What you should know about fungal nail infections

Fungal infection can affect any part of the body like the skin, eyes, private part and nails. When fungus begins to overgrow in any part of the body, then an infection can occur. Nail infection occurs from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail, because they thrive in warm, moist environment. The fungal infection that affects the nails is called Onychomycosis or Tinea unguium. There are many causes of nail infections and each has its different treatment. The nail infection can be prevented, though some risk factors may increase the likelihood of developing it. Some of the ways you can develop a fungal nail infection is if you:

        Wear a lot of artificial nails

        Have a nail injury that is not properly treated

        Have wet and moist fingers or toes for an extended time

        Have a weakened immune system

        Wear closed shoes or boots for a long period of time

        Have disease that affects your blood vessels.

Fungal nail infections are treatable in most cases. Because the infection occurs from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail, it thrives in warm, moist environment. You should know that nail infections occur more in men than in women and are often found in adults than in children. So how do you identify nail fungal infection? You can easily identify the infection when you noticed the following:

1.       Yellow spots at the bottom of the nail

2.       Flaking white areas on the nail’s surface or

3.       Scaling under the nail.

Some common signs are:

1.       Experiencing a thickened nail.

2.       An odour coming from the infected nail

3.       Or a distorted nail

How can you treat nail infection?

Usually, over the counter products are not recommended to treat nail infections because they do not provide reliable result. But a lot of people prefer the over-the-counter medication. It is always advisable to see the doctor to prescribe an oral antifungal medication. The medications often prescribed are fluconazole, itraconazole or terbinatine. These treatments are not guaranteed to get rid of the fungal infection from your body completely. In almost half of cases, the fungal nail infection will return.

How to prevent this infection

Making few necessary changes in your lifestyle can prevent a fungal infection of the nails. When you take good care of your nails by keeping them well trimmed and clean, it is a good way to prevent infections from taking root.  

By: Rifkatu Yusuf