Many changes in their feet can make people think they have a fungal nail infection, from a medical point of view known as onychomycosis. The fungal nail infection sometimes makes the condition contagious or is associated with poor hygiene. In fact, up to 10% of all adults have fungal nail infections. This percentage increases to 20% of adults aged 60 years and more. In fact, normally looking nails can be caused by a number of conditions, including but not limited fungal infection. There are many other reasons why nails may look different.
Onychomycosis is a fungal infection commonly caused by a special type of fungus known as dermatophyte. Because most of these infections are relatively superficial, it seems that current procedures need to work well. This is not because the nail is relatively impenetrable. Examples of conditions that are often misled by fungal nails include yellow (onycholysis), hematoma, green nails (caused by pseudomons bacteria), bones (usually associated with psoriasis), nail infection (Steamonichia) and late injury.
Here are some other conditions that may be instead of fungal nails:
Lines and ridges: They are common and can be considered normal. They can get worse during pregnancy. A large groove in the center of the nail can be caused by injuries. Some people may notice these changes after chemotherapy.
Senile nails: With age, the nails become fragile and develop the ridges and the division of nail layers at the end of the nail. To avoid this, it is necessary to use special solutions and baths.
White or yellowish nails can occur due to onycholysis. This means separating the plate from the base of the nails. The color that the shape is the air under the nail. The treatment consists in cutting the plaque for a short time, not cleaning under it and polishing. If you have to hide the color, you should wait two to three months. Permanent onkelos can make nails susceptible to a fungal infection. Red or black plates due to hematoma or blood under the nail, usually occur from injury. If there is a black spot under the nail that is not caused by an injury, you should visit a dermatologist or an orthopedist to make sure it is not a melanoma (the type of skin cancer associated with pigmented cells). A simple biopsy can rule out malignancy (cancer).
Green slabs can be caused by pseudomons bacteria that grow under the nail, which is partially separated from the base of the nails. This infection can cause an unpleasant nail odor. The treatment consists in cutting the nails for a short time every four weeks, not clean, polishes if you need to hide the color and wait two to three months. It is also recommended to avoid soaking the plates in each water (and thoroughly dry your feet after bathing. If the problem has not disappeared, there are prescriptions for medicines for treatment that the doctor prescribes. The nails affected by psoriasis can also be brown.
Edema and redness of the skin around the nail are called paronychia. It is an infection of the skin at the bottom of the nail (cuticle). If the infection is acute (there is a quick start), it is usually caused by bacteria. It can react to warm baths, but it is better not to self -evaluate, but to see a doctor immediately. Chronic paronychia occurs when the cuticle is inflamed or irritated over time. Sometimes the fungus will use damaged skin and infect it. Therapy begins with the fact that the skin remains dry and is separated from the water. If the problem does not disappear, you should consult a doctor. Antibiotics are not often used, but can be required with a serious infection. 
Chronic nail injury can lead to nail damage, which can much resemble fungal nails. Some injuries can cause constant changes that can mimic the appearance of fungal nails. Microconidii Trichophyton fungi that live in the soil and can lead to fungal infections of the skin, hair or nails.
In normal healthy people, fungal nail infections are most often caused by a fungus that falls into moist areas. Municipal showers, such as in fitness or pools, common sources. The transition to nails that use inadequate cleaning of tools (such as clipper, fillets and foot baths) in addition to life with family members who have fungal diseases are also risk factors. Athletes have been shown to be more susceptible to the fungus of the nail.
This is supposed to be due to the fact that tightly tight, sweaty boots associated with the recurrent nail injury on the legs. The presence of sports loads makes the fungus more likely to infect the toenails. The recurrent injury also weakens the plate, which makes it more susceptible to a fungal infection. These include anything that worsens the immune system can make a person prone to fungus infection. These include conditions such as AIDS, Diabetes, Cancer, Psoriasis or Immunosuppressors, such as steroids.
Although the fungus should be obtained somewhere, it is not very contagious. It is so often that finding more than one person in a family who has this is nothing more than an accidental coincidence. The fungi can be transmitted from person to person, but only with constant intimate contact.
Although fungal nails are usually cosmetic problems, some patients experience pain and discomfort. These symptoms can be worsened by shoes, activity and improper nail lining. There are many types of mushrooms that can affect the nails. Nevertheless, the most common is called Trichophyton Rubrum. This type of fungus tends to infect the skin (known as dermatophyte) and manifests itself in the following specific methods. It starts from the ends of the nails and lifts the plate up: it is called "distal onychomycosis". This is the most common type of fungal nail infection in adults and children (90% of cases).
