What You Need To Know About Onychomycosis
Onychomycosis is the scientific name for nail fungus. The condition can be caused by a number of things, such as an injury to the nail. A weakened immune system makes it difficult to fight off the fungi. Diabetes also increases the risk of fungal nail infections. These treatments are often painful and require several months of treatment. Usually, the best option for treating nail fungus is to consult a doctor and seek treatment.
One of the first things to do is visit your primary care physician, who can prescribe a prescription for an anti-fungal medication. The medication can be applied to the affected area and is designed to work on the infected area. However, it is recommended that people with a serious infection consult a medical practitioner before starting the treatment. Topical medications require daily application and can affect other medical conditions. The best treatment is a combination of oral and topical medications.
If you have a fungal infection, you must avoid wearing shoes or socks. While you should not walk while wearing shoes, you should avoid using artificial nails. If your toe is impacted, it is important to have your nail trimmed straight across. If possible, wear comfortable socks and change your shoes in public places. A doctor will often send the clippings to a lab for identification. Changing your socks and wearing sneakers is also recommended.
Treating Fungal Nail Infection
Treatment may not be necessary in mild cases of fungal nail infection. For more severe or troublesome cases, antifungal medication may be recommended.
A fungal nail infection is unlikely to get better without treatment, but if you’re not bothered by it you might decide it’s not worth treating because treatment can take a long time, may cause side effects, and isn’t always effective.
Whether or not you decide to have treatment, you should still follow the self-help advice below to help stop the condition getting worse or spreading to others.
What Is A Fungal Nail Infection
A fungal nail infection is a common condition that can leave you with brittle, discolored nails, usually on your toes.
Its formal name is onychomycosis, and itâs a lot like athleteâs foot. But instead of affecting the skin on the bottom of your feet or between your toes, it invades your nails.
Fungi are tiny organisms you can only see through a microscope. Many different types can cause a nail infection. Sometimes they live on your skin and donât make any trouble. But if you have a lot in one area, you might get infected.
Donât be embarrassed if you have toenail or fingernail fungus. Itâs way more common than you think.
Recommended Reading: Does Kerasal Make Your Nail Fall Off
The Initial Causes Abnormal Condition Of Nail Fungus Medical Term
If you suspect that your nails are infected with fungus, it is best to consult your doctor and get a diagnosis. Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms and conduct a thorough examination of your nails. A biopsy is required to determine the cause of the infection. Various types of fungus are found in the skin, including the toenails. Among the most common forms of nail fungus are yellow and black, with white patches surrounded by dark brown or white spots.
The infection is caused by fungus. It can spread to the skin and other parts of the body. It is very common to find a nail fungus on the foot in elderly people, and it is often not treated until the condition gets worse. The disease can even be spread to the skin. The afflicted person should see a doctor immediately if they notice any changes in the color of his or her nails.
Nail fungus can occur in the toenails. The infection occurs due to a variety of factors, including excessive moisture, soaking your hands in water, and a lack of hygiene. If the afflicted person is prone to infection, the fungus will grow in the toenails and may spread to other parts of the body. Consequently, it is essential to prevent the nail fungus from spreading to the skin
> > > This Unusual Morning Habit Helps Me Keep My Fungus In Check .
Is Toenail Fungus Contagious
Yes, to some extent. Most fungal infections require the right environment to take hold and begin to spread, and there are trace amounts of fungal spores in most places. However, coming into contact with a fungal infection or handling items that have been in contact with the fungus can increase the chances of getting an infection. Likewise, its advisable that you stop wearing old shoes and wash your socks once the infection is gone to reduce your chances of getting a new infection.
Athletes Foot is any dermatophyte fungus that occurs in the skin between the toes. In some cases, a fungal infection can spread among the toes and the skin between the toes. A weakened immune system and other complicating conditions may also increase your risk of getting toenail fungus and having it spread to other nails.
Don’t Miss: What Is The Best Gel Nail Polish
Selection Of An Appropriate Therapy
Two general categories of concern are important in the context of selection of appropriate therapy: disease-oriented and patient-oriented factors. Selection of an agent depends, first and foremost, on the accurate identification of the infecting organism. However, of considerable importance, too, are patient-related factors that may influence decision-making.
In the case of infection by a dermatophyte, itraconazole and terbinafine provide excellent efficacy and safety profiles. Both can be used in regimens of short duration. Patient-related factors of concern include the likelihood of compliance, which may be increased by shorter regimens in some patients and by more consistent regimens in others. Onychomycosis due to Candida infections can be effectively treated by itraconazole or fluconazole. Reports of drug-resistant Candida species in onychomycosis have not appeared, although this has been documented for fluconazole in long-term treatment of oral candidiasis in immunocompromised patients. In the case of infection caused by other nondermatophytes, itraconazole, alone among the new agents, has broad spectrum of activity. Further studies of newer antimycotics, both singly and in combination, will be valuable in identifying ways to improve onychomycosis therapy.
