Nail Fungus Statistics

We hear that more people are getting fungal nail infections (onychomycosis) than ever before, and that these infections are more prevalent in certain groups, but how often do we get any real nail fungus statistics? Just how many people get onychomycosis; what are the risk factors, and what types of infections do they get? Are the numbers we hear passed around accurate? What’s the most common form of treatment? Very few scientific studies have tried to accurately answer these questions. Recently, researchers in France published the results of a fifteen month survey of dermatologists in that country.

One of the more interesting statistical facts for onychomycosis coming from the study is that in many cases, the dermatologists did not do any laboratory testing before treating patients for the infection. This is important because, of those who did have samples sent to the lab for fungal culture, about a third had negative results. Although some of these were probably false negatives, it’s clear that not everyone with suspicious symptoms actually has onychomycosis—and when people are treated without confirming the diagnosis, it puts them at risk of side effects and skews nail fungus statistics.

Also of interest, the study found that the majority of patients had toenail infections (88.7%), and that the majority of these infections were caused by a dermatophyte – a fungus that lives in hair, skin, and nails. The nail fungus statistics results showed that the few people with fingernail infections usually had yeast infections – infections caused by the same organism that causes oral thrush and vaginitis, or a closely related organism.
Almost three quarters of toe infections involved the nail bed nearest the tip of the toe. Statistical facts for onychomycosis gathered also identified some associated diseases, such as diabetes; however, these involved only a small number of patients.

The study looked at treatment as well. As would be expected, French dermatologists often used oral pharmaceutical treatments (59% of cases) as opposed to topicals, and the resulting statistical facts for onychomycosis do not provide any information about popular home remedies or alternative treatments. In 65% of treated infections, two medications were used at the same time, reflecting the current difficulty of treating these stubborn fungal infections. Though one study does not does not give us the whole truth about nail fungus statistics, it does provide valuable information about the current situation.

Source: Guibal, F., R. Baran, E. Duhard et al. “Epidemiology and Management of Onychomycosis in Private Dermatological Practice in France.” Ann Dermatol Venereol 2008 Aug-Sep; 135(8-9):561-6.

Nanoparticles for Nail Fungus

One of the most recent advances in the treatment of fungal nail infections (onychomycosis) is the development of nanoparticles for nail fungus. The particles, droplets one millionth of a millimeter wide, are suspended in a liquid that scientists hope will prove a potent topical treatment for a stubborn health problem. When these tiny droplets come in contact with fungal spores or hyphae (the long branching stalks typical of actively growing moulds and other fungi) they fuse with the cell membrane and cause it to disintegrate, spilling its contents and killing the cell.

A nanoemulsion treatment for onychomycosis makes sense because one of biggest obstacles to treating fungal nail infections is getting a topical antifungal to the infected area. Fungi typically begin to grow under the edge of the nail and spread adjacent to the nail bed, protected from the outside world by the hard, impermeable nail. Topical ointments applied from above can’t penetrate the nail, but nanoparticles for nail fungus are so tiny that they not only go through the nail, they also penetrate the surface of the skin and travel through the nearby tissue to reach the fungus.

Nanoemulsion treatment for onychomycosis appears to be safe. A study that followed twenty volunteers who used the suspension found that there were very few side effects, and the majority involved only mild skin irritation. In addition, the nanodroplets do not appear to be absorbed into the body except in the local area of infection. Volunteers in the study applied the nanoparticles for nail fungus to the surface of the nail and surrounding skin twice each day for four weeks. Study conclusions were that the treatment was safer than the oral drugs currently available to treat this type of infection.

It remains to be seen how well nanoparticles for nail fungus will work over the long term and with infections caused by different species of fungus. In laboratory testing, the suspension had lethal effects on four common dermatophytes (fungi that infect skin, hair, and nails) and against yeast, at a concentration about one thousand times less than the concentration of the solution used in the study. This bodes well for the future of the treatment. More clinical trials have already begun to confirm the efficacy and safety of nanoemulsion treatment for onychomycosis.

Source: Jones, T., M. Flack, M. Ijzerman, and J. R. Baker Jr. “Safety, Tolerance, and Pharmacokinetics of Topical Nanoemulsion (NB-002) for the Treatment of Onychomycosis.” Presented at American Academy of Dermatology Annual Meeting, February 1-5, 2008, San Antonio, Texas.

Bathrooms Spread Nail Fungus

Most of us tend to think of nail fungus infection (onychomycosis) spreading via public swimming pools and borrowed footwear, but shared bathrooms spread nail fungus as well. Conditions for fungal survival and growth are similar in pool areas, foot wear, and bathrooms: continuous moisture, relatively warm temperatures, and limited air circulation. The other thing that’s a constant in all three places is the presence of multiple pairs of naked or partially clothed feet. Be vigilant in gymnasium restrooms, dormitory restrooms, hotels were bathrooms don’t look clean, and of course the washroom at home if other family members have fungal nail infections.

