The onychomycosis or the so called fingernail fungus is a disease, “addicted” mostly to women. This doesn’t mean that men are fully protected. Statistics show that women frequently suffer from it 3 times more than men. Only 15-20% of people around the world are struggling to resist the nail fungus, despite modern means of treatment. The disease is just hard to be treated. On the other hand it can easily be restarted even after successful treatment. The reasons for this are two – the state of the individual organism and the human hygiene.
Any breach in the blood supply and operation of the blood vessels may be a reason for the easy susceptibility of the organism in this type of fungus. Violations in the work of the immune and endocrine systems are also a prerequisite for susceptibility to infection. Particularly at risk are people suffering from diabetes. If the hands and feet with small wounds, corns or abnormal thickening of the skin, do not underestimate them and take necessary measures before infection occurs.
One important factor is that the fungal spores can be all around you, including your home. General bathroom accessories, towels, beach towels are a potential hazard. Do not put in the bathroom mats or synthetic rubber on the floor. Never use bath slippers or shoes that are not your own – this should be a matter of principle in your home.
Walk with flip-flops when you are at the swimming pool, put your own towels on the lounges. If you need to take a shower on the beach, use slippers - it is better to wet them, instead your nails to suffer after that.
Provide air for the legs in the summer so the skin can breathe. Do not use tight shoes or synthetic socks.
Women are at risk more than men to this nail fungus infection because of their household duties. Many of the dish-washing liquids or cleaning liquids for the house affects negatively the nails. They violate their surface, which can be easily contaminated. Recommendations for use of household gloves are not intended only to protect your skin from drying out ,but also your nails and hands. Many women complain of brittle nails, lack of shine on the nail plate, but do not always know that they may suffer from onychomycosis.
It is not proper to be treated by yourself if you find that the toenails or your fingernails are fragile, muddy, with ribs, split easily, and sometimes yellow or turning brown. Sometimes it may not be the type of fungus you suspect. It is necessary to make consultation with a doctor.
There are different types of fungus that can affect the nails. The most common of them, however, is Trichophyton rubrum. This type of fungus infects the skin, causing dermatophytes, and is manifested in the following ways:
- The fungus nests in the edges of the nail and raises them up.
The condition is called peripheral under nail onychomycosis. This is the most common type of fungal infection affecting the nails. Is responsible for 90% of cases of fungal infections of the nails. It concerns mainly the toenails. Risk factor for the disease are age, swimming, psoriasis, diabetes, prevalence of the fungus among other family members, a weak immune system and others.
The disease begins with a change in color of a section of the corner of the big toe and gradually spreading towards the stigma cuticle. As a result, toenails are very thick, brittle and friable.
- Yeast infection starts at the base of the nail and gradually raise it.
The condition is called central under nail onychomycosis. This is the most rare form of fungal infection of the nails – only 3% of all cases of fungal nail infection. As regards the ways of manifestation and symptoms that accompany it, it resembles the peripheral under nail onychomycosis.
The difference is that this type of infection starts from the cuticle (the base of the nail), and gradually grows towards the tip of the nail. This type of nail fungal infection almost always affects people with compromised immune systems.
This type of infection is due to the fungus candida. Mainly affects the fingernails. Candida is the cause of changing the color of the fingernails to yellow, brown, white and also their thickening. Sometimes people with this type of infection, suffer from fungus in your mouth or chronic paronychia, which also has a fungal origin.
Very often people find that strange-looking fingernails are odd, partly because most of them suspect that the reason for this is fungal infection. The term fungal infection sounds as this is a disease and it’s contagious or caused by poor hygiene. Actually, however, often fingernail fungus infection in general may not be caused by a fungus! There are many reasons why nails can look different from their normal state.
Here are some other conditions that may be reason for the unpleasant fingernails:
1. Lines and edges. They are so common that can be adopted for normal nail. Lines and edges on the nails may worsen during pregnancy. Sometimes the thick lines, descending centrally along the length of the nail is due to the nasty habit, such as nail biting.
2. Old nails. As we age, the nails become brittle, they develop rough structures and the edges are removed from the skin.
Do not use cleaning solutions and soaking your nails in water to avoid worsening the problem.
3. Whitish or yellowish nails in the presence of onycholysis. This means separation of nails from the nail bed. Discolored surface of the nails is due to air in the nail plate. Treatment consists of trimming nails less, without cleaning and polishing them in order to hide their unpleasant color. This type of treatment should be performed within 2-3 months.
4. Red or black nails due to hematoma, or blood under the nails, resulting from recently acquired trauma. The discolored area gradually grows and can be removed by cutting the nail. In the presence of black spot under the nail, which is not due to trauma, the patient should visit a dermatologist to ensure that no case of melanoma.
5. The green nails are caused by the bacteria pseudomonas. Green pigment is reproduced by the partly separated nails from the nail bed. Treatment consists of short trimming the nails in period of four weeks without cleaning. Polishing them by a desire can conceal their unnatural color. Actual results of treatment become visible after about 2-3 months. Patients are advised to avoid soaking the nails in water, and dry fingers and nails after a bath. If the problem persists, it is necessary to make consultation with a specialist in prescribing an appropriate drug therapy.
6. Covered with nail dents are associated with the presence of psoriasis or other skin problem that affects the nail matrix – the part below the skin, directly behind the nail. This is exactly the area from which fingernails grow. Affected areas by nail psoriasis are often darker.
7. Swelling and redness of the skin around the nails – paronychia. This is an infection of the skin at the base of the nail. When infection is severe, it is usually due to bacteria. Usually the condition responds well to hot compresses with water, but in most cases requires the preparation of a drainage specialist. Chronic paronychia occurs when the cuticle of the nail is inflamed or irritated. Sometimes the fungus benefit from the injured and inflamed skin and infects the affected area. Treatment begins with the drying of the skin and protect it from prolonged contact with water or moisture. Extremely effective in these symptoms is a steroid hydrocortisone cream. If the problem persists, the physician may prescribe anti fungal medications.