Overcoming Onychomycosis™ By Scott Davis If you want a natural and proven solution for onychomycosis, you should not look beyond Overcoming Onychomycosis. It is easy to follow and safe as well. You will not have to take drugs and chemicals. Yes, you will have to choose healthy foods to treat your nail fungus. You can notice the difference within a few days. Gradually, your nails will look and feel different. Also, you will not experience the same condition again!
What are the symptoms of advanced onychomycosis?
Advanced onychomycosis is a severe stage of a fungal nail infection where the condition has become quite advanced. In this stage, the symptoms can become more intense and affect the nail and surrounding skin. Below are the common symptoms of advanced onychomycosis:
1. Severe Nail Discoloration
Yellow, brown, or black coloration is typical in bad cases. The pigmentation can extend from the tip of the nails and spread across more of the nail plate.
The nail may also become greenish due to bacterial infection (secondary infection) as well as the fungal infection.
2. Thickening of the Nail
The nail becomes thick by a lot and may be hard to shape or cut. Thickening is generally due to the accumulation of debris, dead skin cells, and infected tissue under the nail plate.
The nail is harder or stiffer than usual.
3. Brittleness or Crumbling of the Nail
The infected nail becomes brittle and will readily crumble or shatter.
The nail is also fragile and easily peels, cracks, or splits.
4. Separation of the Nail from the Nail Bed (Onycholysis)
As onychomycosis progresses, the nail begins to detach or lose contact with the nail bed below, which is painful and allows gaps for the infection to advance further.
It may be tender or painful if dirt or debris under the nail accumulates.
5. Deformation of the Nail
The nail can become misshapen or deformed. It may result in a curvature of the nail into an irregular shape, with the nail appearing twisted or abnormally shaped.
In some cases, the nail can become distorted and grow in an asymmetrical fashion.
6. Rotten Odor
Foul smell may emanate from the infected site due to the presence of fungal debris, dead tissue, or secondary infection with bacteria.
The odor may be so strong and foul.
7. Pain or Tenderness
As the infection progresses, the infected nail hurts or is tender to the touch, particularly if the nail starts to lift off the nail bed.
The pain is either persistent or worsens with pressure against the nail.
8. Swelling or Redness Around the Nail
The nail skin can become swollen, red, or inflamed. This could be a secondary bacterial infection or an extreme inflammation due to the fungal infection.
The nail bed can also be warm to touch.
9. Debris under the Nail
In a few instances, scaly material or debris can develop under the nail. This accumulation might consist of fungal cells, skin cells, and other organic debris.
The accumulation of this waste can lead to greater separation of the nails and contribute to the foul odor.
10. Spread to Other Fingernails or Toenails
Progressive onychomycosis will extend to other fingernails or toenails, either on the same hand or on several fingers and toes. It is more probable when the infection is untreated or poorly treated.
11. Potential Involvement of Skin
The infection can extend to the surrounding skin, causing redness, pruritus, or even scaly lesions. This can sometimes lead to fungal infection of the surrounding skin (e.g., tinea corporis or athlete’s foot).
Complications of Advanced Onychomycosis:
Secondary infections: The damaged nail can serve as a portal of entry for other bacterial or fungal infections, which can lead to more severe health complications if left untreated.
Chronic pain or discomfort: Due to thickening, separation or deformation of the nail, a constant pain, which can create simple tasks an ordeal.
Cosmetic issues: The nails themselves can be permanently changed in form, which might affect the patient’s self-perception or self-confidence.
Treatment for Advanced Onychomycosis:
Treatment for advanced onychomycosis, left untreated, may continue to degrade and result in permanent damage to the nail. Treatment can consist of:
Oral antifungal medications (e.g., terbinafine, itraconazole) to target the infection internally.
Topical antifungal treatment (e.g., antifungal nail lacquers) may be used in conjunction with oral medications.
Laser therapy: More advanced treatments like laser therapy aim to kill the fungus without the use of oral medications.
