The causes of nail fungus you need to know & bull; hello healthy

Nail fungus (tinea unguium) is a fungal infection of the nails that can occur in both the hands and feet. This condition can cause the nails to be white to black and become easily removed. So, what is the cause of this nail fungus? Here's the explanation.

Causes of nail fungus

Basically, a fungal infection of the nails is caused by an overgrowth of fungi under the nails. Fungi usually thrive in warm and humid environments, so that these pathogens can reproduce quickly and in large numbers.

There are various types of fungi that cause nail fungus, ranging from dermatophytes, Candida fungi, and non-dermatophyte fungi. These three groups of fungi may already be present in the body and have the potential to cause infection in the nails.

In fact, it is possible for you to contract this nail disease when someone else has a fungal infection and it eventually spreads in the body. The following is an explanation of the types of fungi that can cause nail infections.

Dermatophytes

One of the fungi that causes fungal infections of the nails is dermatophytes. There are various types of dermatophytes that may cause onychomycosis, namely as follows.

• Trichophyton rubrum
• Trichophyton interdigitale
• Epidermophyton floccosum
• Trichophyton violaceum
• Microsporum gypseum
• Trichophyton tonsurans
• Trichophyton soudanese

Generally, the type of dermatophyte that most often causes infection of the nails is Trichophyton rubrum . It should be noted that this pathogen can be transmitted through mice and their feces. However, this mode of transmission usually affects the skin more than the health of the nails.

Candida albicans

Apart from dermatophytes, other causes of fungus on the nails are Candida albicans . This fungus generally attacks people doing work related to water, such as swimmers and divers.

Infection Candida albicans will begin by attacking the soft tissue that surrounds the nail. Then, the infection will spread to the nail plate after the fungus has multiplied. As a result, the nails turn black or white.

Non-dermatophyte fungi

In countries with tropical and subtropical climates, Scyalidium fungus turns out to be the cause of nail fungus in most people. In addition, this nail fungus infection can also persist without treatment.

In fact, yeast infections will persist when you move to a temperate country. Apart from Scyalidium, other non-dermatophyte fungi that make nail fungus are Neoscytalidium, Scopulariopsis, and Aspergillus.

This type of fungus more often infects people aged over 60 years, aka the elderly. The reason is, the elderly have weak nail health to fight fungal infections, so they become more at risk.

Habits that cause nail fungus

The three groups of fungi that have been mentioned are more likely to attack toenails. This may be because toenails are rarely exposed to the sun and their position is covered by shoes.

That's why it's not uncommon for the toenail area to become a warm and humid environment for fungus to breed.

In addition, fungal infections of the nails are also a risk for people who often do it manicure and pedicure . You see, nail tools such as sandpaper and nail clippers can be a means of spreading fungal infections of the nails.

If you are worried, you should always ask the salon staff that the pedicure and manicure tools you are going to use are clean and sterile.

Risk factors for causing fungal infections of the nails

Nail fungus is a condition that can happen to anyone. However, there are several factors that can increase a person's risk of developing this nail disease. Check out the list below.

Age

One of the factors that causes a person to be more at risk of getting toenail fungus is age. As you age, your nails health also deteriorates and your blood circulation slows down, which makes your nails weaker to fight fungal infections.

That is why, nail fungus is more prone to occur in the elderly. Meanwhile, the age group that most rarely experienced this nail problem were children.

Climate

Apart from age, another factor is the climate in which you live. The reason is, living in a country with a hot and humid climate makes you sweat more often. As a result, the skin around the nails becomes more moist and becomes a nest for fungal growth.

Certain health conditions

Unfortunately, people with certain health problems are at risk of developing a fungal infection of the nails, including:

• water fleas or Athlete's foot ,
• cancer or currently undergoing chemotherapy,
• diabetes,
• have had a nail infection,
• injury to the nails,
• psoriasis,
• receive an organ transplant, as well
• diseases that lower the immune system, such as HIV.

Certain habits

Keeping nails clean is one way to prevent nail fungus. Well, a number of habits below can actually increase your risk of experiencing this nail problem, such as:

• washing your feet or hands frequently throughout the day,
• smoke,
• spend a lot of time in the water,
• walking barefoot in hot and humid places, such as swimming pools,
• wearing shoes that are too tight, especially when the feet are sweaty, and
• wearing gloves for hours every day.

In addition, fungal infections of the nails are also more common in adult men and women. In fact, having family members who experience this condition frequently can also cause you to catch infections.

Therefore, when you notice that there is a problem with your nails, such as discoloration or pain, see a doctor immediately. Talk to your doctor about how to treat moldy nails quickly so that the infection doesn't spread.

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