Nail fungus

 Nail fungus

Nail fungus or mycosis (or onychomycosis ) is the infection of one or more nails due to the presence of particular fungi. This nail infection may initially manifest as a small white or yellow spot (but it can also be brown or green) affecting a small portion of the nail. If the mycosis is not treated, the fungus tends to spread and involve a larger portion of the nail - the affected nail becomes thicker and can crumble or fall off, causing pain and discomfort - and can even affect the other nails.

Nail Fungus Treatments Products

What is nail fungus?
The toenails are more frequently affected than those of the hands because the hot and humid environment present in the shoes is the best condition to allow the fungi to grow and spread. In addition, the toenails are often damaged by external trauma or by wearing tight shoes or for sporting activities. On already damaged nails it is easier for a fungus to take root.

What are the causes of nail fungus?
Fungal nail infections are usually caused by several different fungi , including Candida albicans, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton. Molds and yeasts (such as Aspergillus) can also cause or enhance damage. One of the main risk factors is constituted by the frequentation of hot-humid and common environments , such as the changing rooms of gyms and swimming pools.

What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
Symptoms of nail fungus , in general, include:

• an increase in the fragility and friability of the affected nail ;
• deformation of the nail ;
• the matte foil and with different colors inside
• an inflammation of the tissues near the nail
• Infected nails can also lift and detach from the nail bed ( onychosis ), cause pain, emit bad odor.

How can nail fungus be prevented?
To prevent the development of nail fungus and reduce the risk of recurrent infections, it is good to practice good hand and foot hygiene :

• keep your feet dry and clean as much as possible , avoiding very hot and humid places, especially if frequented by several people (such as gym changing rooms and swimming pools);
• keep nails short, dry and clean ;
• wear socks that allow your feet to perspire and change them often , especially if your feet tend to sweat excessively:
• whenever possible, alternate closed shoes with open shoes ;
• wear rubber gloves to protect hands from overexposure to water ;
• do not cut the skin around the nails (so as not to facilitate the access of germs);
• do not walk barefoot in the changing rooms and showers of gyms and swimming pools ;
• at the pool remember to wear slippers ;
• do not hide the fungal infections of the nails under a coat of nail polish : the presence of the nail polish helps to trap moisture and worsen the infection;
• wash your hands thoroughly after touching an infected nail .

Diagnosis
To diagnose nail fungus, it will be necessary to have the affected nail (s) be observed by a dermatologist . To confirm the diagnosis, a fragment of a nail is taken and placed under the microscope where it is possible to see the typical elements of fungi: hyphae and spores .

Treatments
To treat nail fungus, there are several options to choose from, from time to time, based on the severity of the infection:

• Antifungal ointments to be applied on the area affected by the fungus (they can also be used in combination with oral therapy).
• Cream based on colloidal sulfur and salicylic acid .
• Antifungal enamels to be applied on the infected nail (a remedy that is usually taken into consideration in the case of moderate only superficial infections).
• To facilitate the penetration of the antifungal products, a milling of the foil is carried out , to be repeated every 15 days.