What is nail fungus?
Nail fungus is a common condition.
It begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may affect several nails.
If your condition is mild and not bothering you, you may not need treatment. If your nail fungus is painful and has caused thickened nails, self-care steps and medications may help.
But even if treatment is successful, nail fungus often comes back.
Symptoms
You may have nail fungus if one or more of your nails are:
- Thickened
- Whitish to yellow-brown discoloration
- Brittle, crumbly or ragged
- Distorted in shape
- A dark color, caused by debris building up under your nail
- Smelling slightly foul
Causes
Fungal nail infections are caused by various fungal organisms (fungi). The most common cause is a type of fungus called dermatophyte.
Yeast and molds also can cause nail infections.
Fungal nail infection can develop in people at any age, but it's more common in older adults.
Risk factors include:
- Being older
- Sweating heavily
- Having a history of athlete's foot
- Walking barefoot in damp communal areas, such as swimming pools, gyms and shower rooms
- Having a minor skin or nail injury or a skin condition, such as psoriasis
- Having diabetes, circulation problems or a weakened immune system
Prevention
The following habits can help prevent nail fungus:
- Wash your hands and feet regularly. Wash your hands after touching an infected nail. Moisturize your nails after washing.
- Trim nails straight across, smooth the edges with a file and file down thickened areas. Disinfect your nail clippers after each use.
- Wear sweat-absorbing socks or change your socks throughout the day.
- Choose shoes made of materials that breathe.
- Discard old shoes or treat them with disinfectants or antifungal powders.
- Wear footwear in pool areas and locker rooms.
- Choose a nail salon that uses sterilized manicure tools for each customer.
- Give up nail polish and artificial nails.
Source:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nail-fungus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353294
