How contagious is a nail fungus?
The pathogens of the nail fungus, so-called shoot fungi or filamentous fungi (dermatophytes) are transmitted, like the athlete’s foot, by smear or contact infection. The transmission can be direct, through the body contact of two people, or through shared objects. These objects can be for example towels, nail scissors or clothing like stockings or shoes.
It is therefore recommended that textiles be boiled if possible and shared objects cleaned with a disinfectant to prevent transmission of the fungus as far as possible. The risk of infection is also particularly high in swimming pools or saunas, where people go barefoot and the damp, warm environment promotes the growth of the pathogens. In many baths there are special foot showers for this purpose, which have a disinfecting effect and are intended to kill the pathogens of foot and nail fungus.
It is also important to dry the feet thoroughly and not to wear shoes that are too tight and not breathable, as the fungal pathogens like to multiply quickly in damp heat. Nail fungus is highly infectious and can be transmitted from animal to human as well as from human to human. In addition, the fungal spores can fall on different surfaces and also be transmitted in this way.
Since nail fungus is contagious, people who are often in public places (swimming pools, etc.) should use disinfectants regularly. Only in this way the infectious nail fungus can be prevented safely.
After infestation of a fungus in the area of the nail bed it comes to a thickening of the nail. This makes the nail unstable and makes it crumble. This becomes particularly clear when cutting the nail, which then breaks off completely or incompletely in the area of the nail tip.
Furthermore, the nail color is characteristic of a nail fungus. The toenail becomes mostly cloudy, turns yellowish, brownish. The pink shimmering nail bed disappears.Also the thickening becomes clear and is a first symptom of a nail fungus infestation.
The thickening of the nail causes the nail to bulge, which is brought out of its original shape. A deformation of the nail is therefore also a sign of a nail fungus. It can also happen that parts of the nail separate from the skin.
The entire nail is rarely detached, and only in cases of severe fungal infection and if treatment is not carried out. The fact that parts of the nail can detach from the skin can also lead to instability of the nail. This instability is then evident by wobbling of the nail.
The nail fungus is not only a cosmetic problem for many affected persons, because it can also cause pain, sometimes even severe pain. The complaints express themselves particularly when walking. The nail changes by the fungal attack, it becomes thicker among other things.
The thickened nail finds no more place in the shoes and presses against it while walking, causing pain. In addition, the affected nails often grow in. The surrounding skin is often reddened and also affected by the infection and thus provides a suitable entry point for bacteria.
These bacteria are able to multiply locally, but are also able to migrate further into the tissue. One speaks then of a redness or colloquially of an erysipelas. The affected skin areas are not only red, but also warm and painful.
Bacteria can also migrate into the nail bed, which was previously damaged by the fungi, which can lead to nail bed suppuration. This is also associated with pain, especially when walking in shoes. Nail fungus does not only express itself in unsightly discolorations and changes of form of the infected nails, but to the suffering of the concerning often also by an unsightly smell.
Many affected people suffer from a nail fungus infection for a long time before an unpleasant odor develops. This is due to the fact that a pure dermatophyte, i.e. fungal infection of the nail does not lead to an odour development. This is only the case when bacteria additionally attack the already long infected, damaged nail.
The smell is comparable to that of sweaty, cheesy feet. In addition, the background of origin is similar to that of foul-smelling sweat. This is odorless at the time of its development.
An unpleasant odor only develops when bacteria decompose certain sweat components. So it is also with the nail fungus. A pure nail fungus attack itself usually does not cause itching.
In many cases, however, not only the nail but also the foot is affected by the fungal infection. In most cases, the foot infection is present at the beginning and then spreads to the nail. If the foot is infected by the fungus, there is often itching in the affected areas.
This can be confused with an itching originating from a nail fungus, if the additional athlete’s foot has infected the skin area around the nail. Both infections should be treated to avoid more extensive infections. Like the nails of the feet, the nails of the hands can also be affected by nail fungus.
The affected nails are often discolored, thickened and crumbly. Cause for the fingernail fungus are, as can be already partly taken from the name, filamentous fungi (dermatophytes). Dermatophytes can be found almost everywhere in our environment, among others on infected animals, in the soil, as well as on ourselves.
The fungi enter the nail bed via wounds and cracks and thus infect the nails. The wearing of artificial fingernails is a risk factor, especially if the nails are not clean when they are applied or if they are only renewed sporadically. Dermatophytes are able to settle in the adhesive used, multiply and eventually migrate to the natural nail.
The nail infection can also occur with frequent fingernail varnishing, since the acetone-containing nail varnishes and nail varnish removers often used in this process damage the cuticle and thus make it more accessible for the fungi. Prophylactically you should therefore switch to acetone-free products. The disease/nail infection is often recognized as such by those affected only late.
In the early stages, the nail fungus shows itself mainly through a yellowish discoloration of the affected nail or nails, as well as through a change in shape, such as a groove formation. These also appear dull and lackluster.In the course of and in the absence of treatment of the nail fungus, these discolorations can change to greenish-black. This green-black discoloration occurs when bacteria colonize the infected nail in addition to the fungi.
In the advanced stage the so-called crumb nails develop. This means that the affected nail has already been destroyed to such an extent that it begins to decay. This becomes apparent as a crumbly nail.
The danger in the advanced stage and the presence of crumbly nails is that the nail from this stage can suffer permanent damage, that is, the nail is no longer able to regenerate completely and grow back properly. A fingernail infection with dermatophytes is contagious. The affected person can infect not only other people with the fungus, but also his own, still healthy nails. For this reason a thorough hygiene of the hands is very important. In addition, so-called antimyotics, i.e. drugs that are usually applied locally, can help to eliminate the fungus and thus enable regeneration of the affected nail.
