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Onychomycosis (or called tinea unguium, fungal nails) is a fungal infection that affects fingernails or more commonly toenails. Onychomycosis causes your nail to discolor, thicken and crack. Here is all you need to know about onychomycosis.
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection that can affect fingernails and toenails, in which the latter is more common. It happens when the fungi enter between the toenails and the toenail bed when there is a crack in your nail or the surrounding skin.
It occurs in 10% to 20% of the general population, and the risk of onychomycosis increases with age as nails become fragile and grow slower when you get older.
Onychomycosis can happen in both fingernails and toenails, though toenail fungus is more common. You may be suspected to have onychomycosis when you find your nails:
Although onychomycosis is not a serious condition, if you experience any pain or exacerbated signs and symptoms, you should visit a dermatologist. Find your dermatologist here!
Onychomycosis is most commonly caused by a type of fungi called dermatophyte (e.g. Trichophyton rubrum, Trichophyton mentagrophytes). It can also be caused by yeasts or molds. Small cracks in your nail or the surrounding skin can allow these microorganisms to enter your nail and cause onychomycosis.
Although fungal nail is an infection, it is not highly contagious. The germs can only spread from one person to another in unhygienic conditions, such as sharing emery boards and nail clippers that are not sanitized or getting a manicure or pedicure without proper sanitization.
The following factors increase the risk of onychomycosis:
Signs and symptoms of onychomycosis may be confused with other nail disorders. When diagnosing onychomycosis, the following conditions should be carefully differentiated.
It is sometimes hard to accurately diagnose onychomycosis by examining your nails and assessing your medical history. In order to aid treatment decisions, a precise diagnosis is needed. The only way to confirm a diagnosis of onychomycosis is to take a nail clipping as a laboratory sample for microscopy and culture.
Diabetic patients must visit a doctor if they are having onychomycosis because diabetes reduces blood circulation and nerve supply in your feet. Hence, people with diabetes and onychomycosis are at higher risk of developing serious complications, such as cellulitis (a serious bacterial skin infection). Talk to your doctor if you have diabetes and suspected fungal nails.
Onychomycosis is hard to treat and cure completely. The best fungal nail treatment is antifungal medications, including:
To prevent onychomycosis, it is essential to keep your nails healthy and hygienic. The following lifestyle modifications can lower the risk of developing onychomycosis:
Onychomycosis is usually treated with antifungal pills instead of topical therapy because they are more effective and have a shorter duration of treatment. Despite that, it takes several weeks to months to see the effect and the fungal infection might come back later even when the treatment works.
Onychomycosis is an infection caused by fungi, which include dermatophytes, yeasts and molds. Small cracks in your nail or the surrounding skin can allow these micro-organisms to enter your nail and cause onychomycosis.
Onychomycosis does not go away on its own. If left untreated, onychomycosis can crack your nails and cause serious bacterial skin infections (e.g. cellulitis). It may also lead to the necessity of surgical removal of your nails in more severe cases.
This article was independently written by Healthy Matters and is not sponsored. It is informative only and not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be relied upon for specific medical advice.
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