Cracked nails are not a pretty sight, especially if you want to wear yellow shoes. This is a common symptom, accounting for up to half of all toenail complaints seen by a dermatologist. There are several conditions that can cause grease rot, but the most common by far is fungaltoenail/toenail-fungus rot and is very similar to nail fungus psoriasis. Nail psoriasis can cause brittle, thick, discolored, and rotten nails similar to a fungal infection; but most people who have nail psoriasis will have a previous history of psoriasis. Without a history of psoriasis, this is less likely to be the cause, although a physical-exam should rule it out. Eczema can sometimes cause similar changes on the nail surface
How is the diagnosis of a fungal nail infection made?
The doctor can scrape the nail and look at the slide under a microscope with potassium hydroxide specially prepared to check for the presence of fungi. This is a quick and painless process that can confirm that the fungus is actually causing the nail to die.
Can a fungal infection be treated from rotten nails?
Treating a fungal toenail infection can be expensive and challenging. Recently, newer antifungal drugs have come on the market that are more effective than traditional ones. This includes the drug prescription Terbinafine which can cure up to seventy percent of infections, but it carries a risk. side effects such as liver toxicity. Most oral medications available to treat toenail fungus are metabolized by the liver and have the potential to cause liver problems. Medicines that can be applied to the nail alone are also available, but they are usually not effective because the nail bed interferes with the absorption of the medication. Sometimes the toenail can be surgically removed to expose the underlying nail bed, which helps make topical medications more effective. This should always be done by a dermatologist. Some natural treatments that have been tried with some success include the use of mallow oil, grape seed extract, and grape fruit extract; affected nail daily in Epsom salts. No studies can support the effectiveness of these treatments, although some have shown improvement when used consistently over six to twelve months.
Rotten nails: The only verse
Nail rot is caused by a common fungal infection and is often quite frustrating to treat. Talk to your doctor about which treatment option is best for you and prepare for slow improvement.
