Causes

Nail fungus on the finger can be caused by an infection with spores of different fungal strains. In most cases the responsible fungal spores are transmitted directly from person to person. In principle, however, a transmission between animals and humans is also possible.

Since the fungal spores that cause nail fungus on the finger are very resistant, they can persist on the skin or nail surface for several weeks. During this entire period the fungal spores are considered highly infectious. Above all the fact that the nail fungus on the finger often leads to visible symptoms only in the advanced stage, makes a transmission particularly simple.

Furthermore, fungal spores that can lead to nail fungus on the finger can often be found on bath mats, slatted frames, floor coverings, towels and other surfaces. For this reason, people who often spend time in public swimming pools, saunas, fitness studios, showers or changing rooms are particularly at risk of developing nail fungus on their fingers. In this context, however, it must be noted that not everyone is equally susceptible to nail fungus on the finger.

Especially people who sweat more can be assigned to a risk group. Although diabetes mellitus and circulatory disorders in the finger area are not direct causes for the development of nail mycosis, they are promoting factors. Also a general immunodeficiency and various drugs that suppress the immune system can promote the development of nail fungus on the finger. Also the age represents a crucial risk factor for the emergence of nail fungus on the finger.

Symptoms

The typical symptoms of nail fungus on the finger depend mainly on the extent of the disease and the underlying fungal species.In addition, with nail fungus on the finger it must be noted that the signs often appear only in an advanced stage. For this reason, the causative pathogen can multiply over a long period of time before it is recognized and treated as such. As soon as the nail plate is completely colonized by fungal spores, its appearance changes rapidly.

In most cases the typical symptoms of nail fungus on the finger appear first at the free edge of the nail plate. Only with an infection with yeast or molds the symptoms begin in the middle of the nail plate or in the area of the nail wall. Immediately after infection, the fungi penetrate the horny layer of the nail and feed on its main component, keratin.

For this reason, small, air-filled cavities are formed within the nail plate. As a result, the nail plate loses stability and appears softened. Only in the course of the nail fungus infection on the finger the fungus spreads further and causes a change of the entire nail plate.

In the area of the fingernail then pronounced deformations and discolorations appear. The finger infected by nail fungus appears white or yellowish discolored. With pronounced infections it can also come to the emergence of punctiform, reddish-brown discolorations of the nail plate. In addition, the fungal infection can lead to a strong thickening of the nail substance. Many of the affected patients also show inflammatory processes in the area of the nail bed and/or the surrounding skin areas.