Newport Clinic
Floor 2 ( Room/Office No 7 ) Newport Market NP20 1DD
Tel: 075636 56666
OUT OF HOURS - 0800 074 3040 COLLECTIONS - 0800 074 3050 HOME VISITS - 029 2009 0089
Appointments: Monday - Friday 8.30 am - 7pm Saturday 8:30 am - 2 pm Sunday by request only
Care you can rely on
40 years of
5 STAR TREATMENTS
Yes, in most cases.
Can fungal infections of the nails be cured?
What do fungal infections of the nails look like?
When fungi infect a nail, they usually start at its free edge, and then spread down the side of the nail towards the base of the cuticle. Eventually the whole nail may be involved. The infected areas turn white or yellowish, and become thickened and crumbly. Less commonly there may be white areas on the nail surface. The nails most commonly affected by fungal infections are those on the big and little toes. Sometimes, especially in those who carry out regular wet work such as bar staff or cleaners, the skin around the nail becomes red and swollen. Called paronychia, this can allow infection to get to the nail.
How can fungal infections of the nails be treated?
Fungal infections of the nail do not clear up by themselves, but not all of them need treatment. Some people with infected toenails are not bothered by them at all. In that case they can sometimes be left alone (although the patient should remain cautious and try not to spread the infection to other parts of the body and nails or other people). On the other hand, if infected nails are embarrassing or uncomfortable then they are usually treated. It is important to treat people whose infections may cause significant health problems such as those with diabetes or immune suppression, in order to prevent potentially severe health problems.
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The aim of the treatment is to get rid of the fungus: the nail will then usually return to normal. However, if the nail was abnormal before it was infected, it will be harder to clear and may just go back to its former state. Nail infections caused by moulds and yeasts can be very resistant to treatment.
The new nail will grow slowly outwards from its base, and it may be 6 months to a year after the treatment has finished before the nails look normal again. Fingernail infections clear up more quickly and completely than toenail ones; it can take 18 months for a toenail infection to grow out completely.
Results of treatment
Antifungal treatments are thought to be effective in treating about 60-80% offungal nail infections. It can take between six and 18 months for the appearance of the affected nail to return to normal, and in some cases the nail may not look the same as before the infection.
How will I know if the treatment is working?
What are the symptoms of fungal infections of the nails?
At the start, there are usually no symptoms. Later the nails may become so thick that they hurt when they press on the inside of a shoe. They are then hard to trim. The look of an infected nail, particularly a fingernail, may cause embarrassment. The abnormal nail can damage socks and tights, and may cut into the adjacent skin. The skin nearby may also have a fungal infection; it may itch, or crack or appear white, especially between the toes.
Are they hereditary?
No, but several family members may have them at the same time because they can transfer them to each other.
What causes fungal infections?
Fungi spreading from athlete’s foot (known as ‘dermatophyte fungi’) cause most fungal nail infections. Less often a nail infection is due to other types of fungi, usually yeasts (eg. Candida) and moulds which do not cause athlete’s foot. These other fungi tend to attack nails that are already damaged, as it is easier for the fungus to invade. Fungal infections of the toenails are common (80%), those of fingernails less so. Both are seen most often in the elderly, those with impaired immune systems, and in people with diabetes, as they are more susceptible to infections in general and fungal infections in particular.
Fungal infections of the nails are also known as dermatophytic onychomycosis, or tinea unguium. The responsible fungus is usually the same as that that causes athlete’s foot – a common fungal infection of the skin of the feet, especially between the toes. In athlete’s foot the responsible fungus lives in the keratin that makes up the outer layer of the skin. When the fungus spreads to the keratin of the nails, the result is a fungal nail infection.
What is a fungal infection of the nail?
How are fungal infections of the nail diagnosed?
Many nail problems can look like a fungal infection – for example the changes seen in psoriasis, after a bacterial infection or an old injury – however, antifungal tablets will not help them. This is why the diagnosis of a fungal infection must always be confirmed before treatment starts. Your doctor will take a piece from a crumbly area of your nail and send it to the laboratory to check if a fungus can be seen under the microscope or grown in culture. The right treatment may depend on knowing which fungus is causing the trouble; it can take several weeks to get culture results.
