What are nail fungal infections?
Fingernails and toenails can also become infected with fungi. Fungus can invade the nail from the side of the finger or directly on top of the nail. A fungal nail infection can turn the nail color yellowish brown or white. The nail often turns thick and the nail texture becomes crumbly as it begins to partially detach from the nail bed. Fungal infection of nails becomes more common in older people or in diabetic patients. Symptoms can also resemble psoriasis or lichen planus infection, so testing is sometimes recommended to differentiate from those diseases. Topical treatments may not always work, as the medication cannot penetrate through the entire nail. Oral antifungal medication taken for 3-4 months is a more effective treatment than topical creams. However, some oral medications can result in liver or heart complications. It is also helpful to always keep the nail short and possibly remove the entire nail during medical treatment to allow for new growth.
