Nail Fungus

For some patients, treatment is advocated to alter the quality of life. Their unsightly nails may socially impair these patients. For others the treatment may be recommended to prevent pain from pressure on the thickened onychomycotic nail. For diabetics and patients with decreased peripheral circulation, treatment may be indicated to decrease the risk of secondary bacterial infection from trauma of adjacent skin by the dystrophic nail. Treatment may also be indicated to prevent spread to other nails or other persons.

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

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 they’re too severe, you can have trouble wearing shoes or walking.

Fungal nail infections can be difficult to cure, and they typically don’t go away without antifungal treatment. The best treatment for a fungal nail infection is usually prescription antifungal pills taken by mouth. In severe cases, a doctor might remove the nail completely.

Nail fungus is an infection that gets in through cracks in your nail or cuts in your skin. It can make your toenail change color or get thicker. It can also hurt. Because toes are often warm and damp, fungus grows well there.

The simple answer to this is yes. Toenail fungus is actually very contagious and can be spread by touching infected surfaces. A common fungus is athlete’s foot, which is spread when you step barefoot in an infected area, like a locker room or public space.