Onychomycosis is medicall defined as any type of infected toenail caused by dermatophyte fungi, non dermatophyre fungi or yeast. tinea ungium is directly related to the dermatophyte infection of the nail plate. In over fifty percent of cases, Onychomycosis is to blame for the infection.
Onychomycosis is divided into four types: distal subungual onychomysis (occurs at the distal end of the nail plate), proximal subungual onychomycosis, white superficial onychomycosis and candidal onychomycosis.
In two of the eight percent diagnosed with an infected toenail with fungus, onychomycosis is the culprit. There are a number of different causes that cause this disease, including, tight shoes, an increasing number of immunosuppressed individuals, and the use of a communal locker room. In approximately seventy percent of cases, Dermatophytes are the major cause of onychomycosis.
In about five percent of the population, yeast infections are to blame. The majority of these are caused by what's called candida albicans. The nondermatophytes prove to make up approximately four percent of onychomycosis and they show predilection for previously dead nails and older nails.
Onychomycosis looks to be a yellowish brown to whitish opacification on the distal edge of the nail. The infection will and can spread further down the nail. Hyperproliferation of the nail bed in response to the unfortunate infection causes subungual hyperkeratosis (thickening of the nail). The nail will eventually deteriorate as the invasion of the nail plate occurs. When the nail is a white to beige opacity on the nail plate, proximal subungual onychomycosis is evident. The entire nail will turn the white to opaque color without antibiotics. Nature will take its course. White superficial onychomycosis is a disruption and invasion of dorsal nail plate. White to dull yellow patches on the surface of the nails arise because of this. Candida species invade via the hyponychial epithelium and affect the thickness of the nail plate.
Conditions leading to an infected toenail are psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus, onycgogryophosis, exfoliative dermatitis, Norwegian scabies and Reiter syndrome.
The diagnosis of an infected toe nail or onychomycosis rests on a potassium hydroxide examination of the nail, a nail biopsy and a fungal culture examination to detect the exact organism. Proper treatment is based mostly on the antifungal agents involved. Multiple systemic and topical antifungals are available and have proven quite effective against the dermatophytes.
Treatments depend on the condition of the nail. When the patient has an infection involving the nail matrix or root, the infection is treated with systemic antibiotics. On the other hand, infections not felt on the matrix or root are treated with topical treatments.
Onychomycosis is divided into four types: distal subungual onychomysis (occurs at the distal end of the nail plate), proximal subungual onychomycosis, white superficial onychomycosis and candidal onychomycosis.
In two of the eight percent diagnosed with an infected toenail with fungus, onychomycosis is the culprit. There are a number of different causes that cause this disease, including, tight shoes, an increasing number of immunosuppressed individuals, and the use of a communal locker room. In approximately seventy percent of cases, Dermatophytes are the major cause of onychomycosis.
In about five percent of the population, yeast infections are to blame. The majority of these are caused by what's called candida albicans. The nondermatophytes prove to make up approximately four percent of onychomycosis and they show predilection for previously dead nails and older nails.
Onychomycosis looks to be a yellowish brown to whitish opacification on the distal edge of the nail. The infection will and can spread further down the nail. Hyperproliferation of the nail bed in response to the unfortunate infection causes subungual hyperkeratosis (thickening of the nail). The nail will eventually deteriorate as the invasion of the nail plate occurs. When the nail is a white to beige opacity on the nail plate, proximal subungual onychomycosis is evident. The entire nail will turn the white to opaque color without antibiotics. Nature will take its course. White superficial onychomycosis is a disruption and invasion of dorsal nail plate. White to dull yellow patches on the surface of the nails arise because of this. Candida species invade via the hyponychial epithelium and affect the thickness of the nail plate.
Conditions leading to an infected toenail are psoriasis, eczema, lichen planus, onycgogryophosis, exfoliative dermatitis, Norwegian scabies and Reiter syndrome.
The diagnosis of an infected toe nail or onychomycosis rests on a potassium hydroxide examination of the nail, a nail biopsy and a fungal culture examination to detect the exact organism. Proper treatment is based mostly on the antifungal agents involved. Multiple systemic and topical antifungals are available and have proven quite effective against the dermatophytes.
Treatments depend on the condition of the nail. When the patient has an infection involving the nail matrix or root, the infection is treated with systemic antibiotics. On the other hand, infections not felt on the matrix or root are treated with topical treatments.
About the Author:
Elizabeth is a foot specialist. For more information on remedies for yellow toenails, and the latest regarding the diagnosis of a black toenail, be sure to check out what she has to say.
