Preventing and treating nail fungus or fungal nail infections

A fungal nail is a thin, swollen, crumbling and yellow-coloured nail that may be affected by the Candida fungus or the typical athlete’s foot fungus: dermatophytes.

As a result, many people assume that a thickened, discoloured nail is always a fungal nail. However, such a nail is not always caused by a fungal infection.

A thickening of the nail can have various causes; in addition to fungal infection, ageing can also play a role. The ageing process can lead to increased production of keratin (onychogranuloma), which can cause the nails to become brittle and thickened.

Dermatophytes are fungi that can cause a superficial infection of the skin or nail; this fungus is present in your nail, and you can contract it if:

• The skin or nail remains damp for a long time (such as with sweaty feet)
• Through minor injuries
• Through close contact with other people
• Due to poor hygiene

Candida yeast lives in everyone’s gut and on healthy skin. Under the right conditions, this yeast can thrive and develop into a fungus. The fungus weakens the immune system and promotes a candida infection, particularly in combination with:

• Medicines (antibiotics)
• A weakened immune system (diabetes, burnout, chemotherapy)
• Skin conditions (eczema, psoriasis)
• Trauma or irritation (impact or pressure on the nail, or nail-biting)
• Infections
• Medication

How to recognise a fungal nail infection: The difference between a fungal nail infection and healthy nails is often easy to spot. This is usually evident from a thickened nail that is discoloured (yellow/brownish) and brittle. This often leads to the nail crumbling, causing painful inflammation, which can subsequently result in loose skin or a nail that is coming away.

Treating fungal nail infection: Fungal nail infection is often persistent; if you wish to treat it, you must prepare yourself for a long process. Once started, you must not interrupt the treatment, as this will prolong the healing process. In many cases, treatment takes between eight weeks and a year before your nails are healthy again.

Treating the upper nail plate: If the fungus is not yet advanced, treating the upper nail plate may be sufficient. This is only possible if the fungus is superficial. You can do this with an ointment, spray, antifungal nail varnish, or laser treatment:

• An antifungal ointment can only treat the upper nail plate and is therefore only effective for early-stage fungal nail infection.
• An antifungal nail varnish works in the same way as an ointment but can be applied more precisely.
• Extra tip: File away the top layer of the nail every week. This allows the ointment or nail polish to penetrate deeper into the nail.
• Thymol (thyme extract) has antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, and antifungal properties. A cotton wool ball with, for example, Vicks Vaporub can help remove early-stage fungal nail infection, but don’t expect too much from it.
• Tea tree oil, thanks to its antiseptic properties.
• Laser treatment: the heat generated during the laser treatment neutralises the fungi.

One of the quickest ways to get rid of your fungal nail infection is to visit your GP so that they can prescribe a course of tablets. This is the most effective way to treat an advanced fungal nail infection.

This can cause side effects, which is why these medicines are only available on prescription and are often used as a last resort

Have you finished a course of treatment for fungal nail infection? If so, do have your feet checked by a chiropodist or a medical specialist to see if the infection has really been cured

Yes, a fungal nail infection is contagious: you can catch it from someone else and you can pass it on to others.

This is because the fungus is also present in the nail or skin. These can shed flakes that spread via the floor of a sports hall or shower room, such as those found in a swimming pool.

Fungal nail infections do not clear up on their own. So ‘prevention is better than cure’.

• Always keep your feet dry! Moisture and warmth create the perfect breeding ground for fungi.
• Do you often suffer from sweaty feet? Then use PediSpray® antiperspirant
• Disinfect your shoes with PediFris® shoe powder
• Choose well-fitting footwear (not too tight) and change your shoes often.
• Wear clean cotton socks every day.
• Wear flip-flops in swimming pools or saunas and avoid damp places as much as possible
• Walk barefoot as much as possible, so your skin can breathe.
• Use a pH-neutral soap and wash your feet thoroughly.
• Keep your nails short.
• Trim misshapen or thickened nails with a pumice stone or a file.
• Disinfect nail scissors before and after use

Look after your feet regularly and have them checked and treated by a (medical) chiropodist. This will help you prevent many foot problems or nip them in the bud.

Try to walk barefoot as much as possible. Feet that get plenty of air are less prone to fungal infections and bacteria. This also helps prevent unpleasant odours.

Do remember, however, to wear slippers in public areas so that you do not come into direct contact with the floor

Sweaty feet play a significant role in the development of fungal nail

Preventing and treating fungal nail infections