What Is Onychomycosis? Is It A Fungal Nail Infection?
Do you have onychomycosis? If so, this guide is for you.
This guide will teach you how to get rid of onychomycosis using natural methods. You won’t need any medications or expensive treatments- just some patience and dedication.
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails. It can occur in both healthy and unhealthy nails, but it is most common in those who have weak or brittle nails. The fungus that causes onychomycosis lives in the nail bed (the layer of tissue under the nail) and can spread to other parts of the body through contact with infected skin or
What Are The Causes of Onychomycosis?
The causes of onychomycosis are unknown, but it is thought to be caused by fungi that grow in the moist area between your nail and the surface of your skin. Onychomycosis can cause a fungal infection of the nail that can lead to its removal.
What Are The Pathogens That Cause Onychomycosis?
Dermatophytes are the most common cause of onychomycosis. Dermatophytes are fungi that invade the skin, hair and nails. The most common dermatophyte is Trichophyton rubrum. Onychomycosis affects toenails more often than fingernails. The big toe is most often affected.
Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes are also two most common pathogens, responsible for 90% and 70% of all cases, respectively.
Onychomycosis caused by nondermatophyte molds (Fusarium species, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Aspergillus species) is becoming more common worldwide.
Candida is a rare cause of onychomycosis. T. rubrum is the most common pathogen in distal lateral subungual onychomycosis. Proximal subungual onychomycosis with periungual inflammation is usually caused by molds. White superficial onychomycosis is usually caused by T mentagrophytes; nondermatophyte molds cause deep white superficial onychomycosis. Candida albicans nail infection is observed in premature children, in immunocompromised patients, and in persons with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
Risk factors for onychomycosis include: family history, increasing age, poor health, prior trauma, warm climate, and communal bathing. Mechanical problems with repetitive microtraumas to the nails can cause nail dystrophy and fungal invasion of the nails.
What Are The Different Types Of Onychomychosis?
There are different types of onychomycosis, with different presentations.
Distal subungal onychomycosis (DLSO) is the most common type of onychomycosis, affecting the nail bed and often causing the nail to become thickened, discolored, and brittle.
White superficial onychomycosis (WSO) is another type of onychomycosis, affecting the superficial layer of the nail.
Proximal subungal onychomycosis (PSO) is a less common type of onychomycosis, affecting the cuticle and often causing the nail to become thickened, discolored, and brittle.
Endonyx is when the fungus invades the nail plate causing the nail to become inflamed.
Total dystrophic onychomycosis is the most advanced form of any onychomycosis subtype and presents with thick nails and varied presentation.
What Are The Risk Factors For Onychomycosis?
The risk factors for onychomycosis include age, gender, sub-optimal health, inability to maintain foot hygiene, genetic factors, and family history of onychomycosis.
Smoking and systemic conditions (such as diabetes) can also increase the risk of developing onychomycosis. Environmental factors such as shared bathing facilities and occlusive footwear can also increase the risk of developing onychomycosis.
Onychomycosis can affect any type of nail – including the thumbnail, index finger, middle finger, and pinkie toe – and is more common in people who wear falsies or have long nails.
Onychomycosis Caused By Bacteria
The bacteria that can cause onychomycosis include Streptococcus pyogenes and Candida albicans.
Streptococcus pyogenes are the bacteria that cause strep throat, and they can also infect the nails.
Candida albicans is a type of yeast that can also cause infections in the nails.
Onychomycosis Caused By Poor Hygiene
Poor hygiene is a predisposing factor for onychomycosis.
Poor hygiene can cause onychomycosis by increasing the chances of picking up the fungus from others or from contaminated surfaces. These surfaces can include towels, clothing, or floors.
People who have poor hygiene are also more likely to have nail biting habits.
Nail biting can damage the nails and make them more susceptible to infection. Footwear and bathing habits can also contribute to the development of the fungus.
Onychomycosis Caused By Other Sources
Other risk factors for onychomycosis include increasing age, poor health, prior trauma, warm climate, participation in fitness activities, and immunosuppression (eg HIV).
Mechanical problems with repetitive microtraumas to the nails can cause onycholysis and nail dystrophies which favor nail invasion by fungi.
