Woodland Hills, CA 91364, USA, 10/30/2021 / Triple Point Group, LLC Dba Crystal Flush /
Fungal toenail infections can be painful, embarrassing, and frustrating. Learn about the warning signs of the four most common types of onychomycosis (fungal nail infection) and risk factors that increase the likelihood of developing them.
What are the common types of nail fungus infection?
According to Healthline (1), there are several distinct types of common toenail fungus infections.
1. Distal subungual infections.
As the most common type of fungal nail infection, distal subungual infections can affect both fingernails and toenails. Visually, this kind of infection is characterized by white and yellow streaks across the nail and a jagged or uneven nail bed. Distal subungual infections penetrate into the nail bed, making them especially persistent and challenging to treat with over-the-counter creams.
2. White superficial infections.
White superficial infections most commonly affect toenails, but may also affect fingernails on occasion. Fungus attacks the nail from the surface, creating white spots and patches over the exterior of the nail, which may become pitted and flaky. When left untreated, these patches spread to cover the entirety of the nail, and often become soft and rough, or crumble altogether.
3. Proximal subungual infections.
While proximal subungual infections are uncommon overall, they are more likely to infect individuals with weakened immune systems, or in cases where the nail has been injured, making it more susceptible to infection. This type of fungal nail infection affects both toenails and fingernails. Proximal subungual infections are characterized by yellow spots, which begin at the base of the nail and spread upwards over time.
4. Candida infections.
Candida albicans is a type of yeast that inhabits many people’s bodies naturally. While it is not harmful when it exists in balance with the rest of the body’s microbiome, overgrowth of candida can cause a wide range of different infections. Candida infection is commonly associated with oral thrush and urinary tract infections, but it can also affect fingernails and toenails. This type of fungal infection starts at the nail bed, which becomes swollen, red, and often painful to the touch. The nail may lift off the nail bed or fall off completely.
What puts you at higher risk for toenail fungus?
According to medical experts (2), toenail fungus affects approximately 1 in 10 people overall, making it a common condition. However, some populations are at higher risk of infection than others, and certain lifestyle factors may increase the likelihood of infection.
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Age. Individuals over the age of 70 are five times as likely to experience fungal nail infection than the general population, with 1 in 2 people in this age group affected.
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Gender. Although it is unclear exactly why, decades of evidence has shown that men are significantly more likely to suffer from fungal nail infection than women.
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Diabetes. Yellowing of the toenails is common in individuals with diabetes. Often, this is because of the breakdown of collagen in the nails, but people with diabetes are also at higher risk for fungal nail infection.
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Poor circulation. Adequate blood flow is required for toenails to grow and stay healthy. Your extremities (your hands and feet) are the furthest body parts away from your heart, meaning that they are the first to be affected by poor circulation.
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Weakened immune system. Any conditions that weaken the immune system leave the body more susceptible to harmful external fungi that cause nail infections.
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Wearing artificial nails. Fake nails don’t allow the real nail underneath or the surrounding skin to air out, and can also trap moisture, fungus, and bacteria. Constantly wearing artificial nails without breaks can lead to toenail fungus infection.
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Using public swimming pools. Using public swimming pools, or walking barefoot in public showers and locker rooms increases the likelihood of introducing an infection-causing fungus to the body.
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Wearing close-toed shoes. Excessive wearing of close-toes shoes, such as tennis shoes or boots, creates a warm, moist environment around the toes and toenails. This environment is ideal for the overgrowth of harmful fungi and molds.
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Having a nail injury. Untreated or poorly managed injuries to the nail, nail bed, or even the skin around the nail allow fungi to enter and cause an infection.
How to Treat Toenail Fungus — A Full Treatment System Targeting External and Internal Causes of Onychomycosis
If you have a fungal toenail infection, it is likely that over-the-counter and even prescription medications have not been effective, or have taken multiple courses just to start providing relief. Additionally, the majority of over-the-counter treatments involve applying messy creams for months before seeing any results, which is impractical for most people. Oral prescription medications are prone to causing unpleasant or even dangerous side effects such as stomach unrest or jaundice, while DIY treatments are rarely effective.
Crystal Flush’s 2-step treatment system, containing a clinically proven FDA-Approved active ingredient, is the only toe fungus treatment available that targets both external and internal causes of toe fungus, leading to the restoration of healthy toenails in as little as thirty days.
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Source: Crystal Flush
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