Tinea Unguis

Sounds a bit scary doesn’t it; tinea unguis? Well there’s nothing to be scared of, it is quite simply put, a superficial fungal infection that can occur in your nails. Tinea unguis is also known as ringworm of the nails. You are at a much higher risk of contracting this infection if you have tinea pedis, better known as athlete’s foot.

Tinea unguis is another type of fungal infection that is related to your nails and is actually very common indeed. It can occur on your fingernails as well as your toe nails which is more common. How did you get this infection? Well there are the usual culprits that cause fungal infections: warm and moist environments and as already mentioned, the presence of athlete’s foot.

Tinea unguis is recognised by its ability to deform your nails. Nails can appear to thicken, become deformed, and show signs of becoming discoloured and turning a shade of yellowy brown. You can often end up losing some of your nail plate too. This can indeed be quite an uncomfortable infection to put up with.

Although you can treat fungal nail infections it can be quite difficult and re infection is quite common. One natural remedy you could try is tea tree oil as an ointment. Any type of fungal infection can be a challenge to treat and be rid of permanently so it would pay to speak to your doctor to get a good understanding of your treatment options if you are experiencing tinea unguis.

Remember that excellent foot hygiene is the best way to keep fungal infections away. Dry your feet thoroughly after bathing and try to wear thongs when walking around wet warm communal areas such as swimming pools, spa baths and the associated showers and change rooms these kinds of places bring. Clean your feet regularly and keep them dry as much as possible; wearing open sandals is a good option for summer rather than closed warm shoes that cause moisture to build.