Fungal nail infection is a condition that affects your brittle nails and usually your toes. In this process, the color of your nails also changes. In the medical world, it is called onychomycosis. It does not affect the bottom of your feet or the skin between your toes but directly attacks your nails. Fungi are microscopic organisms you can only see through a microscope. If you are suffering from this infection you can meet the Skin doctor in Karachi.
Sometimes these tiny organisms do not hurt you even though they are present on the skin. When these germs remain in one area for a long time, they cause infection. If you have toenail or fingernail fungus, don’t embarrass anyone. Nail fungus forms as a white or yellow-brown mark under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. This infection can affect 14% of the general population.
Types:
Fungal nail infection is divided into four types:
Distal onychomycosis:
This kind of effect affects your fingernails or toenails. It begins in the nail bed, underneath the nail. Yellowish-colored marks are seen which reach from the edges of the nail to the center of the nails.
White superficial onychomycosis:
This is less common and only influences the nail surface, primarily on your toenails. It forms white dots, which become powdery and cause the nail to powder.
Proximal subungual onychomycosis:
In this type, white patches are visible on the nails. As the nail grows, they also begin to develop. This problem usually occurs in people who have HIV infection.
Candidal onychomycosis:
Swelling is felt in the area around the nails. The reaction is that the nails separate. Injured nails and infected nails are more affected by this type.
Symptoms:
Symptoms depend on the type of infection you have. These signs go from mild to severe. If you don’t treat these symptoms, they can be harmful to the area. Nail fungus can cause the nails to be:
- Thickened
- Discolored
- Brittle, crumbly, or rough
- Deformed
- Isolated from the nail bed
- Difficult to trim
Causes:
- The fungal nail infection is caused by an overgrowth of fungi that develops in extremely hot or humid environments.
- If you are close to someone who has a nail infection, your risk of nail infection increases.
- Fungal infections influence toenails more than fingernails. Your feet feel warm and moist inside closes shoes.
- The infection is passed from person to person due to not cleaning the nail clippers properly.
- Small gaps in your nail or the surrounding skin can permit these germs to penetrate your nail and generate an infection.
Risk factors:
Fungal nail infections can happen to anyone at any time. Anyone can get a fungal nail infection, but they are more familiar in men than women and seniors than the young.
Factors that can raise your stake of developing nail fungus include:
- Older age
- Wearing closed shoes
- Walking barefoot in rocky areas
- Having a wound or injury on the nail
- weakened immune system
- Having blood flow problems
- wearing artificial nails
- Having a psoriasis skin infection
Complications:
An intense case of nail fungus can be hurting and may induce endless damage to your nails. And it may lead to additional infections that disperse beyond your feet if you have a weakened immune system due to medication, diabetes, etc.
Treatments:
It often happens that due to carelessness, the nails are filled with dirt but the easy way of preventing nail fungal infection is to keep nails short and clean. Nail treatment can be long and expensive
Oral antifungal medications and alternative therapies may be helpful. Some creams and lotions are available in markets but they do not have enough benefits. Lamisil, Sporanox, and Diflucan are useful medications for nail fungus infection.
Preventions:
Choose socks that wick away moisture. If you sweat a lot and your socks get wet so replace them immediately. Wherever you sit for a short time, take off your shoes and let your feet dry. Using powder and spray protects you from fungal nail infections. Following are some preventive measures to take:
- Keeping Nails Short, Dry, And Neat
- Wear Comfortable Socks
- Prefer Antifungal Spray Or Powder
- Put On Rubber Gloves
- Use Sandals In Public Places
- Don’t Wear Someone Else’s Socks
- Stop Wearing Artificial Nails
- Don’t Bite Nails
For an expert opinion, you can consult a Dermatologist in Lahore.
