Toenail Fungus

Toenail Fungus (Onychomycosis)

        Includes: Toenail Fungus & Finger Nail Fungus

The meaning of "Onychomycosis" is fungal infection of the nail, but this infection is more common on toenail. It is a very common disease of the toenails and is the cause of around 50% of all nail abnormalities and disorders.

As mentioned above this nail infection may affect both toenails or fingernails, but toenail infections are more common.

Toenail Fungus generally causes the nail plate to have a thickened, yellow, or cloudy appearance. Toenails can become rough and crumbly, or can fall of the nail bed. The nail infection generally has no pain or may not even show other symptoms, unless the nail infection is severe.

The main issue for most of Toenail Fungus Infected Patients, is a moderate to severe psychological problems, which is due to the unpleasent and ugly appearance of toenails or fingers.

The main causes of Nail Fungus include:

• Dermatophytes
• Candida
• non-dermatophytic moulds.
• Dermatophytes are the most responsible fungi for fungus infection of nails, in the temperate western countries.

Candida and non-dermatophytic moulds are more frequently involved in areas with hot and humid climate such as tropics.

Dermatophytes

Trichophyton rubrum is the most common dermatophyte involved in nail Fungus infection (onychomycosis). Other dermatophytes that may be involved are:

• Trichophyton interdigitale
• Epidermophyton floccosum
• Trichophyton violaceum
• Microsporum gypseum
• Trichophyton tonsurans
• Cattle ringworm fungus

Candida

Candida mainly cause fingernail onychomycosis in people whose hands are often submerged in water.

People over 60 years, may also get infected by toenail fungus , which may be the result of slight weakening in the nail's ability to defend itself against fungal invasion.

Toenail Fungus Treatment

Although there are some drug based treatments for nail fungal infections, there have been a great advancements in the Toenail Fungus treatment by using laser beams.

The later treatment of Toenail Fungus is the result of Leading scientists and medical professionals working together for 20 years with funding provided by the National Institutes of Health, which developed the technology in the patented PinPointe FootLaser.

This machine is FDA cleared.

The Toenail Fungus Laser is a specially designed pattented device that shines through patients toenails and vaporizes the germs embedded in your nail plate that causes Toenail Fungus , without causing damage to the nail or the surrounding tissue. The laser operates in a very tight spectrum of the near infra red light.

For more information see our Toenail Fungus Laser Treatment section

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