Types Of Toenail Fungus With Pictures
There are four different types of toenail fungus, each with its own symptoms and treatment options. Deciding which type of toenail fungus you have is easier if you know what to look for. These pictures act as a visual guide.
The most common type is distal subungual Onychomycosis, which accounts for as many as 85% of cases. The fungus is easy to distinguish because it causes thick, discolored nails, scaling underneath of it, and nails that easily crumble.
Onychomycosis, better known as toenail fungus, is a common ailment that affects millions of people every year. Characterized by changes in the color of the toenail, such as looking white, black, or yellow, the fungus is an infection underneath the nail that is caused by yeast or other bacteria. They attack the keratin found in your nail to survive, and if left untreated, toenail fungus can cause an embarrassing, foul-smelling odor that prevents you from wearing sandals or otherwise feeling comfortable being barefoot.
Some people suffer from white superficial Onychomycosis, which occurs when the nail turns white and begins to crumble.
People who have ailments that suppress their immune systems may suffer from proximal subungual Onychomycosis, which turns the nail white near the cuticle.
Finally, candidal Onychomycosis is a type of fungus that causes the nail to separate completely from the bed.
Is Toenail Fungus Really Such A Problem
If youre thinking you can just live with it, we dont advise letting toenail fungus go untreated. Its an insidious problem, and without treatment, you have to deal with the discomfort of the nail as well as feeling self-conscious about its unsightliness.
If you let a nail fungus infection go for too long, several problems emerge. The infected nail can become misshapen and increasingly separated from your nail bed. Itching and pain are unpleasant side effects if theyre too severe, you can have trouble wearing shoes or walking.
You need to be especially attentive to treating toenail fungus if your immune system is compromised. If youre living with diabetes, its critical not to ignore the fungus. Even a mild infection like this can snowball into something more serious, like cellulitis, a severe bacterial skin infection.
Another problem is that untreated fungus eventually can spread to either neighboring toenails or to the skin of your foot, causing athletes foot. Possibly the worst outcome of untreated nail fungus is needing to have your nail surgically removed.
Conditions That May Look Like Toenail Fungus
Several health conditions can affect the appearance of your toenails and may be mistaken for toenail fungus.
Psoriasis Psoriasis can cause red, scaly patches on the skin. More than half of people with skin psoriasis also have it on their nails. Toenails and fingernails affected by psoriasis may be thick, discolored, crumbly, or loose. Some people will have nail changes with psoriasis, and if it affects the matrix , then these changes are permanent, says Sheth.
Skin Cancer A discolored spot underneath a toenail may be a sign of melanoma, a potentially fatal form of skin cancer. Melanoma under a toenail usually looks like a brown or black streak or may appear similar to a bruise. Although this isnt common, its also not rare, says Sheth. Her advice: Its always good to check it out.
Darier Disease This genetic disorder typically causes yellowish, wartlike blemishes on the body. However, some people with Darier disease also have fingernail or toenail irregularities, such as nails that are marked with red and white streaks, according to Genetics Home Reference. Sheth notes, however, that shes never had a biopsy come back with a diagnosis of Darier disease.
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What Is A Fungal Infection
Fungus, plural fungi is a class of organisms with over 144,000 known species. Fungus holds great importance for the environment and medical sector. Fungi are considered as one of the most widely distributed organisms worldwide Some are found free-living in soil or water others from parasitic or symbiotic relationships with plants or animals. Some common examples of fungi include Mushroom, mildews and mold. However, not all types of fungi are harmful but some can cause severe suffering for human beings and other living organisms.
Fungal infections are common all over the world and it only occurs when an invading fungus captures over the human body and the immune system of human is too weak to combat. Fungi are populated in our environment and are found flying freely in the atmosphere, they also divide and reproduce in the tiny spores that are present in the air. These fungi that are not visible to eh naked eye can enter into the human body through our respiratory system and can land inside to form a parasitic relationship within our lungs, throat, liver or any other hospitable part of the body causing a severe infection. In some cases, fungi also attack the intestines or the genital area of the human body causing severe hazard to health however, almost all the infection caused by fungus are curable with proper care and treatment.
Podiatrists & Podiatric Surgeons Located In Farmington Nm
If your toenails are becoming thick and discolored, you could have a toenail fungus. At Orthopedic Associates: Foot & Ankle Specialists in Farmington, New Mexico, the skilled foot specialists offer evaluations for suspected toenail fungal infections. The physicians offer a variety of treatments to cure the infection and improve the health of your toenails. Dont delay a diagnostic evaluation for toenail fungus. Call Orthopedic Associates: Foot & Ankle Specialists today or request an appointment online.