Washrooms and onychomycosis are linked because the fungi that cause the infection require moisture to survive, even in their resistant spore stage. When spores fall from infected feet or hands, they can live a very very long time under the right conditions before infecting another person. At home, clean regularly and occasionally use an antifungal product such as an anti-mildew spray to kill fungal elements. (Mildew, the black surface mold that often grows on shower grout, and ceilings where condensation collects, is not infective but its presence does tell us that the conditions are right for fungal survival, and reminds us that bathrooms spread nail fungus.) Having a fan in the bathroom and turning it on during and after showers and baths will keep the bathroom dry and discourage molds.

In hotels, if facilities appear unclean, request that someone be sent to clean, or ask for cleaning products and do the job yourself. It’s not just the taps and fixtures of course—spores picked up from dirty floors in bathrooms spread nail fungus even more often. Don’t be reluctant to demand that your washroom is kept clean – a little assertiveness now could save a world of trouble later. You might also wish to remind the manager of the link between washrooms and onychomycosis.

In more public restrooms, like those in dormitories and gyms, you’ll have to be even more proactive, and practice a little habitual self-care. Remember that others may not know that bathrooms spread nail fungus – you can’t expect them to clean up for you. Wear something on your feet at all times, even if it’s just a pair of flip flops, and wash and dry hands and feet carefully if they are wet. Take good care of your feet: keep nails trimmed and clean, look after any breaks in the skin, change your socks daily, air your footwear, and have any suspicious symptoms looked at promptly by a health professional. You can’t avoid going into washrooms and onychomycosis will always be a risk.

Risks for Nail Fungus

People often ask about risks for nail fungus (onychomycosis): what would make you more likely to get such an infection, and what can you do to avoid it. Though it’s still unclear exactly what predisposes people to nail fungus, doctors have identified certain risk factors, and like so many other health problems, it’s true that this one is easier to prevent than to cure.

An immune system that isn’t working as well as it could is certainly one of the risk factors for onychomycosis. This is probably one of the reasons why your chances of having the problem increase with age: immunity wanes when we reach our senior years and we are less able to fight off many different infections. Diseases and inherited conditions that compromise immunity are risks for nail fungus as well, although this applies to a relatively small segment of the population. For the average person, simply following a healthy lifestyle and keeping the immune system healthy will help avoid these opportunistic infections.

Some occupations are risk factors for onychomycosis simply because they tend to bring people in contact with the fungi that infect human skin, hair, and nails. Gardeners and construction workers, who have a lot of contact with the soil and suffer frequent nicks and scratches to the fingers, may be at higher risk. Hair dressers and manicure or pedicure professionals suffer higher risks for nail fungus as well, because their clients may have infections. Anyone whose hands or feet are frequently immersed in water is in danger of contracting yeast infections of the nails. Poolside lifeguards, swimming instructors, swimmers etc. come into contact with fungal spores left on pool decks and in shower areas and locker rooms.

Poor personal hygiene is one of the risks for nail fungus that we can all avoid. Take care of your nails, keeping them clean and neatly trimmed. Don’t borrow other people’s footwear and keep your own footwear clean, dry, and well aired. Use antifungal powder in shoes if your feet tend to be sweaty. Wear a clean pair of socks each day, and try to choose socks that let the feet breathe. Tend to nail injuries and breaks in the skin near the nail with extra care, because fungal invasion of the skin near a nail is one of the risk factors for onychomycosis.

If you suspect that you have a fungal infection starting up, have it looked at immediately by a health professional. Onychomycosis is much easier to treat when caught early.

Surgery for Toenail Fungus

Though it seems a radical response to what many would consider a cosmetic problem, surgery for toenail fungus is actually quite common. This is because, even in the days of modern medicine, we simply don’t have an easy, safe, and reliable way to get rid of persistent nail fungus infection (onychomycosis). Many people opt for surgery only after trying a variety of home remedies, alternative medicine treatments, and even prescription drugs without success.

The option of a surgical cure for onychomycosis appeals to people who have been struggling with the infection over the long term. Though there are numerous traditional remedies, the difficulty is that most topical treatments don’t penetrate the nail to reach the nail bed where the fungus thrives. Even after long treatment, fungus persists or returns discouragingly. Prescription drugs, meanwhile, are expensive and come with the possibility of unpleasant side effects. Faced with these choices, surgery for toenail fungus seems like the best option for people who just want to be free of the problem.

