Fungal Infection of the Nails
We are programmed to always use our hands and feet, because they are the agents of mobility for us. This is also So because we constantly put our hands and feet in water, immersed in moist conditions.
Also, in the course of moving and using our limbs, we contact some infections, and if good hygiene is not employed, infects can occur. Therefore fungal infections can and do occur.
Many people develop a fungal nail infection at some point in their life. It’s not usually serious, but can be unpleasant and difficult to treat.
The infection develops slowly and causes the nail to become discoloured, thickened and distorted.
Toenails are more frequently affected than the fingernails. The medical name for a fungal nail infection is onychomycosis.
Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. When a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal nail infections are common. They’re not serious but they can take a long time to treat.
Fungal nail infections usually affect your toenails but you can get them on your finger nails too.
Fungal nail infections usually start at the edge of the nail. They often then spread to the middle. The nail becomes discoloured and lifts off. The nail becomes brittle and pieces can break off. It can cause pain and swelling in the skin around the nail.
What are the symptoms
Symptoms of a fungal nail infection
A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first.
As it progresses, the infection can cause:
• discolouration of the nail – it may turn white, black, yellow or green
• thickening and distortion of the nail – it may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim
• pain or discomfort – particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger
• brittle or crumbly nails – pieces may break off and come away completely
• Sometimes the skin nearby may also become infected and be itchy and cracked or red and swollen.
Causes
Most fungal nail infections occur as a result of the fungi that cause athlete’s foot infecting the nails.
These fungi often live harmlessly on your skin, but they can sometimes multiply and lead to infections. The fungi prefer warm, dark and moist places like the feet.
Those at risk
• have diabetes
• have a disease that causes poor circulation
• are over age 65
• wear artificial nails
• swim in a public swimming pool
• have a nail injury
• have a skin injury around the nail
• have moist fingers or toes for an extended time
• have a weakened immune system
• wear closed-toe shoes, such as tennis shoes or boots
• don’t keep your feet clean and dry
• wear shoes that cause your feet to get hot and sweaty
• walk around barefoot in places where fungal infections can spread easily, such as communal showers, locker rooms and gyms
• have damaged your nails
• have certain other health conditions, such as diabetes, psoriasis or peripheral arterial disease
Fungal nail infections can be spread to other people, so you should take steps to avoid this (see below) if you have an infection.
Treatment
Treatments for fungal nail infections
Treatment isn’t always needed for a mild fungal nail infection because it’s unlikely to cause any further problems and you may feel it’s not worth treating.
Whether you decide to have treatment or not, you should still practise good foot hygiene to stop the infection getting worse or spreading to others.
Speak to your doctor if you’re bothered by the appearance of the affected nail, or it’s causing problems such as pain and discomfort. They’ll probably recommend:
• antifungal tablets – tablets taken once or twice a day for several months
• antifungal nail paints – special paints applied directly to the nail over several months
• nail softening kits – where a paste is used to soften infected parts of the nail, before they’re removed with a scraping device
A procedure to remove the nail completely may be recommended in severe cases. Laser treatment, where a high-energy laser is used to destroy the fungus, is also an option. But this is only available privately and can be expensive.
Treatment
Treatment may not be necessary in mild cases of fungal nail infection. For more severe or troublesome cases, antifungal medication may be recommended.
A fungal nail infection is unlikely to get better without treatment, but if you’re not bothered by it you might decide it’s not worth treating because treatment can take a long time, may cause side effects, and isn’t always effective.
Whether or not you decide to have treatment, you should still follow the self-help advice below to help stop the condition getting worse or spreading to others.
Do these
The advice below may be helpful if you have a fungal nail infection:
• keep your hands and feet clean and dry
• wear well-fitting shoes made of natural materials and clean cotton socks – these will allow your feet to “breatheâ€
• clip your nails to keep them short – use a separate pair of clippers or scissors for the infected nail
• don’t share towels and socks with other people, and ensure your towels are washed regularly
• don’t walk around barefoot in public pools, showers, and locker rooms – special shower shoes are available to protect your feet
• consider replacing old footwear as it could be the source of the infection
• treat athlete’s foot as soon as possible to avoid the infection spreading to your nails
Antifungal medication
Speak to your doctor if you’re embarrassed by the appearance of the affected nail, or it’s causing problems such as pain and discomfort.
They’ll usually recommend treatment with antifungal medication, either in the form of tablets or a special paint you apply directly to the nail.
A small sample of the infected nail may need to be taken and sent off for testing before treatment starts, to confirm that you do have a fungal infection.
Antifungal tablets
Terbinafine and itraconazole are the two medicines most commonly prescribed for fungal nail infections. These usually need to be taken once or twice a day for several months to ensure the infection has completely cleared up. If you stop taking the medication too early, the infection may return.
Possible side effects of antifungal tablets can include headache, itching, diarrhoea, loss of sense of taste, and a rash.
Antifungal nail paint
If you prefer not to take antifungal tablets, your doctor may suggest you try antifungal nail paint instead.
Nail paint isn’t generally considered to be as effective as tablets because it can be difficult for it to reach the deeper layers of the nail. However, it doesn’t usually cause any side effects.
Like antifungal tablets, antifungal nail paint also normally needs to be used for several months to ensure that the infection has cleared up.
Results of treatment
Antifungal treatments are thought to be effective in treating about 60-80% of fungal nail infections. It can take between six and 18 months for the appearance of the affected nail to return to normal, and in some cases the nail may not look the same as before the infection.
If the treatment is working, you should see a new healthy nail start to grow from the base of nail over the course of a few months. The old infected nail should begin to grow out and can be gradually clipped away.
Speak to your doctor if new, healthy nail doesn’t start to grow after a few weeks of treatment. Keep using the treatment until your doctor says you can stop, as stopping too early could result in the infection returning.
Softening and scraping away the nail
As it can take a long time for antifungal medication to work, some people may prefer to use a treatment that involves softening and removing infected parts of nail over a few weeks.
Treatment kits are available from pharmacies that contain a 40% urea paste, plasters and a scraping device. The paste softens the infected parts of the nail, allowing them to be scraped away so they can be gradually replaced with healthy nail.
To use the treatment:
• wash the affected area and dry it thoroughly
• carefully apply the paste to the infected nails
• cover the nails with plasters and leave them for 24 hours
• wash the paste off the next day and scrape away the softened parts of the nail
• repeat this process each day for two to three weeks
• Once no more infected parts of the nail can be removed, ask your pharmacist for antifungal nail paint to prevent re-infection as the nail regrows over the next few months.
• Removing the nail
• A procedure to remove affected nails completely isn’t usually necessary, but may be recommended if the infection is severe or painful and other treatments haven’t helped.
If your nail is surgically removed, a new nail should eventually grow back in its place. However, it could take a year or more for the nail to grow back completely.
Preventing fungal nail infections:
1. You can reduce your risk of developing a fungal nail infection by:
2. keeping your hands and feet clean and dry
3. wearing well-fitting shoes made of natural materials and clean cotton socks – these will allow your feet to “breatheâ€
4. clipping your nails to keep them short – don’t share clippers or scissors with other people
5. not sharing towels and socks with other people, and ensure your towels are washed regularly
6. not walking around barefoot in public pools, showers, and locker rooms – special shower shoes are available to protect your feet
7. replacing old footwear that could be contaminated with fungi
8. treating athlete’s foot as soon as possible to avoid the infection spreading to your nails
Nail salon equipment can sometimes be the source of fungal nail infections. If you regularly visit a salon, make sure any equipment used is properly sterilised between uses.
