Fungal skin or nail infections
Fungal infections may affect any part of the skin and its associated organs, the hair and nails. Named after the actual site of infection, fungal nail infections and athlete’s foot are the best known forms of this disease. However, infections may also affect the scalp. Quite frequently in such cases, round areas are seen where hair has either fallen out or broken off. There may be itching and signs of inflammation, such as reddening and flaking of the skin.
Athlete’s foot
In athlete’s foot the fungal infection normally affects the spaces between the toes since it is here that moisture can collect. The symptoms are itching and signs of inflammation, such as reddening and flaking of the skin; the disorder tends to cause weeping and cracking, and movement of the areas affected may hurt.
Fungal nail infections
The symptoms of fungal nail infections are not usually painful. Nails become misshapen, fragile, split-off and discoloured, turning yellowish or brownish. Other characteristic symptoms include thickening of the base of the nail and inflammation of the nail bed. In extreme fungal infections the nail may also produce an unpleasant smell. If the fungal nail infection is left untreated, there is a very high risk of it spreading to the neighbouring toenails and fingernails.
Treatment
Topical treatment usually suffices in fungal skin infections. In fungal nail infections, systemic long-term medication will be successful in many cases. Nd:YAG laser treatment may be an option as an alternative to drug therapy. In order to identify the actual fungal species, first a nail or skin biopsy is taken and examined, then the correct treatment is determined.