Mycotic Nails

What are mycotic nails?

A mycotic nail is a fungal infection that affects your toenails or fingernails. It separates your nail from your nail bed, making it thick and fragile. It may change colors. The word “mycotic” means an infection with a fungus or a disease caused by a fungus. Mycotic nails are also known as onychomycosis.

What exactly are nails?

Nails are made of a protein-rich tissue called keratin. As new cells grow in your toe or finger, the old ones are slowly pushed forward. They harden and become nails.

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Nails:

• Add strength to the tips of your fingers and toes.
• Help protect you from infections.
• Aid in your fine motor movements like picking things up.

What are the types of mycotic nails?

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Mycotic nails are divided into seven types:

• Distal (lateral) subungual onychomycosis: This type is the most common. The infection starts on the distal edge (the tip) or sides of your nail and spreads from there. Your nail may turn white, brown or yellow.
• Proximal subungual onychomycosis: The infection originates from the proximal nail fold (the skin that covers the root of your nail). In the U.S., the most common organism that causes proximal subungual onychomycosis is called T. rubrum.
• Superficial onychomycosis: The superficial layers of your nail are the very top ones. The infection starts in those layers and then goes deeper. Your nail will most likely turn white. The organism that causes this type is called T. mentagraphytes.
• Edonyx onychomycosis: Edonyx onychomycosis is where the interior of the nail plate is infected, but not the nail bed (the tissue underneath the hard part of your nail).
• Totally dystrophic onychomycosis: This is the end stage of the distal or proximal types. At this phase your nail is extra thick and taller because of extra keratin.
• Yeast onychomycosis: Yeast onychomycosis, often caused by Candida, is more likely to affect your fingernails than your toenails. It may be a sign that your immune system isn’t working at its best (immunodeficiency).
• Fungal melanonychia: Fungal melanonychia is the least common type of onychomycosis. Fungi such as Scytalidium, Alternaria and Exophiala cause a brownish or blackish color.

You can ask about what type of nail fungus you have when you see your healthcare provider for a diagnosis.

Who gets mycotic nails?

Anyone can get mycotic nails. However, you might be more likely to get this type of infection if you have one or more of the following conditions:

• Diabetes.
• A weakened immune system.
• Athlete’s foot.
• Blood circulation problems.
• A nail injury.
• A nail surgery.
• Psoriasis.

You’re also more likely to get mycotic nails if you:

• Smoke.
• Share shower stalls.
• Wear shoes that don’t have ventilation.

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You may also be genetically predisposed to mycotic nails. This means that you’re more likely to have mycotic nails if other people in your family do.

How common are mycotic nails?

About 10% of the general population will have mycotic nails at some point in their life. It gets more common as you age. About 20% of people older than 60 and 50% of people older than 70 get mycotic nails. It’s more common for your toenails to get infected than your fingernails.

What’s the difference between a mycotic nail and a nail infection (paronychia)?

Calling paronychia a nail infection is a little misleading. It’s actually an infection of the skin around the nail, not the nail itself.

A mycotic nail doesn’t cause problems with your skin.

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