A surgical cure for onychomycosis involves not just removing the part of the nail that’s infected, but also destroying the nail matrix where the nail is produced. Destruction of the nail matrix is achieved with chemical treatment, with a laser, or by conventional surgical removal. Once the nail is gone, the fungus has nowhere to grow, and the infection clears up permanently. After surgery for finger- or toenail fungus, the nail never grows back, and this is why the procedure should be used only as a last resort. Once done, the operation can’t be reversed.

You may think that if you have surgery for toenail fungus, your problems will be over; however, think carefully before opting for this treatment. We have tough nails on the tips of our fingers and toes for a reason – to protect the sensitive tips of these digits. Without nails to provide a shield, stubbing your toes, knocking toes or fingers, and other minor injury becomes more painful. In addition, the healed toe or finger looks peculiar – but probably not as bad as a digit affected by onychomycosis. It’s best to carefully weigh all the options before choosing surgical cure for onychomycosis.

Infectious Nail Fungus

For most people, worries about infectious nail fungus are not an everyday concern. With cases of fungal finger- and nail fungus (onychomycosis) on the rise, however, it’s good to have a general knowledge of the problem and the personal hygiene steps that anyone can take to avoid this type of persistent infection. What are these fungi and where do they come from? How infectious are they? And what, if anything, makes people more susceptible to them? In fact, some of these things are still not well understood, but we can at least begin to answer the questions.

What is infectious nail fungus and where does it come from? There are actually a number of different fungi involved in the process. Some are fungi naturally occurring in nature, in decaying organic material. They don’t normally infect living organisms but can do so in the right circumstances. Another group, called dermatophytes, includes fungi adapted for living on and consuming hair, skin, nails, hoofs, horns etc. These are the species we really need to know about if we want to avoid onychomycosis. Though they can be present in soil and other places in nature, they are usually passed more directly between people or between animals and people.

How infectious are they? Well, it’s true that some people can’t seem to avoid onychomycosis while others never have to deal with it. The basic answer is that these fungi get nutrients by breaking down keratin, a protein found in dead skin cells, hair, and nails, and therefore they need these materials for success. They will establish themselves in finger-and toenails whenever they get the chance. To ward off infectious nail fungus we need to make sure they don’t get the chance.

What makes some people more susceptible? Again, we’re not sure, but certain groups stand out as being more likely to contract infectious nail fungus. There may be a genetic connection: it seems to affect some families more than others. It becomes increasingly difficult to avoid onychomycosis as we grow older, presumably due to waning immunity. Certain occupations are at higher risk: those who often have damp feet and hands, people who work with soil of other organic material, people working in hot damp conditions. But these things don’t explain all cases.

To avoid onychomycosis, there are basic things we can all do. Keep hands and feet cool and dry, wash frequently and clean and dry carefully between the toes. Keep nails trimmed and do not share nail grooming equipment with others. Don’t wear other people’s shoes. Change socks daily. Avoid going barefoot in public places, particularly where the ground is damp, and see a medical professional at the first sign of infectious nail fungus.

Ozone for Nail Fungus Treatment

Most of us have heard that ozone in the air protects us from harmful ultraviolet sun rays, and some of us know that it’s being used to kill organisms in drinking water, but how many people know that we can also use ozone for nail fungus treatment? Ozone is a powerful oxidant – that is, it contains oxygen molecules that will react with other molecules it comes in contact with, often damaging them in the process. This is oxidation, deadly to many organisms and thought to be involved in disease and aging processes in humans.

Scientists have been studying the antifungal potential of ozone, using it in gaseous form on stored foods, adding it to water, and producing ozonized ointment for onychomycosis and other fungal infections. It is very effective at killing fungi in grain stores, has been effectively used against fungal skin infections, and has shown potent antifungal activity against the fungi that cause onychomycosis in laboratory conditions. The key to using ozone for nail fungus treatment will ultimately likely depend on getting the ozone to the fungus.

Preliminary efforts have involved forcing ozone into a carrier such as olive oil. This approach makes sense because olive oil is also known to possess some antifungal properties, providing some extra punch, and the process causes the oil to solidify, creating ozonized ointment for onychomycosis. Theoretically, this product could be applied topically to both skin and nail infections. Properly designed, conclusive trials of ozone for nail fungus treatment, however, are still to come.

One stumbling block will be whether the ozonized ointment for onychomycosis is capable of penetrating the nail to reach and act upon the invading fungus. Nails are tough and impenetrable, and topical treatments tend to be unsuccessful – the medication does not contact the fungus until the infection is very advanced, if then. A further question about ozone for nail fungus treatment is whether the ozone will act in the same way in an actual infection as it does under laboratory conditions. The two situations are not the same.

Lack of conclusive evidence for ozone does not mean it doesn’t work: it means we’re not sure that it works, or how well it works. For those suffering from nail fungus and interested in an alternative medicine treatment, ozonized ointment for onychomycosis might be worth trying. Have the infection confirmed by a health professional before choosing any treatment.