What is Nail Fungus and is it contagious?
What is Nail Fungus?
Nail fungus is a widespread fungal infection that affects your nails. Nail fungus is more commonly found on toenails but can also infect your fingernails. A fungal nail infection occurs from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, so this type of environment can cause them to naturally overpopulate. The same fungi that cause jock itch, athlete’s foot, and ringworm can cause nail infections.
Most cases of nail fungus are known as Onychomycosis or Tinea Unguium and affect the toenails. The majority of Onychomycosis cases are caused by dermatophytes which is a type of fungus or mold. The fungus can be acquired through contact with an infected person or through contact with a surface where the fungus is present, such as a bathroom floor.
What does Nail Fungus look like?
Tinea unguium also called onychomycosis can change your nail’s appearance in more than one way. Your nail may:
- Change color, looking white, yellow or brown.
- Chalky or cloudy in some spots.
- Thicken and possibly look misshapen.
- Separate from your nail bed (leaving space between your nail and the skin underneath).
- Crack or break in one or more spots
Is Nail Fungus Contagious?
Yes, many types of nail fungi, including onychomycosis, and tinea unguium, are quite contagious. Common places where nail fungus is present are public bathroom floors, nail salons, and public pools. Nail fungus can easily spread to someone else through direct contact, such as your spouse or someone you live with. You can also get nail fungus by touching an infected surface.
Nail fungus may spread to:
- Other nails.
- Skin between your toes (called athlete’s foot).
- Groin area (called jock itch).
- Scalp (skin on top of your head).
How common is nail fungus?
Nail fungus is very common, especially as people start to age. Medical experts estimate that onychomycosis affects 1 in 10 people overall. That number jumps to 1 in 2 (50%) for people older than 70.
How do I prevent nail fungus from reoccurring?
To reduce the possibility of a recurrence:
- Nails should be kept trimmed short
- Feet should be dried after bathing (including between the toes)
- Breathable shoes and socks should be worn
- Antifungal foot powder or cream should be used
- Old shoes may contain a high concentration of fungal spores and, if possible, should not be worn.
- Getting manicures or pedicures from trustworthy salons
- Avoiding being barefoot in public places
- Reducing your use of artificial nails and nail polish
How do I diagnose my nail infection?
The ReliaHealth 3-in-1 Nail Fungus & Bacteria Test Kit with Antibiotic Resistance and Recommendation Panel provides the most accurate diagnosis of your nail condition. It can detect whether you have a nail fungus or bacterial infection, or in some cases both can occur.
ReliaHealth tests utilize the latest PCR technology which uses DNA amplification to detect the smallest trace of a bacterial and fungal infection. It will identify the cause of the nail infection and the exact bacteria and/or fungi responsible. This test also provides antibiotic resistance information and recommendations so you can obtain the correct form of treatment. Many bacteria have developed antibiotic resistance. This is why it’s so important to understand which type of antibiotic to take in order to kill off the bacteria in the nail infection.
The ReliaHealth Mail-In Lab Test gets to the root cause of your nail infection and gives the answers you need to obtain the right treatment quickly and accurately.
References:
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/11303-toenail-fungus
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/skin-disorders/nail-disorders/onychomycosis
https://www.healthline.com/health/fungal-nail-infection
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25008-urosepsis
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/kidney-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353387
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/urinary-tract-infection/symptoms-causes/syc-20353447