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Can I Wear Nail Polish If I Have Toenail Fungus
You may feel tempted to cover up a discolored toenail with nail polish. If you are using a topical antifungal, you probably should not use polish. Some providers may tell you not to wear it in any case. Polish traps in moisture from the nailbed . Because fungi thrive in moist environments, wearing nail polish may make a fungal infection worse. However, the nail continues to grow with or without polish.
Take Care Of Your Toes
Use soap and water to wash your feet, and dry well, including between toes. Trim your toenails — straight across — to keep them shorter than the end of your toe. Make sure the tools you use are clean, too. Wash clippers and files with soap and water, then wipe with rubbing alcohol. You might be tempted to cover up discolored nails with polish, but don’t. Your nail bed can’t “breathe,” which keeps fungus from going away.
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Toenail Fungus Treatment Options For You
Your podiatrist will determine the proper treatment method for you based on the severity and extent of the infection.
For milder infections, he or she may prescribe a medicated solution containing an antifungal ingredient such as that found in Tincture of Fungaoid, Formula 3, Elon, Fungasil, or Penlac. You apply the polish yourself, generally twice a day until the infection is gone, which could take up to a year.
During the course of topical treatment the doctor may suggest that you come in periodically to have the nail thinned in order to allow the medication to penetrate more effectively. If the infection is more severe, your doctor may offer you an oral antifungal medication such as Sporanox or Lamisil.
Oral treatments should be considered for individuals who are in good health and have tried topical treatments, especially if multiple nails are involved and the nails are painful. Lab work is required prior to oral treatment in order to assess liver function and safety. If these treatment methods fail, your doctor may consider surgical or chemical removal of your infected toenail.
This method is a simple in-office procedure requiring minimal healing time. Removing the infected nail allows a new nail to grow in unless a procedure is performed that permanently destroys the nail matrix , but regrowth may take up to a year.
Photodynamic laser therapy is a new method being used to treat nail fungus. The nail is exposed to intense light after its been treated with an acid.
Types Of Common Fungal Nail Infections
In general, there are four types of fungal infections that affect the toes. These include:Distal subungual onychomycosis : This is the most commonly diagnosed and treated fungal infection. Also known as Athletes Foot, this infection spreads across the nail bed, which causes the nail to become discolored and weak.White superficial onychomycosis : Far less common than Athletes Foot, WSO causes white patches to appear across the entire nail.Candida onychomycosis: This chronic fungus is usually caused by trauma, and it causes the toenails to become bulbous or enlarged.Proximal subungual onychomycosis : This fungal infection causes yellow or white spots to appear near the base of the toenail.
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What Treatments Are Available For Toenail Fungus
Treating toenail fungus generally involves oral or topical medications to clear the infection. In some cases, youll need to take oral antifungal medications to fight the infection and improve the health of your toenail. Topical medications can be applied directly to the nail to treat the infection.
In situations where toenail fungus isnt easily treated with medications, your Orthopedic Associates: Foot & Ankle Specialists provider could recommend a procedure to remove part or all of the affected nail.
In addition to treating the existing infection, your specialist also provides resources to prevent further toenail fungal infections.
Black Toenail Fungus Pictures
You can know for sure that you have fungus and of the black variety from pictures. Furthermore, you can know how bad the infection is from black toenail fungus pictures. Look at the photos online and compare your infection with the pictures you see. It is also important to look at melanoma pictures of toenails.
Although the pictures, give you an idea whether you have the fungus or not, only a doctor can determine this for sure by scrapping a piece from the infected toe and observing it under the microscope. The podiatrist can also give an effective treatment depending on the type of fungus. Fungi, Candida, and molds may cause different types.
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Experiencing Nail Fungus In Its Early Stages
Fungal nail infections are becoming a common nail problem, especially if you frequent public bathrooms, gym, saunas, or spas. People often dismiss nail fungus because it generally does not give any discomfort and the first signs are often hard to detect. Brown or black spots and white streaks may signify an infection in your nail. It may later on progress to more evident changes wherein the nail thickens or have a rougher surface. Although not bothersome, leaving a fungal nail infection untreated can make it harder and more frustrating to cure in the end.Total dystrophic onychomycosis, or severe nail fungal infections, is the end-stage of this nail disease. Fungus has started to infect larger portions of the nail causing it to become deformed, brittle, and weak. More often than not, it starts to become painful and even emit some type of foul odor. There is increased possibility for permanent damage to the nail. The infection may also spread to other parts of your body and create more serious illnesses.
