Onychomycosis

Onychomycosis is a fungal infection of the toenails or fingernails, which is mainly developed by mentagrophytes or trichophyton rubrum.

Tinea Unguium is the alternative name of Onychomycosis. The fungus can be lived in the keratin that arrange the toenails or fingernails and process it.

The infection can be occurred because of nondermatophyte mould or yeast or dermatophyte.

The medical term tinea unguium is mostly used for describing persistent dermatophytic onychomycosis.This nail disease has an impact on the sufferer’s life.

Once the nails are suffered from onychomycosis, they can be damaged or undergo a variety of changes in toenails or fingernails.This disease is referred to the persistent of the nail plate.

Causes of Onychomcosis

  • Immune deficiency can be developed the problem of onychomycosis.

  • The family history of this disease is also caused onychomycosis.

  • Dermatophyte is the main reason of getting of this nail disease. Trichophyton rubrum is the main agent that is caused tinea pedis and onychomycosis.

  • Excess perspiration and a family history of athlete’s foot are also developed onychomycosis.

  • One who is lived in the warm climate or the trauma is the major reason of developing this nail disorder.

In most of cases, other fungi may be developed onychomycosis such as:

  • Aspergillus spp.
  • Fusarium oxysporum
  • Acremonium spp.
  • Candida spp.

Symptoms of Onychomycosis

  • The fungal infection can be made trauma to fingernails or toenails.
  • As this nail disease growth, onychomycosis can be interfered in exercising, standing and walking.
  • The main possible symptom of this nail disease is thickness of the fingernails or toenails. As an outcome they can be lost their shine or luster.
  • When the nails of foot make a fungal infection, it becomes overgrown and color is changed into brown or yellow.
  • The affected nails become break or fragile easily.
  • The loss of agility, pain and discomfort can be developed because of fungal infections in nails.
  • Mainly, powdery-looking patches or small white speckled appear on the surface of the nail plate.

Treatments for Onychomycosis

  • Oral anti-fungus medications are beneficial to reduce the symptoms of onychomycosis.
  • Diflucan is also used to treat onychomycosis, but it can be an alternative to terbinafine or itraconazole.
  • Some drugs such as terbinafine, itraconazole and fluconaole are also used to treat onychomycosis.
  • Penlac topical therapy is the best option to reduce onychomycosis.
  • Allylamines, sodium phyrithione, imidazoles, propylene glycol-urea-lactic acid or bifonazole are very useful to treat onychomycosis.
  • In some cases, doctor recommends untramicrosize griseofulvin to treat this nail disorder.