There are many symptoms that can be seen in most cases of fungus infection. However, you will soon recognize the symptoms of onychomycosis. Unnatural thickness and a yellowish-brown color are the most obvious signs of an infected nail.
As the infection worsens, a malodorous layer of dirt builds up, and eventually the nail will become brittle and dry. To find the best toenail fungus treatment, it is crucial to seek a specialist’s opinion and diagnosis as soon as you notice any of these symptoms.
Your occupation, footwear, and foot habits will all be considered by the doctor. To ensure that you have toenail fungus and not psoriasis (which could cause the same symptoms),
A lab test will examine your nails for fungi. To determine if you have this severe fungus, I recommend you visit your doctor. The fungus doesn’t heal on its own, but it can stay for quite some time before the nail begins to fall off. In most cases, the fungus can also infect the nail that is just growing.
Attention! This type of fungus is anaerobic. This means they thrive in environments with less oxygen. It is part of the dermatophytes fungi family. This group also causes jock itch, ringworm, and psoriasis.
These fungi thrive when there is moisture and can get under our nails if we don’t take care of them. The fungus appears as a white or grayish spore.
It forms a yellowish-colored spot underneath the nail. The keratin compound is then broken down and the discoloration spreads. You will soon feel pain and your nails will become brittle. Sometimes the infection can spread to other areas and cause bleeding.
You aren’t diabetic if you aren’t. Diabetes sufferers have difficulty treating nail fungi due to their weak immune systems. Mild infections can cause more damage.
Patients with leukemia will also experience this. There is no cure that will make your nails fungus-free forever. They will recur most of the time, especially if hygiene rules are not followed.
Common Signs and Symptoms of Toenail Fungus
Unless the nail becomes too thick, fungal nail infection can cause pain. Fungal nail infections are usually treated cosmetically and not for any physical pain.
- Fungal nail infections can cause thickening of the nails, which may make it difficult to stand, walk, or exercise. This is not something you want!
- As the disease progresses, paresthesia (a sensation that causes tingling, prickling, or creeping on your skin) can occur. It is usually caused by an injury or irritation to a nerve.
- These are not as serious as the potential loss of self-esteem and embarrassment.
Fungal nail infections can be divided into different subtypes based on the location and form of the infection.
How To Recognize Nail Fungus Infection
Distal lateral subungual onychomycosis is characterized by a thickened nail plate with a cloudy appearance (opaque), thickening and hardening of the nail bed beneath (nailbed hyperkeratosis), and the nail separating from the bed below (onycholysis). Discolored nails can appear in a range of white to brown. The nail’s edge can become brittle or eroded.
The Endonyx Onychomycosis (EO) nail plate is milky white. However, unlike DLSO, it does not separate from the bed. Subungual (or the area below the nail) doesn’t thicken or harden (no hyperkeratosis). Normal nail thickness and nail surface are normal in this case. Pathology shows a contrast between the large number of fungal filaments (filaments that make up the fungus) in the nail plate and the absence of such in the nail bed.
White superficial onychomycosis symptoms are typically limited to the toes.On the outside of the nail plate, small white spots or powdery-looking areas appear. The nail becomes flaky and rough.
Proximal Subungual Onychomycosis is characterized by white streaking, streaking or discoloration near the nail fold. It can also occur in the deeper layers of the nails. The nail plate turns white near the cuticle but remains normal at the ends.
Total Dystrophic Onychomycosis is a condition where the nails become thickened and opaque. The entire nail plate as well as the matrix are affected.
Candida albicans (yeast infection) can affect the nails and cause additional symptoms. Candidal infection can occur in the fingernails and toenails, but it may also affect the surrounding tissue. Erythematous means when the nail crease becomes inflamed. Onycholysis is when the plate separates or gets tangled with its bed.
Chronic mucocutaneous disease, a condition that affects the skin and mucous membranes, causes the nail bed to thicken and harden (nailbed hyperkeratosis). The nails can become infected, and the fingers or toes may appear rounded at the ends.
7 Conditions That Are Not Nail Fungus Infection
If you are unsure of which type of affection it is, I am happy to help. You should also know that nail fungus can be confused with other conditions. You don’t want to be treated for another infection.
- Lines and ridges: these are normal and considered normal. They can become more severe during pregnancy. If you bite your nails often, it can cause a large groove in the middle of the nail.
- Senile nails: As we age, our nails become stiffer and more brittle. Avoid this by keeping your nails clean and not soaking them in water.
- A hematoma is a bloody area under the nail that can cause red or black nails. This usually occurs when you accidentally hit your nail on the wrong side. You can trim the discolored area as you trim your nails. However, if there is a dark spot under your nails that has not been traumatized, it may be a sign of melanoma.
- Pseudomonas bacteria can cause green nails. This occurs when the nail is partially separated from its nail bed. It is best to trim the nails every four weeks. If you don’t want to clean the nail, you can polish the nail and wait for two to three months. Avoid soaking your nails in water. Always dry them after bathing.
- Pitted nails can be a sign of psoriasis or other skin conditions that affect the nail matrix. This is the area just below the nail. This is where the nail grows. Psoriasis can cause nails to turn tan.
- Paronychia is a condition that causes swelling and reddening of the skin around nails. This refers to an infection of the cuticle (the bottom of the nail). It is often caused by bacteria if the infection is severe (emerges quickly). Although it may be treated with warm baths, a doctor is required to drain the infection. Chronic paronychia is when the cuticle becomes inflamed and irritated over time. You should be careful as yeast can sometimes infect areas around the affected skin. The first step in treating the skin is to keep it dry and away from water. Hydrocortisone, a steroid cream, can sometimes be used to treat the problem. If the problem persists, a physician should be consulted.
- Chronic nail trauma can lead to damage that looks like fungal nails. This can be caused by repetitive activities such as starting and stopping, kicks, and other athletic endeavors. This kind of trauma can also happen with certain jobs or tight-fitting footwear.
Sources:
- Paronychia (Nail Infection): What Is It, Symptoms, Causes And Treatment. Cleveland Clinic. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15327-nail-infection-paronychia.
- Pseudomonas Fingernail Infection Successfully Treated With… : AIDS. (n.d.). LWW. https://journals.lww.com/aidsonline/fulltext/2010/04240/pseudomonas_fingernail_infection_successfully.29.aspx.
- Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology. (2021, June 9). Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis: Background, Pathophysiology, Etiology. https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1091928-overview.
- Candida Albicans – Wikipedia. (2021, December 8). Candida albicans – Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_albicans.
- Onychomycosis (Nail Infection) « Ada. (n.d.). Ada. https://ada.com/conditions/onychomycosis-fungal-nail-infection/.
- Onychomycosis (Nail Infection) « Ada. (n.d.). Ada. https://ada.com/conditions/onychomycosis-fungal-nail-infection/.
- Piraccini, B. M., & Tosti, A. (2004, June 1). White Superficial Onychomycosis. White Superficial Onychomycosis: Epidemiological, Clinical, and Pathological Study of 79 Patients | Dermatology | JAMA Dermatology | JAMA Network. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamadermatology/fullarticle/480625.
- “Endonyx” Onychomycosis: a New Modality Of Nail Invasion By Dermatophytes – PubMed. (1999, January 1). PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10086860/.
- Distal Subungual Onychomycosis – an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). Distal Subungual Onychomycosis – an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/distal-subungual-onychomycosis.