Onychomycosis (nail fungus)

Ony­cho­my­co­sis is a fun­gal infec­tion of the fin­ger or toe nails and is one of the most com­mon nail con­di­ti­ons of all. The toe­nails are main­ly affec­ted. Wit­hout tre­at­ment the infec­tion pro­gres­ses slow­ly and does not heal on its own.

Cau­ses

Der­ma­to­phytes are usual­ly respon­si­ble, ente­ring the nail pla­te through small inju­ries. A warm, moist cli­ma­te insi­de shoes, wal­king bare­foot in swim­ming pools, cir­cu­la­to­ry dis­or­ders, dia­be­tes and exis­ting ath­le­te’s foot all encou­ra­ge infec­tion. Fami­ly pre­dis­po­si­ti­on and older age also increase the risk.

Sym­ptoms

The nail beco­mes whitish, yel­lo­wish or brow­nish, thi­c­kens and turns britt­le. The chan­ge often starts at the free edge of the nail and moves towards the nail root. Crum­bly mate­ri­al coll­ects under the nail pla­te, and in pro­no­un­ced cases the nail detaches.

Tre­at­ment

Befo­re the­ra­py the patho­gen should be con­firm­ed in the labo­ra­to­ry, as not every nail chan­ge is cau­sed by fun­gus. In limi­t­ed infe­sta­ti­on, medi­cal nail lac­quers com­bi­ned with pro­fes­sio­nal nail care are often suf­fi­ci­ent; exten­si­ve invol­vement or infec­tion near the root requi­res oral the­ra­py. As the nail grows slow­ly, tre­at­ment takes seve­ral months and requi­res patience.

Rela­ted tre­at­ment at Swiss Der­ma Cli­nic: Nail fun­gus treatment