Posted On: February 11, 2020
Fungal nail infection is an infection that occurs in the tissue folds around the nails. Normally, this infection occurs from the overgrowth of fungi. Fungi are known to thrive in a moist environment. This means that they can overpopulate in such type of environment.
Fungal nail infection is a common infection in 16 European countries. This infection was discovered in the late 19th century. The infection that begins as a white or yellow spot on the toenail has become one of the most common nail disorders in adults.
There are several types of fungal nail infection. Each of them comes with different signs and symptoms. Here are the most common types.
You can agree with me that fungus thrives in dark and warm places. This means that your toenails are most likely to be affected when compared to your fingernails. Do you know that your toes have less blood flow than your fingers? This means that it is quite hard for your body to prevent an infection.
Men are more likely to have this infection than women. In addition, old people who have an extremely weak immune system are at a higher risk. So, what are the main causes of fungal nail infection?
Fungi. These are microscopic organisms that do not require sunlight to survive. Candida is the most common group of fungi. Research has shown that they are responsible for all nail infections. However, there are other yeasts and molds that can cause these infections.
You might be aware that anyone can get fungal nail infection. But most fungal nail infections are more common in men than women. We have compiled some additional traits that have been known to cause fungal nail infection. Let’s take a look.
Previous cases have shown that indeed nail fungus can be painful. It has been associated with permanent damage in nails. Away from that, this infection can lead to other serious complications. The infections may spread beyond your feet if you have a weak immune system.
Any minor injury to your foot can lead to a more serious complication. With that in mind, you should seek attention from your personal doctor if you think you are developing nail fungus.
It is good to know that fungal nail infection may not cause any symptoms at first. You should seek medical attention if your toenails are cracked and painful. Over the years, there have emerged other problems that can affect your nails look. In case you observe such problems, you should visit the nearest medical facility simply because fungal infection is a common culprit.
As the fungal nail infection progresses, it can cause the following signs.
Although it’s rare, the skin close to the nails may also become infected. It may either get cracked or swollen.
Are you aware that treatment is not always needed for a fungal nail infection? What is the main reason behind this? Treatment may cause further problems. You can feel it is not worth treating the infection. You should have good hygiene whether you decide to have treatment or not. The essence of doing this is to stop the infection from getting worse and spreading to other parts of the body.
You should consider talking to GP or pharmacist if you suspect you have fungal nail infection. Here are some of the treatments they will recommend.
The medical expert will give you a detailed procedure to remove the nail completely. In addition, laser treatment is used in severe cases. In this kind of treatment, a high energy laser is used to destroy the fungus. Unfortunately, this treatment is only available privately. Also, it is quite expensive.
Anti-fungal treatment can treat more than 80% of all fungal nail infections. How long can it take for the affected nail to return to normal? It takes about 18 months. You will notice a new healthy nail growing from the base of the nail if the treatment option is working. Also, the old infected nail will start growing out.
What if the healthy nail does not start to grow after a few weeks? In that case, it is advisable to talk to an experienced GP. You should use the treatment until your GP tells you to stop. Your infection may return if you stop very early.
At times, the anti-fungal medication may take a long time to work. Nowadays, many people prefer using treatment options that involves removing the infected parts. You can find treatment kits from pharmacies. These kits come with a 40% urea paste and scraping device. How does the paste work? It softens the infected parts of the nail. This allows them to be scrapped so that they can be gradually replaced with a healthy nail.
After you have removed all the infected parts, you can ask your pharmacist for anti-fungal nail paint. This prevents re-infection as the nail regrows.
You don’t need to have a procedure to remove affected nails. At times, your doctor may recommend especially when the infection is painful and other treatment options have not helped.
Do you pay a lot of attention to your nails? You might fail to notice the unwelcome visitor. There are several signs that will emerge when you have fungal nail infection. You can attest that it is a real pain to get rid of fungal nail infection. Therefore, it is very important to know how you can prevent it. We have analyzed different ways on how you can prevent fungal nail infection.
There are different types of fungal nail infection and you need to be sure of the type you have before commencing treatment. For some people, treating fungal nail infection can be quite difficult. The first round of medication might fail to work. With that in mind, this is the right time to learn how to prevent this infection.