Fungal nail infection is a condition, where the nail of the toes or finger becomes discolored, thickened, cracked, and broken. Fungal toenail infection is common in comparison to fingernails. Fungal nail infection is termed ‘Onychomycosis’ in the medical field.
Causes
- Healthy people get fungal toenail infection from the fungus surviving in moist, wet public places like the communal showers at swimming pools or gym.
- Nail salons with poor sanitization practices also source the infection.
- Athletes’ foot and repetitive nail trauma also increase the risk of fungal nail infection.
- People with a compromised immune system must never ignore the discoloration of their toenails.
In severe conditions, Dr. Sima at Irvine Podiatry Clinic recommends toenail fungus laser treatment. So, it is advisable to schedule an appointment as early as possible before the situation worsens.
Fungi species that impact nail
Dermatophyte is a common fungus that infects the skin and spreads in a specific manner.
- Dustal subungual onychomycosis is caused by T-rubrum fungus. Starts at the big toe corner and spreads towards the cuticle.
- Proximal subungual onychomycosis is caused by T-rubrum as well as non-dermatophyte molds. Starts at the toenail cuticle and spreads to the tip.
- Yeast onychomycosis – It is caused by Candida yeast that is common in fingernails.
- White superficial onychomycosis – Trichophyton Mentagrophytes fungus consumes the nail surface causing it to turn into a powdery material.
Symptoms
- Discoloration [brown, white, or yellow]
- Cracked
- Thickened
Fungal infection between toes is called ‘Athlete’s foot’. Abnormal-looking nails can be due to many conditions and are not limited to fungal infection.
For example, yellow or white nails can be because of onycholysis which is the separation of nails from the bed. Nails become brittle as people grow old. Black or red nails are due to trauma. Green nails are due to Pseudomonas bacteria, which partially separates the nail from its bed.
So, without any assumption, it is sensible to give a visit to the nearest podiatry clinic to avoid worsening your underlying condition. A tiny black spot seen above the nail can possibly be melanoma or skin cancer.
Treatment
A podiatrist will shave the nails top layer off or remove a portion of the toenail. Oral medications can be prescribed. Laser treatment for toenail fungus removal is an innovative solution.
Light with a specific wavelength is applied to interact with fungus. Your skin or any other body part is not compromised because the lasers are designed to target nails and fungus.
The sessions and effectiveness of the laser toenail fungus removal treatment will depend on the infection severity, nail damage, and extent. Patients even choose to use cosmetic options like covering toenails with specific acrylester gel. It is molded and bonded completely over a fungal nail stump. The covered nail looks normal until it outgrows.
How to avoid the recurrence of fungal toenail infection?
- Wash feet clean with water and soap daily. Dry feet well between toes, too.
- Never go barefooted in public.
- Wear clean socks daily but put on different shoes. This allows the shoes to dry.
- Use proper footwear.
- Trim toenails properly with sanitized nail clippers.
- Use medicated foot powder.
Prevention is key!
