Fungal infection of nails

Many people develop a fungal nail infection at some point in their life. It is not usually serious, but can be unpleasant and difficult to treat. Toe nails are more frequently affected than finger nails. The medical name for the condition is onychomycosis.  

Signs and symptoms                                                         
A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first. As it progresses, the infection can cause discolouration of the nail, thickening and distortion, pain or discomfort, brittle or crumbly nails. Sometimes, the skin nearby may also become infected and be itchy and cracked or red and swollen.         

Causes              
Some fungi often live harmlessly on our skin, but they can sometimes multiply and lead to infections. The fungi prefer warm, dark and moist places, like the feet.

You are more likely to get a fungal nail infection if you:                 
-dont keep your feet clean and dry                
-wear shoes that cause your feet to get hot and sweaty                                                     
-have damaged nails      
 -have a weakened immune system              
-walk around barefoot in places where fungal infections can spread easily, such as communal showers, locker rooms and gyms  
-have other health conditions, such as diabetes, psoriasis or peripheral arterial disease                                                          

Treatments                  
Treatment is not always needed for a mild infection. But if you are bothered by the appearance of the affected nail, or if it is causing problems such as pain or discomfort, recommended treatments are:                

-antifungal tablets- tablets taken once or twice a day for several months                    
 -antifungal nail polish- special paints applied directly to the nail over several months         
-nail softening kit- a paste used to soften infected parts of the nail before they are removed with a scraping device               
-a procedure to remove the nail completely may be recommended in severe cases        

Prevention                    
You can reduce your risk of developing fungal nail infection by:     
 -keeping your hands and feet clean and dry
-wearing well fitted shoes and clean cotton socks     clipping your nails to keep them short         
-not sharing towels or socks with other people
-ensure your towels are washed regularly                                                       
-not walking barefoot in public pool areas             
-replacing old footwear that could be contaminated with fungi-treating fungal infection of the foot as soon as possible to avoid it spreading to your nails
-if you regularly visit a salon or beauty parlour, make sure any equipment used is properly sterilised between uses

The writer is a consultant dermatologist at
the Al Manar Hospital

Fungal infection of nails

Many people develop a fungal nail infection at some point in their life. It is not usually serious, but can be unpleasant and difficult to treat. Toe nails are more frequently affected than finger nails. The medical name for the condition is onychomycosis. Signs and symptoms A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first. As it progresses, the infection can cause discolouration of the nail, thickening and distortion, pain or discomfort, brittle or crumbly nails. Sometimes, the skin nearby may also become infected and be itchy and cracked or red and swollen. Causes Some fungi often live harmlessly on our skin, but they can sometimes multiply and lead to infections. The fungi prefer warm, dark and moist places, like the feet. You are more likely to get a fungal nail infection if you: -dont keep your feet clean and dry -wear shoes that cause your feet to get hot and sweaty -have damaged nails -have a weakened immune system -walk around barefoot in places where fungal infections can spread easily, such as communal showers, locker rooms and gyms -have other health conditions, such as diabetes, psoriasis or peripheral arterial disease Treatments Treatment is not always needed for a mild infection. But if you are bothered by the appearance of the affected nail, or if it is causing problems such as pain or discomfort, recommended treatments are: -antifungal tablets- tablets taken once or twice a day for several months -antifungal nail polish- special paints applied directly to the nail over several months -nail softening kit- a paste used to soften infected parts of the nail before they are removed with a scraping device -a procedure to remove the nail completely may be recommended in severe cases Prevention You can reduce your risk of developing fungal nail infection by: -keeping your hands and feet clean and dry -wearing well fitted shoes and clean cotton socks clipping your nails to keep them short -not sharing towels or socks with other people -ensure your towels are washed regularly -not walking barefoot in public pool areas -replacing old footwear that could be contaminated with fungi-treating fungal infection of the foot as soon as possible to avoid it spreading to your nails -if you regularly visit a salon or beauty parlour, make sure any equipment used is properly sterilised between uses The writer is a consultant dermatologist at the Al Manar Hospital