Onychomycosis- Fungal Nails

What is it 

Onychomycosis is a chronic fungal infection of the nails caused by dermatophytes (fungal Hyphae).

Why did I get it?

• The fungal spores like warm, humid environments

• Dermatophyte fungi live on the nail plate and repeated minor trauma permits the fungal organism to invade the nail plate and become established

• Tight occlusive footwear causes crowding of the toes, promoting fungal infection

• Communal showers, where untreated fungal organisms can spread rapidly

• Occupations requiring constant hand washing

• Diseases that influence local and systemic immunity can predispose to onychomycosis, including diabetes mellitus, HIV, and peripheral ischemia

Symptoms:

One or more of the following symptoms can be observed:

• Thickened or brittle nail

• Scaling under the nails

• White or yellow streaks on the nail

• Flaking white areas on the nail’s surface

• Appearance of yellow spots at the bottom of the nail

• Distorted nail

How is it diagnosed?

In some cases physical exam alone is enough to identify a fungal nail. However in some cases physical exam is unreliable as there are so many conditions that can make nails look damaged. A nail sample can be taken from your podiatrist to be sent away for laboratory testing.

Possible treatments:

Topical antifungal treatments are the most common form treatment. There are oral anti fungals prescribed by a doctor but can only be taken for a certain period of time. Have you nails cut and thinned down by a podiatrist will allow better absortion of topical treatments. Treatment is a lengthy recovery and can take up to and over a year, photos taken of the condition of your nail are helpful in ensuring treatment is successful. Sometimes you will need to change anti-fungal treatment.