Nails infected with nondermatophyte molds ( Fusarium species, Scopulariopsis brevicaulis, Aspergillus species) are becoming more common worldwide.
Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophytes are the two main pathogens responsible for 90% of all cases.
Candida albicans nail infection is common in premature children and in people with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis.
List Of Symptoms Of Onychomycosis
1. Inflamed nail
One of the most common causes of nail pain and social stigma is onychomycosis. This fungal infection can start as a white or yellow-brown spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail, and may progress to discoloration, thickening, and crumbling.
Affected nails may also feel painful. If left untreated, onychomycosis can spread to other nails and even affect other parts of the body.
However, with proper treatment, nail fungus often comes back after treatment is complete.
There are many different treatments for onychomycosis available including oral medications and topical creams. If you experience signs or symptoms of onychomycosis, it’s important to see your doctor for a diagnosis and recommended treatment plan.
2. Thickened Nails
Thickened nails can be unsightly and painful, and they can also lead to other problems like nail breakage and infection.
The most common place for nail fungus to develop is under the tip of the fingernail or toenail. Nail fungus can be difficult to treat and may require various treatments over time.
If treatment is needed, there are many options available, including medications and self-care steps. If the nail fungus is mild, self-care may be enough.
3. Discolored Nails
Discolored nails caused by onychomycosis , also known as nail fungus, can be unsightly and embarrassing. This condition is caused by a fungal infection that penetrates the nail bed and nail plate. The good news is that there are several effective treatments for onychomycosis.
4. Separate From The Nail Bed
The nail plate is made up of three layers: the dorsal, intermediate, and ventral. The nail unit is constantly being formed, with the hyponychium acting as a barrier to infection. The hard keratin in the dorsal layer makes up most of the nail plate.
Nails infected by fungus can separate from the nail bed, become thickened, and develop a yellow or brown discoloration. The nails may also become crumbly and break easily.
5. Cracks In The Nail
Nail cracks caused by fungi are a common problem. Fungi thrive in moist environments, so it is important to keep your nails clean and dry.
6. Curved nails
Curved nails caused by onychomycosis can be difficult to trim. If the nails are thick, you may need to see a podiatrist to have them trimmed.
7. White Patches On The Nail
Fungal infection in the nails can cause white patches or yellowing of the nails. It can also lead to crumbling and breaking of the nails. ]
8. Thick Black Discharge From The Nail
Black discharge from the nail can be a sign of onychomycosis. The discharge may also have a foul odor. If you notice black discharge from your nails, you should see a doctor to get it checked out.
How To Diagnose Toenail Fungus
There are a few ways to diagnose toenail fungus, but the most common is a fungal culture. This can be done by scraping off a small amount of skin and nail, applying pressure to it for 30 minutes, then taking a sample that is placed into culture media.
How To Treat Onychomycosis?
Step 1: See Your Doctor
If self-care steps haven’t helped and the nail becomes increasingly discolored, thickened or misshapen, your doctor may recommend seeing a specialist. Your healthcare provider may order tests to confirm a fungal infection. If you have any concerns about your health, see your doctor at Mayo Clinic.
Step 2: Get A Prescription
Your healthcare provider may prescribe an anti-fungal medication to treat onychomycosis. Possible side effects of this treatment include fungal overgrowth and infection of other organs. Treatment may also involve surgery to remove the affected toe(s).
Step 3: Follow Your Doctor’s Instructions
Your doctor will instruct you to follow certain steps to treat onychomycosis, such as cutting toenails short and alternating shoes. These steps will help prevent further damage and infection. Treatment may also include applying cream to the feet to prevent fungal infection, using powder to control perspiration, and cleaning instruments with alcohol before and after each use. If your healthcare provider detects onychomycosis, they may order tests to confirm the infection.
Step 4: Take Your Medication
- Consult with your doctor to get started on treatment for onychomycosis.
- Take your medication as prescribed, and be sure to drink plenty of water while taking it to stay hydrated.
- If you experience any side effects, consult a doctor immediately.
- Be sure to store your medication in a safe place and keep it away from children.
Step 5: Monitor Your Progress
If you are experiencing any side effects, talk to your health care provider.