What Are The Symptoms Of Fungal Nail Infection
A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first, but as the infection progresses you may notice the following symptoms:
- Change in colour of some or all of your nail turns yellow, white, blue, purple or black.
- Thickening and change in shape of the nail, making it difficult to trim.
- Pain or discomfort, particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger.
- Brittle or crumbly nails pieces may break off and come away completely.
- The skin near the nail may itch, or crack.
Also Check: What Helps Hair And Nail Growth
How Do You Treat Toenail Fungus
You can discuss the different treatment options with your to find out which one is best for you and the type of toenail fungus you have.
With any toenail fungus treatment, patience is key! It takes anywhere from 9 months to a year for your toenails to grow from base to tip. This means it could take just as long for total clearing of the nail from the toenail fungus.
How Do Dermatologists Treat A Fungal Nail Infection
Treatment usually begins with your dermatologist trimming your infected nail, cutting back each infected nail to the place where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may also scrape away debris under the nail. This helps get rid of some fungus.
To completely get rid of the infection, most people also need one or more of the following treatments:
Medicine you apply to the nail: If you have a mild infection, a medicine that you apply to your nails may get rid of the infection. This treatment helps keep new fungus out while the nails grow. Fingernails typically grow out in four to six months. Toenails take longer, usually takes 12 to 18 months.
Probably the most difficult part of this treatment is remembering to use it as often as prescribed. Some treatments must be applied every day. Others you apply once a week. To get the best results, its essential that you apply these medicines exactly as directed.
The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the following medicines that you apply to the nail to treat nail fungus:
Side effects from these medicines are generally mild. Possible side effects include redness and swelling, an ingrown toenail, and stinging or burning when you apply the medicine. In clinical trials, none of these side effects caused patients to stop using the treatment.
Antifungal pills, however, can cause side effects. Your dermatologist will watch you closely. Youll also need to have blood tests every month to check for problems.
Read Also: All Natural Nail Polish Remover
Devices Used To Treat Onychomycosis
Recently, non-drug treatment has been developed to treat onychomycosis thus avoiding the side effects and risks of oral antifungal drugs.
Lasers emitting infrared radiation are thought to kill fungi by the production of heat within the infected tissue. Laser treatment is reported to safely eradicate nail fungi with one to three, almost painless, sessions. Several lasers have been approved for this purpose by the FDA and other regulatory authorities. However, high-quality studies of efficacy are lacking, and existing studies indicate that laser treatment is less medically effective than topical or oral antifungal agents.
- Nd:YAG continuous, long or short-pulsed lasers
- Ti:Sapphire modelocked laser
using the application of 5-aminolevulinic acid or methyl aminolevulinate followed by exposure to red light has also been reported to be successful in small numbers of patients, whose nails were presoftened or medically avulsed using 40% urea ointment for a week or so.
Iontophoresis and ultrasound are under investigation as devices used to enhance the delivery of antifungal drugs to the nail plate.
What Is The Treatment For Toenail Fungus
If home remedies dont do the trick, if the infection spreads, or if the nail becomes painful, brittle, or misshapen, you need to see the doctor. There are several treatment options available. More than likely, you will be prescribed an oral medication. Terbinafine and itraconazole are two of the more popular and evidence-based treatments. Terbinafine is especially common for dermatophyte-based toenail fungus. Serious but rare side effects include liver damage and allergic reactions. Your doctor may prescribe an alternative to terbinafine if liver damage is a concern. However, nearly all anti-fungal medications have some level of hepatotoxicity.
A podiatrist will be also able to trim and file the nail more completely than the average person. More serious cases of toenail fungus may involve temporary or permanent toenail removal. A podiatrist can cut out the hardened nail while leaving the cuticle and underlying nail matrix. This directly removes the infection in the nail itself, while also allowing for direct access to treat the underlying skin with anti-fungal treatments while the nail grows back. In rare cases, laser treatment may be an option, but this isnt covered by most insurance policies.
Read Also: What Do You Need To Do Acrylic Nails List
Clinical Management Of Treated Patients
Although low, the possibility exists of hepatic injury during therapy with the newer antifungal agents, and it should remain a consideration. Liver function tests at baseline and periodically during therapy should be performed for patients receiving continuous therapy with terbinafine, fluconazole, or itraconazole. Patients receiving terbinafine are also advised to undergo baseline and periodic complete blood counts as well. Pulse therapy with itraconazole does not require laboratory monitoring. The recommendations for intermittent therapy with fluconazole are unknown. In all cases, patients should be educated so that they can recognize and report signs of drug-related adverse reactions, including jaundice, upper abdominal tenderness, malaise, dark urine, pale stools, fatigue, nausea, and vomiting.
The Initial Causes Nail Fungus Medical Term
If you suspect that your nails are infected with fungus, it is best to consult your doctor and get a diagnosis. Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms and conduct a thorough examination of your nails. A biopsy is required to determine the cause of the infection. Various types of fungus are found in the skin, including the toenails. Among the most common forms of nail fungus are yellow and black, with white patches surrounded by dark brown or white spots.
