Types of Toenail Fungus
Is your toenail infected with a fungus but you are not sure which fungus it is? Have it looked at by your doctor, and ask for a sample to be sent to the lab for tests. You will find that there
are 4 major types of toenail fungus, and all of them need a different approach even if the same medication may work for more than one type. This is because it is better, and so much faster if you target the right fungus with the right treatment. So if you are diagnosed with dermatophytes, saprophytes or yeast fungi always have your doctor help you with the search for the right treatment.
The most common type of nail fungal infection among 4 is Distal Subungual Onychomycosis aka DSO or DLSO. The culprit organism responsible for this infection is Trichophyton rubrum. This type of toenail fungus invades the space between the tip of your nail and your toe medically known as the hyponychium, next to the inner or outer sides of the nail, at the end of the toe.
The fungus will cause the infected area of the nail plate to come off the underlying skin and turn the infected area of the nail to white, yellow, green colors sometimes a combination of these. Depending on how thick is the infected toenail, you may or may not experience pain.
Second common type is white superficial onychomycosis. The rate of occurrence is only 10 % of all fungal infections. The culprit organism responsibile for this type of infection is Trichophyton mentagrophytes. Since the infection takes place only on the outer surface of the nail this infection is the easiest to be treated with off-the-shelf topical anti-fungal meds. The common symptoms are nail plates turn white in color, become dry, deformed and crumbly.
Third least known type is proximal subungual onychomycosis which is also caused by Trichophyton rubrum. One of the earlier symptoms to look out for is a white or yellow discoloration on the nail close to the cuticle.
Fourth commonly seen type of nail fungus is candida nail infection, caused by Candida Albicans. The difference between other three is that this infection affects your fingernails rather than the toenails. Known symptoms are: the nail plate turns in yellow or green colors, the skin folding nails become swollen, inflamed and sometimes painful.