When Should I Call The Doctor
In rare cases, toenail fungus can cause an infection called cellulitis. Without prompt treatment, cellulitis may pose a serious danger to your health.
You should seek treatment guidance from a trusted healthcare provider if you have:
- Circulation problems.
- Redness, pain or pus near the toenail.
- Weakened immune system.
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How Do Doctors Diagnose Toenail Fungus
In most cases, doctors can diagnose toenail fungus by examining your nails. Sometimes, doctors take a nail clipping or scrape some nail debris to send to a lab. The lab will examine the sample and identify the specific organism causing the infection. This may be necessary to tell the difference between toenail fungus and skin conditions, such as , that can look similar.
Black Toenail Fungus Symptoms
Like other nail fungus symptoms, those of black toenails are not any different apart from the color. There develops a spot, which is black in color on under the nail bed. Others have green, red, yellow or white spots instead.
Black toenail fungus symptoms may include pain if the spot if caused by trauma. This is why you should avoid lifting heavy objects as the impact of the weight is felt on your toes and feet. Furthemore, if you drop the heavy objects on your toes the black spot will automatically appear as a sign of injury. Fungus gets in through that injury.
Other symptoms include:
- Itchiness on the first big toes or the smaller ones or all the five digits or 10 digits
- Bulbous first digits
- Flaky skin next to then toenail
- Foul smell
Look out for these black toenail symptoms and book an appointment with a podiatrist as soon as possible.
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What Tests Might I Have For Toenail Fungus
Your provider will probably take a small sample from underneath your nail to further analyze it. Viewing the cells under a microscope can confirm a toenail fungus diagnosis. If the initial test is negative, a scraping can be sent to see if the fungus grows out in a culture. It also helps your provider identify the type of fungus.
Why You Should Never Let Toenail Fungus Go Untreated
Have you retired those adorable strappy sandals, even though theyre the perfect complement to your summery outfits? They definitely wont work with whats going on with your toenails so youve had to opt for a closed-toe option. Toenail fungus is definitely not a good look.
There are plenty of home remedies, but they dont seem to work. And nail fungus doesnt just go away on its own. Fortunately, the team at Easton Dermatology Associates can address any nail fungus issue you may have with a diverse menu of treatment options. We customize our approach to your particular infections history and severity.
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Preparation Before The Appointment
You will likely start by consulting your family doctor or general practitioner. In some cases, when you call for a consultation, you may refer to a doctor who specializes in skin disorders or a specialist in foot disorders .
To make the most of your time with your doctor, it is a good idea to go to your appointment prepared.
Treatment & Prevention Of Toenail Fungus
While there are many over-the-counter remedies for fungal nails, these rarely produce the desired results. A non-prescription remedy may provide temporary relief, but toenail fungus often comes back if it is not thoroughly wiped out during the initial treatment. Prescription medications and additional treatment from a podiatrist is the most reliable means of getting permanent results.
There are several preventative measures you can take to keep toenail fungus away after youve had it removed:
- Throw away shoes you wore when the infection developed
- Wash your feet regularly
- Keep nails neatly trimmed with disinfected clippers
- Wear shoes that let your feet breath
- Wear foot protection around swimming pools and in locker rooms
For more information about toenail fungus prevention, or to have your condition diagnosed and treated by anexperienced podiatrist, call us at.
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When To See A Doctor
If home remedies arent working or your toe infection is getting worse, its definitely time for you to see a doctor.
Existing medical conditions can put you at even greater risk. Its important to consult a physician right away if you have a weakened immune system or diabetes.
We take our toes for granted until they start hurting.
You can keep your toes healthy and problem-free by:
- checking them often
- keeping your feet clean and free of moisture
- trimming your nails carefully
How To Prevent Toenail Fungus
Because fungi are everywhere , they can be present months before they find opportunities to strike and before signs of infection appear. By following certain precautions, including proper hygiene and regular inspection of the feet and toes, chances of the problem occurring can be significantly reduced.
- Regularly clean and dry feet to resist disease. Follow a strict regimen of washing the feet with soap and water.
- Change socks and hosiery daily and change out shoes on a regular basis.
- Clip toenails straight across so the nail doesnt extend beyond the tip of your finger or toenails.
- Wear socks that are made of synthetic fiber to wick away moisture. Cotton and wool socks dont wick away moisture as fast as synthetic fiber does. This can be helpful in denying a hospitable environment for the fungi to grow in.
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Risk Factors For Toenail Fungus
Who is most susceptible to toenail fungus? You are more likely to get toenail fungus due to various factors that subject your toenails to fungi or increase your vulnerability to it. The common risk factors for toenail fungal infection include: