Onychomycosis is a common fungal infection that affects the fingernails and toenails. Onychomycosis usually starts as a small, light-colored spot on your nail. As it spreads deeper, it can change the shape and color of the nails. Over time, nails become thicker and more brittle.
Common symptoms are:
- Flakes under the nail
- White or yellow lines under the nail
- Brittle nails with cracks
- Thick nails
- Raised onyx bed Risk factors
Several factors increase the risk of yeast infection. These include environmental factors and what happens to your body when exposed to a fungus.
- Humidity: Profuse sweating or working in a hot and humid environment increases the risk of a fungal infection. Fungi need a warm and moist environment to grow. Walking barefoot in wet places like communal showers increases the risk. Such areas are often rich in fungal spores.
- Poor blood circulation: Any condition that causes poor blood circulation increases the risk of infection. Poor blood circulation weakens the immune response and reduces the body's ability to fight infections.
- Menopause: If you are postmenopausal, hormonal changes reduce the acidity of the vagina. You are more prone to vaginal yeast infections.
- Suppressed immune system: If your immune system is not working normally, it makes you susceptible to fungal infections. Many factors can weaken your immune system. Nutritional deficiencies, immunodeficiency disorders, smoking, and even stress are some.
- Nail and skin injury: Even a minor nail and skin injury or infection can allow fungi to get under the skin and affect the deeper tissues. For this reason, it is crucial to take care of your wounds and cover them with sterile gauze or a bandage.
- Medicines: Certain medicines can reduce the body's ability to fight fungal infections. For example, antibiotics destroy good bacteria along with harmful bacteria. This allows the fungi to grow without competition. Long-term use of corticosteroids also increases the risk of fungal infection. Cancer treatments, such as chemotherapy and radiation therapy, also increase your risk.
Try To:
- Keep your skin clean and dry
- Wash your hands regularly
- Clean gym equipment before and after use
- Avoid using shared towels and personal hygiene products.
- Wear shoes or flip-flops in shared showers and pools.
To determine if you have nail fungus, the doctor might need to take a sample of the affected nail and examine it under a microscope to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms.
Treatment
It can take weeks to treat fingernail infections and months for toenail infections. Over-the- counter medications are usually not effective. The doctor may prescribe a product applied directly to the nail or an oral antibiotic.