It is more common in the toes, the thumb is usually the first to affect. Risk factors include age in the elderly, swimming, sports loads, psoriasis, diabetes, family members with infection or depressed immune system. It usually begins as a colorless area of the corner of the thumb and slowly spreads to the cuticle. It is often accompanied by onycholysis. The most common cause is T.
It starts from the base of the nail and lifts the nail up: it is called "proximal tendon onychomycosis". This is the least common type of fungal damage (about 3% of cases). It looks like a distal type, but starts with the cuticle (nail base) and slowly spreads to the tip of the nail. This type is almost always found in people with a damaged immune system. It is rare to see fragments under the tip of the nail with this condition, unlike distal solar onychomycosis. The most common cause is mold T. rubrum and dermatophyte.
Onychomycosis of yeast: This type is caused by yeast called Candida, not by the fungus of trichophyton, called above. This is more common in nails and is a common cause of fungal nails. Patients may be associated with paronychia (cuticle infection). Candida can cause yellow, brown, white or thickened nails. Some people who have this infection also have fungi in the mouth or chronic paronychia), which is also infected with pores. Onychomycosis on the white surface: In this condition of the nail, a doctor can often clean white dust at the top of the nails. This condition is most often in a tropical environment and caused by a well -known fungus and trihofitii manufoff.
It has been shown that only one physical examination is an unreliable method of diagnosing fungal nails. There are many conditions that can make the nails look damaged, so even doctors have a difficult time. In fact, studies show that only about 50% - 60% of cases of abnormal nail appearance are caused by a fungus. Therefore, laboratory tests are almost always indicated. Some insurance companies may even request confirmation of a laboratory test for diagnostics to cover antifungal medicine. A sample plaque is obtained either by cutting the nail or by drilling a hole in it. This piece is sent to the laboratory where it can be painted, cultivated or tested by PCR (to identify the genetic material of organisms) to identify the presence of the fungus.
If the negative result of a biopsy is accompanied by high clinical suspicion, for example, plates that are ragged, bleached, thickened and loose, this requires a second test due to the spread of false negative results in these tests. Most medicines used to treat nail fungus have side effects, so you need to familiarize yourself with contraindications. 
There are several doctors who can provide treatment for the nail sponge. The attending physician, dermatologist or orthopedist can cure nail fungus. Each of these doctors can provide the right diagnosis and prescribe medicines specific to a fungal infection. An orthopedic or dermatologist can shake the top layer of the nail or even remove part of the nail.
Creams and other relevant medicines are traditionally less effective against nail fungus than oral medicines. This is due to the fact that the nails are too complex for the penetration of external applications. It is also difficult to stick to local treatment regimens. Often these drugs require daily applications over a year to see the results. One of the main advantages of local treatment is the minimum risk of serious side effects and interaction with drugs compared to oral therapy.
Coral antifungal therapy acts in about 50-75% of cases, depending on the drug. It may take nine to twelve months to make sure it works or not, because it is how long you have to accumulate the nail. Even when the therapy works, the fungus can return in about 20-50% of cases. Currently, oral antifungal therapy is considered to be the best tool for the treatment of leg fungi due to a higher rate of hardening and a shorter duration of treatment than local therapy.
There are several innovative treatments that are still being checked:
One way to finally get rid of the nail sponge is the job. Surgical treatment of onhomycosis involves removing the nails. Nevertheless, this often provides only temporary relief and relapse is common if additional antifungal drugs (oral or topical) are not used. However, surgical removal can be justified if the touched nail is associated with other factors such as injury or infection.
As the fungus really flourishes in warm wet areas (such as sweaty legs), there are certain areas that should be avoided or used with caution. Showers, changing rooms and pools are thought to be sources of fungi, although there are no studies confirming this fact.
Nail and acrylic nails also make a plate less "breathing" and make it more susceptible to a fungal infection. Mushrooms are everywhere - in the air, dust and soil. Hygienic measures, such as spraying socks and shoes, are reasonable and perhaps these measures can even help a little. Nevertheless, avoiding dense, non -breathable boots or gender for sports facilities can be the best prevention. The daily wash of the legs and drying between the toes can help prevent the nail fungus. The fungus is transferred to pets, such as cats and dogs. However, they do not often cause illness.
Treatment of fungal nails can be difficult and can take up to 18 months. Reinfection and reinfection are common (frequency of re -infection of 40% -70%). Attempting to eliminate or change risk factors, if possible, is important to prevent recurrent infection. People who have medical diseases who predispose them to fungal lesions can be cured even longer than fungi.
The fungus causes only 50% -60% of non -normal inflating nails. It is difficult to note immediately the difference between the different causes of bleached nails (even for doctors). Onychomycosis is often not treated. The reasons why medical treatment is mainly necessary with injuries to the skin of the feet or nails.