Fungal Nails
Do your toenails look like any of the following pictures?
Thickened
Discoloured
Cracked/chipped
Onychomycosis, commonly known as a fungal nail infection, causes nails to become thickened, discoloured (brown, yellow or green), and cracked. It is one of the most common nail conditions treated by podiatrists, and it rarely improves on its own without the right treatment.
What Causes Fungal Nail Infections?
Fungal nail infections are caused by dermatophytes, a group of fungi that thrive in warm, moist environments. They typically enter the nail through small cracks in the nail or surrounding skin.
Common causes and risk factors include:
- Walking barefoot in public areas such as pools, gyms and change rooms
- Wearing tight or non-breathable footwear
- Trauma to the nail
- Sweaty feet
- A weakened immune system
- Diabetes or poor circulation
- A history of athlete's foot
The infection usually starts at the tip or edge of the nail and gradually spreads toward the base if left untreated. In some cases, multiple nails can be affected at once.
