Nail fungus on hands is a disease called Onychomycosis. Onychomycosis is an infectious disease, the main causes of which are molds and yeast-like structures, affecting and destroying the unguis plates.
The source of onychomycosis is a fungal bacterium living in a moist environment, which means that there are enough ways to get infected, for example:
- If at least one person in the family is infected with fungi then soon other members of the family will also feel its manifestations. The reason may be the use of a common towel, bed linen and shower as well.
- Any infection, both cutaneous and nail, can easily move to the fingernails of the hands, and, it happens, just because of the main symptom of mycosis – itching.
- Urban transport, swimming pool or even a beauty salon.
- A common cause is the weakening of immune system, which can occur due to various reasons, for example, stress. Because of constant emotional experiences, the nervous system weakens resulting in development of more serious diseases. The protective mechanism of the body breaks down and the path to diseases is open.
- Insufficient level of the useful substances in the human’s body. Our immunity is supported by vitamins and minerals, which we obtain from food every day.
- Treatment with antibiotics.
But there are other factors provoking the appearance of this problem:
- Inadequate hand hygiene or even its complete disregard.
- Long false nails, under which there is always a small amount of moisture, where the fungus can develop. It is not recommended to have such decoration for more than three months.
In majority of cases the bacterium penetrates the unguis either through its root, or through its bed.
There are three types of disease resulting in deformation of an unguis plate and a significant deterioration in the overall pattern:
- For a long time you may not even see any symptoms, but bacteria already developed and hit the unguis plate. A specific feature of this type of disease is the yellowing of the unguis along the lateral parts; later these parts invade a healthy tissue, including the root.
- In the previous case, the nail bed is not affected by the infection, but here everything is the opposite.
- First of all the skin is affected and the nail in this area gets thicker.
- The whole unguis surface changes, forming a significant nail ridging. In case when the infection reaches the unguis base, the growth of the nail can change direction.
This kind of fungus develops rapidly, and it is obvious when the nail on the external part is separated from the finger. The color is classic, yellowish white and the surface does not change its structure.
