FUNGUS
Cause
Toenail fungal infections are usually caused by the same type of fungi that cause athlete’s foot. Toenail fungus can affect anyone but becomes more prevalent with aging.
Other risk factors include:
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- feet
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- Frequent fungal skin infections
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- Nail Trauma
- Improper Shoes
Symptoms
Fungal infections usually occur underneath the nail and begin at the end of the nail (where it gets trimmed).
The most common changes that occur with toenail fungal infections include:
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- Discoloration beneath the nail, usually brown, white, or yellow
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- Thickening of the nail
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- An increase in white debris beneath the nail which is keratin, a protein that gives form to skin and nails
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- Infected part of the nail may become loose or separate from the nail bed
- Nail appears to “crumble” or break down
Less often, an infection can appear as a white, powdery discoloration on top of the nail.
Treatment
Treatment by a chiropodist will likely involve debridement, or trimming down and removing debris and the dying nail. This will help decrease the thickness of the nail and relieve discomfort that may be occurring with shoe wear. Debridement may also increase the effectiveness of topical treatments.
Oral antifungal medications and/or prescription strength topical treatments may also be prescribed. However, oral antifungal medicines are not always an option for many people due to potential side effects and cost.
Also, there are a number of over-the-counter topical medications for toenail fungus. However, since the fungus resides deep in the nail and underneath it, these medications have limited success in treating toenail fungus, especially if it has spread significantly throughout the nail.
Ingrown Toenail
An ingrown toenail occurs when the edge of the toenail, usually the big toe, grows into the skin next to it.
Cause
Factors that increase a person’s chance of developing an ingrown toenail include:
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- Improperly fitting shoes or socks
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- Abnormal toe shape
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- Nail trauma
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- Toenails are clipped too short
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- A family history of ingrown toenails
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- Fungal infections
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- Increasing age
- Health problems like poor leg circulation or lung disease
Symptoms
An ingrown toenail causes pain at the side of the toe along with swelling. It may become infected which can cause redness, increased swelling, and pain, warmth, and/or discharge. Note that the ingrown aspect of the nail is usually unseen because it is below the skin.
Treatment
If your doctor suspects an infection, you may need to take an antibiotic. In addition, note that your doctor may need to remove part of or your complete toenail to ease the inflammation.
Toenail Trauma
Trauma to the toenail can be chronic or occur as a result of an acute injury.
Cause
Toenail trauma may happen from repetitive rubbing against the shoe when walking or running. It may be that your new shoes are too tight or loose, which can lead to more friction against your toe as you work out. It can also be the result of a sudden injury, such as stubbing your toe or dropping an object on it.
Symptoms
Injury to the nail’s growth center, or matrix, can result in a number of possible changes to the nail. Changes that can occur include blood and bruising beneath the toenail, toenail thickening, or toenail loss.
Toenail trauma can result in secondary bacterial or fungal infection if any part of the nail has come loose. This can lead to dark discoloration of the toenail. Acute trauma may also result in a fracture of the bone beneath the nail, to which the nail is in close proximity.
In any case, it’s best to have any toenail color changes or toenail loosening evaluated by a chiropodist. In some cases, although infrequent, black or brown discoloration may be signs of the skin cancer melanoma.
Treatment
Having a thick or otherwise damaged toenail removed surgically will probably not result in a healthier nail growing in its place. Once a nail’s growth center (nail matrix) is damaged, it usually continues to produce a thickened or disfigured nail.
Information adapted from www.verywellhealth.com