The infection is caused by fungus. It can spread to the skin and other parts of the body. It is very common to find a nail fungus on the foot in elderly people, and it is often not treated until the condition gets worse. The disease can even be spread to the skin. The afflicted person should see a doctor immediately if they notice any changes in the color of his or her nails.
Nail fungus can occur in the toenails. The infection occurs due to a variety of factors, including excessive moisture, soaking your hands in water, and a lack of hygiene. If the afflicted person is prone to infection, the fungus will grow in the toenails and may spread to other parts of the body. Consequently, it is essential to prevent the nail fungus from spreading to the skin
> > > This Unusual Morning Habit Helps Me Keep My Fungus In Check .
Recommended Reading: How Many Coats Of Opi Nail Polish
Definition And Clinical Impact
Onychomycosis traditionally referred to a nondermatophytic infection of the nail but is now used as a general term to denote any fungal nail infection . In spite of the clearly diseased appearance associated with this condition, onychomycosis is all too often regarded as merely a cosmetic problem of relatively minor importance that is hardly worth the effort to resolve. This belief may have been supported by the adverse effects and long dosing courses associated with some of the earlier antifungal agents.
Onychomycosis in immunocompromised patients, such as those infected with human immunodeficiency virus , can pose a more serious health problem . Not only does the difficult-to-treat infection serve as a constant reminder to the patient of his or her own deteriorated condition, but the possibility exists of transfer of a very high titer of fungal pathogens to another person .
Limitations Of Traditional Antifungal Agents
The kingdom of fungi comprises more than 100,000 species of yeasts and molds. They are eukaryotic organisms with a true nucleus and nuclear membrane and with a cell wall that contains chitin. It is the ergosterol in the cell wall of yeasts and molds, however, that constitutes the fungal cells Achilles heel all currently prescribed antifungal agents act in one way or another to inhibit ergosterol synthesis .7). The azole drugs include the older imidazole ketoconazole and the new triazoles itraconazole and fluconazole. Griseofulvin, the mainstay of onychomycosis treatment for decades, is active against growing hyphae and may also affect nucleic acid synthesis and arrest fungal cell mitosis in metaphase .
Concentration of itraconazole in distal nail clippings after treatment. Reprinted from reference 53 with permission of the publisher.
Although initially indicated for the treatment of onychomycosis due to dermatophytes, itraconazole may also be effective in nondermatophytic infections. For example, one study involved 36 patients with toenail onychomycosis caused by nondermatophyte molds alone or in combination with dermatophytes. Patients received itraconazole as continuous therapy or as a one-week pulse regimen. At 12 months follow-up, clinical and mycologic cures were seen in 88% of the patients whose infections were caused by a single mold .
Terbinafine.
Read Also: What Kind Of Nails To Use For Cedar Siding
What Is Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a condition that disfigures and sometimes destroys the nail. It is also called onychomycosis
Toenail fungus can be caused by several different types of fungi. Fungi are microscopic organisms related to mold and mildew.
These fungi thrive in the dark, moist and stuffy environment inside shoes. As they grow, fungi feed on keratin. Keratin is the protein that makes up the hard surface of the toenails.
Factors that increase the risk of developing toenail fungus include:
- Wearing tight-fitting shoes or tight hosiery
- Practicing poor foot hygiene
- Wearing layers of toenail polish, which doesn’t allow the nail to breathe
- Being a military personnel, athlete or miner. This is because toenail fungi may spread from foot to foot on the floors of showers and locker rooms.
- Having a chronic illness, such as diabetes
- Having a circulatory problem that decreases blood flow to the toes
However, many people with toenail fungus have no clear risk factors.
Toenails on the big toe and little toe are the most likely to develop a toenail fungus. This may be partly because the big toe and little toe are constantly exposed to friction from the sides of shoes.
> > > Best Toe Fungus Treatment Available
If you suspect your nails are infected with fungus, it is important to see a doctor. You should consult a doctor for treatment. A nail fungus can be treated with home remedies. Baking soda and vinegar can also help to eliminate the fungus. In some cases, you can even apply a diluted solution of one of these solutions. You should avoid touching the affected area as it may cause further complications.
Don’t Miss: How Do You Take Off Dip Nails
Fungal Nail Infection Treatment
See your doctor if you think you have nail fungus. It can be tough to get rid of, and youâre more likely to have success with a prescription. Treatments include:
- Oral antifungals. The doctor may give you a pill to kill fungus in your whole body. This is usually the best way to get rid of a nail infection. Treatment may last 2 months for an infection in your fingernails, or 3 months if itâs in your toenails.
- Topical antifungals. You rub or brush these medicines onto your nails. They may work for a mild infection, but they canât get deep enough into the nail to cure a more serious one. You might use a topical treatment in combination with a pill.
- Surgery. If other treatments donât work, the doctor may need to remove your nail entirely and let a healthy one grow back in its place. The new nail could also get infected.
- Laser or photodynamic therapy. Doctors are studying newer treatments that use special light to try to kill the fungus.
