Nail fungus / Onychomycosis
Also known as onychomycosis, nail fungus is a fungal infection that settles between the skin and the nail and is very difficult to treat. Its diagnosis can be made in the clinic or by a culture analyses in a laboratory and made by a health professional such as a podiatrist. It is potentially contagious and never goes away on its own.
Onychomycose - Champignon de l'ongle - Atteinte légère à modérée
Onychomycose - Champignon de l'ongle - Atteinte sévère
Onychomycose - Champignon de l'ongle - Atteinte légère à modérée
Symptoms:
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Crumbly, brittle nails
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Yellowed or discolored nail
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Thickening of the affected nail, which may be painful
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Ingrown toenails
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Sometimes observed with athlete's foot
Causes:
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Contamination by someone already infected
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Spread from athlete's foot
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Use of contaminated instruments
Home treatments:
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Usually inefficient
Treatments by the podiatrist:
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There are 2 categories of medical treatment; topical and oral. Your podiatrist will discuss the different options with you based on the severity of your case.
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In rare cases, a nail can me surgically removed and the skin treated with a topical antifungal.