Toenail Fungus

What is Toenail fungal infection?

Toenail fungal infection happens due to a special kind of fungi that tends to infect toenail and your other nails. A toenail fungal infection can begin as a white or yellow spot beneath the tip of our toenail or fingernail. As the toenail fungus multiplies further into toenail, it causes your nail to change its color, become thicker and end up with crumbling edges that can potentially be painful.

Toenail fungus infection is medically known as onychomycosis (on-i-ko-mi-KO-sis)

The common symptoms of toenail fungus

* Thicker nails
* Brittle, ragged or crumbly nails
* Change of shape in the nail
* Dry toenail without luster or shine
* A dark mass collected under your nail

Infected nails can even get separated from its root causing a condition referred as onycholysis.

Causes of Toenail fungus

Fungi are tiny micro-organisms that do not require sunlight to live. Although certain fungus may have beneficial use others can cause infection and illness.
Toenail fungal infections are result of a fungus which comes from a group of fungi referred as dermatophytes. At the same time there are molds and yeasts that can be equally responsible for toenail fungus.

Treatment of toenail fungus
Antifungal lacquer.
Topical medications.
Surgery.

Photodynamic therapy can be helpful to treat nail fungus. It emits a laser to clean the nail after it’s been washed with an acid.