Fungal infections can impact any part of the body, including nails. Onychomycosis, also known as tinea unguium, is a condition where the fungal infection affects fingernails or toenails. Such infections develop slowly so it takes considerable time for them to get noticed.
Moist and warm weather conditions result in the growth of fungal nail infections and they are caused by the same fungi which causes ringworm, jock itch, etc. Mostly, these infections don’t pose serious threats, but if left untreated for long, they can be dangerous for your health.
Below is the list of dangers posed by fungal nail infections:
- Untreated nail can result the fungal infection spread to the skin around the skin leading to cellulitis (under-skin bacterial infection) or osteomyelitis (bone infection).
- If the infection is present in toenails, it can lead to discomfort in wearing shoes and pain while walking. Fingernail fungal infection can cause trouble while writing.
- If the fungus advances from the nail tip towards the cuticle, it can make the nail brittle, discolored, and thick leading to severe pain.
- In a few cases, the infection can spread to various other parts of the body, like hands, legs and back.
- One major problem with fungal nail infections is that the fungus creates cracks and can break inside the skin serving as an entry point for bacteria which can cause other infections. This can be a serious complication for a person with diabetic neuropathy condition.
Besides posing these threats, nail fungus can also impact a person mentally and hamper his/her self-confidence. By keeping yourself clean, moisture free and following a hygienic daily routine, you can minimize the growth of this infection. If by chance you do get infected, regularly applying the best anti-fungal creams like Ring-Out can help you get rid of the infection in the long run and provide rapid relief from pain and itching.