Nail debridement: Cutting or removal of the infected nail by a doctor in severe cases to allow antifungal treatment to penetrate deeper into the nail.
Surgical removal of nail: In more severe cases, when the nail is severely damaged and infected, a doctor can choose partial or complete surgical removal of the nail.
If you notice any of these symptoms, especially pain or deformation of the nail, it’s advisable to see a medical practitioner for appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan. Would you like more information on treating advanced onychomycosis?
Onychomycosis, a nail fungal infection, can affect the skin surrounding the nails in some ways depending on the type of infection and extent of spread. The following are the ways in which onychomycosis affects the surrounding skin:
1. Paronychia (Paronychia or Inflammation of the Skin Around the Nail)
Paronychia is a common complication of onychomycosis wherein the nail skin gets inflamed and swollen.
The infection of the fungus is able to progress from the nail plate to the surrounding skin around the nail, resulting in soreness, heat, and redness along the edges of the nail.
Such inflammation is at times accompanied by pus blisters or an abscess if the infection is particularly bad.
2. Redness and Swelling
Since the fungus is infecting surrounding skin, visible redness as well as swelling of the skin around the region of the cuticle or on the skin a little below the nail may ensue.
Fungus stimulates an immune response in the skin, resulting in local inflammation as well as irritation.
3. Peeling as well as cracking of the Skin
The fungal infection can also make the skin around the nail weak so that it cracks, flakes, or dries. This can lead to peeling of the skin or small fissures around the nail.
These peels and cracks become infected and painful as the infection worsens, making the condition worse.
4. Itching and Irritation
The infection of the skin around the nail may be accompanied by irritation or itching due to the fungal infection.
Itching is a reaction of the immune system to the invasion of fungus and its disruption of the skin and nail tissues.
5. Contagion (Spread of Infection)
If untreated, the fungus will extend beyond the nail to the surrounding tissue and result in a condition termed “candidal paronychia” (if caused by Candida) or otherwise widespread fungal skin infection.
The extension can lead to further skin destruction, creating a cycle where more areas of the skin around the nail become infected by the fungus, e.g., the cuticle, sides of the nail, or even fingers or toes.
6. Pus or Blister Development
Once the infection has grown strong, pus-filled blisters may appear on the nail bed skin. This is a sign of bacterial superinfection (when the tissue becomes infected with bacteria and also the fungus) or intense inflammatory response to the fungal infection.
7. Detachment of the Nail (Onycholysis)
As the fungus infection progresses, it can lead to nail separation from the nail bed (onycholysis), forming a cleft between skin and nail.
This separation allows for secondary infection and further renders the skin even more vulnerable to injury.
8. Thickened Skin and Scarring
Unaddressed or chronic fungal infections may lead to thickening and hardening of the skin covering the nail. This may make the skin rough, calloused, or scarred in the long run.
Prevention and Treatment for Skin Involvement:
Topical Antifungal Creams: These are usually prescribed to treat the fungal infection of both the skin and nail.
Good Nail and Skin Hygiene: Keeping skin and nails as dry and clean as possible stops infections spreading. Avoidance of trauma to the nail bed and keeping skin away from irritants also helps.
Oral Antifungal Agents: For worse infections, oral antifungals can be employed to treat the skin and nail.
Moisturizing: Applying a mild, non-irritating moisturizer to the skin around the nails and cuticles might help avoid dryness and cracking caused by the fungal infection.
Should you have acquired these symptoms, you should consult a physician for the right diagnosis and treatment to avoid further complications and treat the condition properly. Would you prefer further information regarding treatment or maintaining the skin surrounding your nails?
Overcoming Onychomycosis™ By Scott Davis If you want a natural and proven solution for onychomycosis, you should not look beyond Overcoming Onychomycosis. It is easy to follow and safe as well. You will not have to take drugs and chemicals. Yes, you will have to choose healthy foods to treat your nail fungus. You can notice the difference within a few days. Gradually, your nails will look and feel different. Also, you will not experience the same condition again!