What is onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis, also called nail fungus or ringworm of the nails, is a fungal infection of the nails. It is not a bothersome disease, but, if not treated in time, it can become chronic.
What are the symptoms of onychomycosis?
The initial symptoms are characterized by the nails becoming yellowish or whitish, deformed, fragile or brittle. As the infection progresses, the nail plate separates from the finger, and there may also be other symptoms such as discomfort, pain or, in rare cases, cellulitis in the surrounding skin.
What are the causes of onychomycosis?
In most cases, onychomycosis is caused by fungi called dermatophytes, which can also affect the skin and hair. These dermatophytes usually come from the soil, from another person or from an animal, especially from warm and humid environments. This is why onychomycosis is often contracted in swimming pools, locker rooms and showers in sports facilities, as it is easier to acquire a fungal infection through a damp floor.
Can onychomycosis be prevented?
Among the collective measures to prevent onychomycosis, it is recommended to avoid stagnant water in communal showers, for example by tilting the floor tiles, avoiding wooden slats on the floor or washing and disinfecting the floor on a regular basis.
As for individual measures, good foot hygiene and proper drying of the feet after showering is recommended. It is also recommended to use antifungal powder or terbinafine cream.
What is the treatment of onychomycosis?
If the infection has occurred in the distal area (end of the nails) or in a few nails, the treatment of choice is to apply lacquers containing antifungal drugs. Another option is chemical avulsion, using keratolytic creams, or surgical avulsion. On the other hand, if the fungus affects the lateral and/or proximal area and more than one nail, the appropriate treatment is to take oral antifungals, usually for 4-6 months.