Types of nail fungus
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.