
A fungal nail infection occurs when a fungus invades a fingernail, toe nail or the skin under the nail. The pathogens that cause nail fungus infections usually enter the skin through tiny cuts or small separations between the nail and nail bed. The fungi grow when the nail provides a suitably warm and moist environment.
Characteristics | Values |
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Cause | Fungal infections are caused by fungi that live in the environment and enter through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin. |
Risk Factors | Men and older adults are the most at risk of nail fungus infections as lower blood circulation and slower growing nails are part of the natural aging process. |
Symptoms | Symptoms are different, depending on which type of fungal nail infection you have. They usually start mild and get more serious. At first, you may only see a white or yellow spot under your nail. Over time, this spreads and can turn your whole nail white, yellow, green, or black. The nail may thicken and could be hard to trim. It may start to curl up or down or loosen from the nail bed. |
What You'll Learn
Tiny cuts in the nail or skin allow pathogens to enter
Pathogens that cause nail fungus infection usually enter the skin through tiny cuts or small separations between the nail and nail bed. The fungi grow when the nail provides a suitably warm and moist environment. Anyone can get a fungal nail infection, but they are more common in men than women and the elderly than the young. Some additional traits or factors raise the risk of nail fungal infection, these include: exercise that causes repeated minor trauma to the hyponychium, where the finger tip attaches to the nail · Older adults are the most at risk of nail fungus infections as lower blood circulation and slower growing nails are part of the natural aging process.
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Fungal overgrowth in the nail or skin causes infection
Fungal nail infections are common and are caused by fungi that live in the environment. They enter through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin, causing infection. Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. But when a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal infections normally develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first.
Pathogens that cause nail fungus infection usually enter the skin through tiny cuts or small separations between the nail and nail bed. The fungi grow when the nail provides a suitably warm and moist environment. Anyone can get a fungal nail infection, but they are more common in men than women and the elderly than the young. Some additional traits or factors raise the risk of nail fungal infection, these include:
- Exercise that causes repeated minor trauma to the hyponychium, where the fingertip attaches to the nail
- Older adults are the most at risk of nail fungus infections as lower blood circulation and slower growing nails are part of the natural aging process.
Symptoms are different, depending on which type of fungal nail infection you have. They usually start mild and get more serious. At first, you may only see a white or yellow spot under your nail. Over time, this spreads and can turn your whole nail white, yellow, green, or black. The nail may thicken and could be hard to trim. It may start to curl up or down or loosen from the nail bed.
Fungal nail infections are common and are caused by fungi that live in the environment. They enter through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin, causing infection. Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. But when a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal infections normally develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first.
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Warm and moist nail environment encourages growth
A fungal nail infection occurs when a fungus invades a fingernail or toenail. It is also known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium. The nail bed is the skin under the nail. The nail provides a warm and moist environment which encourages the growth of fungi.
Pathogens that cause nail fungus infections usually enter the skin through tiny cuts or small separations between the nail and the nail bed. The fungi grow when the nail provides a suitably warm and moist environment.
Anyone can get a fungal nail infection, but they are more common in men than women and the elderly than the young. Some additional traits or factors raise the risk of nail fungal infection, these include:
- Exercise that causes repeated minor trauma to the hyponychium
- Lower blood circulation
- Slower growing nails
- Tiny cuts or small separations between the nail and the nail bed
Symptoms are different, depending on which type of fungal nail infection you have. They usually start mild and get more serious. At first, you may only see a white or yellow spot under your nail. Over time, this spreads and can turn your whole nail white, yellow, green, or black. The nail may thicken and could be hard to trim. It may start to curl up or down or loosen from the nail bed.
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Exercise can cause repeated minor trauma to the nail
Exercise that causes repeated minor trauma to the hyponychium, where the finger tip attaches to the nail, can lead to nail fungus infections. Tiny cuts or small separations between the nail and the nail bed can allow pathogens that cause nail fungus infections to enter the skin. The fungi grow when the nail provides a suitably warm and moist environment. Anyone can get a fungal nail infection, but they are more common in men than women and the elderly than the young. Older adults are the most at risk of nail fungus infections as lower blood circulation and slower growing nails are part of the natural aging process.
Symptoms of a fungal nail infection are different, depending on which type of fungal nail infection you have. They usually start mild and get more serious. At first, you may only see a white or yellow spot under your nail. Over time, this spreads and can turn your whole nail white, yellow, green, or black. The nail may thicken and could be hard to trim. It may start to curl up or down or loosen from the nail bed.
Fungal nail infections are common and are caused by fungi that live in the environment. They enter through small cracks in your nail or the nearby skin, causing infection. Fungal infections can affect any part of the body. Fungi are normally present in and on the body alongside various bacteria. But when a fungus begins to overgrow, you can get an infection. Onychomycosis, also called tinea unguium, is a fungal infection that affects either the fingernails or toenails. Fungal infections normally develop over time, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may be too subtle to notice at first.
Pathogens that cause nail fungus infection usually enter the skin through tiny cuts or small separations between the nail and nail bed. The fungi grow when the nail provides a suitably warm and moist environment. Anyone can get a fungal nail infection, but they are more common in men than women and the elderly than the young. Older adults are the most at risk of nail fungus infections as lower blood circulation and slower growing nails are part of the natural aging process.
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Aging leads to lower blood circulation and slower nail growth
The elderly are more susceptible to nail fungus infections because lower blood circulation and slower growing nails are part of the natural aging process. The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections.
The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections. The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections. The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections.
The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections. The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections. The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections.
The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections. The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections. The nail bed is the skin under the nail, and it is vulnerable to infections.
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Frequently asked questions
A fungal nail infection occurs when a fungus attacks a fingernail, a toenail, or the skin under the nail, called the nail bed. Pathogens that cause nail fungus infection usually enter the skin through tiny cuts or small separations between the nail and nail bed. The fungi grow when the nail provides a suitably warm and moist environment.