that you wash your hands and feet regularly. You should be sure to moisturise the nails as well. Nail hardening products can help strengthen and seal the nail as well. Antifungal foot powders and creams can also help to prevent this nail health issue.
Always wash your hands after handling an infected nail and be sure that you trim your nails straight across. You can file down the edges and any thickened areas as well. Disinfect clippers and other tools after each use. Keeping nails short and wearing shoes made of materials that breathe well can help to prevent nail fungus. You should also be sure to wear sandals or footwear in pool areas, showers, and locker rooms.
In many cases, treatment is not needed for patients with this condition. Good self-care of the nails as well as better care of the feet and nails, can sometimes cause this condition to resolve. Oral antifungal drugs are the preferred method of treatment that is offered to most patients. These courses of treatment will last for 6 to 12 weeks. Rashes and liver damage can be side effects of this treatment protocol.
Medicated nail polish can also sometimes help clear up these kinds of infections, and there are medication nail creams that can be used as well. Surgery is rarely needed, but if an infected nail is causing severe pain, it might be removed at the root to prevent further trouble for the patient.