What is NAIL FUNGUS?
- Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is a fungal infection of the fingernails and toenails.
- These fungal infections usually cause discoloration, thickening and often softening of the nails.
- Nail fungus is a difficult condition to treat and may often cause permanent damage to the nails and possibly nail loss.

Types of NAIL FUNGUS:
- Distal subungual onychomycosis (DSO): site of invasion is the distal nail bed and progression is distal to proximal.
- Proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO): site of invasion is the proximal nail bed. This condition is quite rare in people with intact immune systems.
- White superficial onychomycosis (WSO): characterized by white discoloration on the surface of the toenail which can be easily scraped away.

Common causes of NAIL FUNGUS
- Nail fungus infections are caused by dermatophyte fungi (tinea unguium), yeasts such as Candida albicans, and non-dermatophyte molds.
- Factors that may increase the development of nail fungus include humidity, heat, trauma, diabetes mellitus, and underlying tinea pedis (athlete’s foot).

Symptoms of NAIL FUNGUS:
- Other than appearance, nail fungus generally has no symptoms. In some rare cases, nail fungus may cause pain, limit mobility, and interfere with manual dexterity.
- DSO: yellow-brown discoloration with eventual crumbling and disintegration of the nail plate.
- PSO: white or yellow discoloration on the surface of the nail plate beginning at the proximal nail fold and extending distally.
- WSO: white discoloration on the surface of the toenail which can be easily scraped away.

Treatment of NAIL FUNGUS
- The feet should be kept clean, cool, and dry.  The feet should also be dried well after swimming or bathing.
- Leather shoes or sandals that allow the feet to "breathe" should be worn along with cotton socks that absorb sweat.
- Topical antifungal products are available without a prescription. (Specific products may be recommended by a physician or pharmacist.)
- Stronger medications are available by prescription.
- Except for use in WSO, topical antifungals rarely cure nail fungus.
- Systemic antifungal medication is available by prescription only (tablets and capsules).

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This information is of a general nature and may not apply to your special circumstances. If you have specific questions, please contact your physician or an appropriate health care professional.  These monographs are counseling aids for healthcare professionals only and are not to be used as a reference to diagnose or treat medical conditions.          Copyright 2005 RXinsider LTD