The FungiCheck from HFL Laboratories is a reliable research method with 97% certainty, in which a nail biopsy is taken to determine the diagnosis of "Fungus" with a test strip.
Fungal nail infection.
Many people develop a fungal nail infection at some point in their life.
A fungal nail infection may not cause any obvious symptoms at first. As it progresses, the infection can cause:
- discolouration of the nail (it may turn white, black, yellow or green)
- thickening and distortion of the nail (it may become an unusual shape or texture and be difficult to trim)
- pain or discomfort (particularly when using or placing pressure on the affected toe or finger)
- brittle nails (pieces may break off and come away completely)
Sometimes the skin nearby may also become:
- infected
- itchy
- cracked
- red
- swollen
Most fungal nail infections occur as a result of the fungi that cause athlete's foot infecting the nails. These fungi often live harmlessly on your skin, but they can sometimes multiply and lead to infections. The fungi prefer warm, dark and moist places like the feet. You're more likely to get a fungal nail infection if you:
- don't keep your feet clean and dry
- wear shoes that cause your feet to get hot and sweaty
- walk around barefoot in places where fungal infections can spread easily, like communal showers, locker rooms, gyms and swimming pools
- have damaged your nails
- have a weakened immune system
- have certain other health conditions, like diabetes, psoriasis, rheumatism or peripheral arterial disease
Fungal nail infections can be spread to other people, so you should take steps to avoid this if you have an infection.
A fungal nail infection is unlikely to get better without treatment. However, if you're not bothered by it, you might decide it's not worth treating because treatment can take a long time, can cause side effects and isn't always effective.
Treatment may also be unnecessary in mild cases of fungal nail infection. For more severe or troublesome fungal nail infections, antifungal medication may be recommended. Antifungal medication comes in a special paint you apply directly to the nail or in tablets. A small sample of the infected nail may need to be taken for testing before treatment starts, to confirm that you do have a fungal infection.
If the treatment is working, you should see a new healthy nail start to grow from the matrix of nail over the course of a few months. The old infected nail should begin to grow out and can be gradually clipped away.
Antifungal treatments are thought to be effective in treating about 60 to 80% of fungal nail infections. It can take between 6 and 18 months for the appearance of the affected nail to return to normal.
