Toenail fungus is often caused by microorganisms, the majority of which belong to the group known as dermatophytes. This condition known as onychomycosis may also be caused by yeasts and molds. Nail fungus affects the nail plate, nail bed, and matrix. This can cause several changes in the nail’s appearance.
Causes
A fungal nail infection occurs when the fungus gets into the nail. The fungi can easily spread from several sources such as damp public areas like public pools, using unsterilized nail tools, being in contact with someone who has nail fungal infection, among others,
Fungal nail infections are seven times more likely to affect the toenails than fingernails. This is due to the conducive environment inside the shoes.
Symptoms
Changes to the appearance of your nails will tell a doctor that you have a nail fungal infection. The following are some of the symptoms they will look for: nail discoloration wherein the nail turns yellow or white, deformed nails with debris underneath, nail lifting or completely detaching from the nail bed, foul odor from the nail, moisture on the footwear, and pain and discomfort caused by the nail.
Treatment
A nail fungus treatment depends on the microorganism that caused it and the severity of the symptoms. Factors like the age of the user, comorbidities, and interaction with other drugs. Systemic or oral treatments may be used for all kinds of fungal infections. This has to be taken for several weeks up to a year. Topical antifungal treatments may also be used as an alternative to oral medications. Topical treatments are less effective than oral types. For more aggressive types of nail infections, nail removal may be advised.
10Ethnic and Cultural Information
The word “gamboge” is used to describe a resin extracted from the bark of the Garcinia tree. Gamboge is used as a premium dye for textiles as well as paint. It used to dye the robes worn by Theravada Buddhist monks. It is still used for dyeing silks and other materials. The gamboge tree is one of the few species used for such pigment. Some of these are more intense than others. This substance was once introduced in the US in the late 1800s.