Step 6: Talk To Your Doctor About Your Options
If self-care steps haven’t helped, or if the nail becomes increasingly discolored, thickened, or misshapen, see a health care provider.
If you have diabetes and you’re thinking you may have nail fungus, discuss your symptoms with your doctor.
Request an appointment at Mayo Clinic and provide the requested information.
If onychomycosis is confirmed by tests, your healthcare provider may prescribe medication to treat the infection.
How To Prevent Onychomycosis
To prevent onychomycosis, take the following steps:
- Wash your hands and feet regularly.
- Keep your nails clean and trimmed.
- Avoid walking barefoot in public places, such as locker rooms or pools. Wear shower shoes or sandals.
- Don’t share nail clippers, nail files or other personal items with others.
- If you have a skin injury around your nails, treat it promptly to avoid infection.
- Avoid use of occlusive footwear and excessive sweating, and treat infected footwear and socks.
- Trim nails short to avoid nail trauma, and use prophylactic antifungals to prevent infection.
- Patient counselling can help people improve adherence to therapy, which can help prevent recurrence of onychomycosis.
What are the treatment options for onychomycosis?
- Check for symptoms regularly and treat as necessary.
- Use a topical antifungal if the infection is localized to the nail or if symptoms are severe.
- Use systemic antifungals if the infection is widespread or involves the lunula region of the nail.
- Take nonpharmacologic measures, such as using a topical solution or an oxaborole solution (boron-containing compound), to treat localized infections before seeking treatment from a doctor.
- If systemic treatment is required, use one of the following: fluconazole, itraconazole, terbinafine, posaconazole, or voriconazole
FAQs
What Is Onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is a nail infection caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, or NDMs.
The symptoms of onychomycosis can include pain, redness, and difficulty in growing or maintaining nails.
Treatment for onychomycosis typically includes antifungal medication and/ or surgery.
What Are The Symptoms Of Onychomycosis?
Symptoms of onychomycosis can include complaints about the appearance of the nail, interference with activities such as standing and walking, and loss of dexterity.
What Causes Onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is caused by a fungal infection of the toenails. The most common symptom is a white or yellow spot on the nail. The infection can also cause the nails to become thick, brittle, and deformed. If the infection is severe, it can lead to pain and difficulty walking.
How Is Onychomycosis Diagnosed?
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nail, which can be easily diagnosed by appearance and pattern of nail involvement.
How Is Onychomycosis Treated?
Onychomycosis is treated with topical antifungal therapy. If symptoms persist or get worse, systemic treatments can be used. Treatment must be followed properly to ensure success. Topical onychomycosis treatments are focused on formulations containing agents such as amorolfine, ciclopirox, tioconazole, efinaconazole, and tavaborole. Condition improvement is usually achieved in less than 30% of the cases, with complete cure rates below 20%.
Different approaches such as chemical strategies and physical methods have been studied to circumvent the physiological barriers and improve treatment efficacy.
Topical agents are not always effective in preventing relapse but they may be useful in cases of onychomycosis. Topical therapy with oral antifungals may result in a more rapid cure. Nail surgery should only be used as a last resort and is often painful and disfiguring.
Can Onychomycosis Be Prevented?
Onychomycosis can be prevented by keeping feet cool and dry, avoiding using occlusive footwear and excessive sweating, discarding or treating infected footwear and socks, avoiding nail trauma, using prophylactic antifungals, and counselling patients for optimal onychomycosis therapy.
Strategies to prevent recurrence include keeping feet cool and dry, avoiding using occlusive footwear and excessive sweating, trimming nails short, avoiding unhygienic cosmetic nail practices, addressing poorly controlled diabetes.
What Are The Complications Of Onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the nails that can cause serious complications, such as foot ulcerations, local and systemic bacterial infections, and amputations.
What Is The Prognosis For Patients With Onychomycosis?
The onychomycosis Severity Index can help predict how well a patient will respond to therapy. Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the skin caused by various strains of the fungus dermatophyte. Accurate diagnosis of onychomycosis is vital for developing effective and safe drugs, but progress has been made in recent years. We should turn our attention to diagnostic problems in order to improve treatment for onychomycosis.