Candidiasis of nail plates and shafts – causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

Candidiasis of the nails and nails is an infection caused by yeasts of the Candida family. This ailment occurs relatively often, much more often in women than in men. The disease can occur in people employed, e.g. in the food industry. The lesions are most often located on nails and nail shafts.

What is the yeast infection of nail plates and shafts?

Candidiasis is a form of onychomycosis caused by yeasts of the Candida family. The lesions are usually located on the nail plates, but also on the surrounding nail shafts. The ailment occurs quite often, especially in women employed, e.g. as a laundress. A characteristic symptom of the disease is severe inflammation. The fungal lesions persist on the nails for a long time and are a potential source of infection for healthy people.

Figure 4.30. Candidiasis of shafts and nail plates

The causes of the yeast infection of nail plates and shafts

In more than 70% of cases, the causative agent of the disease is C. albicans. Less often C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis or C. krusei. Fungal infections in the form of yeast infections can appear due to being in places where fungi have ideal conditions for development. Most often, patients become infected at the swimming pool, sauna, gym or fitness clubs. Also, direct contact with a person suffering from mycosis is a threat to a healthy person. In places characterized by humidity and warm air, remember to wear airy shoes and not to wear socks made of synthetic fibers.

Attention! Candidiasis can affect nails, mucous membranes and skin.

In addition, there are other factors that increase the risk of developing yeast infection in the nail plates and shafts. Among them we mention:

1. pregnancy,
2. obesity,
3. endocrine disorders,
4. lack of necessary vitamins in the body (especially vitamin B),
5. diabetes,
6. anemia,
7. skin injuries,
8. steroid therapy,
9. taking preparations that lower the body’s resistance,
10. excessive sweating of the skin which destroys the epidermis,
11. taking antibiotics that impair the body’s immunity.

To maintain the good condition of hair and nails, we recommend Propolia BeeYes pollen capsules for hair and nails.

Candidiasis of nail plates and shafts – symptoms

Changes in the nail plate are preceded by inflammation of the nail folds, resulting from:

1. swelling,
2. soreness,
3. redness, the presence of purulent discharge under pressure.

Characteristic for the yeast infection of nail plates and shafts is swelling, redness, pain in the nail shaft and the presence of purulent contents between the shaft and the nail plate. Infection of the nail matrix can cause dystrophy of the edges of the plate, and its surface becomes rough, gray-yellowish, dull with transverse depressions (Beau lines). In people with thrush, the nails lose their natural shine and delaminate. Long-term disease causes the growth of the nail to be disturbed, and transverse and longitudinal furrows begin to appear on its surface.

IMPORTANT: Candidiasis of nail plates and shafts is a condition that tends to recur.

How to recognize the yeast infection of nail plates and shafts?

The changes accompanying the disease are very characteristic, therefore the diagnosis of candidiasis is not difficult. Sometimes it is not necessary to perform additional tests at all. However, in some cases, direct mycological examination and breeding are performed, especially when several etiological factors (fungi, yeasts, bacteria) coexist. The surest way to obtain the material is to put it in the nail pocket for 24 hours. sterilized strand saturated with Sabouraud’s medium, from which yeast growth is obtained. The waiting time for the test results is about 48 hours – as long as the yeast growth takes.

In the differentiated diagnosis, the yeast infection of the nail plates and shafts should be differentiated from:

1. nail mildew,
2. nail dermatophytosis.

Treatment of yeast infection in nail plates and shafts

Treating a yeast infection is more effective than treating mycoses. Topical antifungal preparations are used: azole, allylamines and polyene antibiotics, which should be inserted deeply under the periungual shaft (they are in the form of an ointment). Compresses are recommended for patients in whom secretions are additionally seeping. As for the treatment with antibiotics, it should last about four weeks to be highly effective.

General treatment is implemented with very extensive changes, in which the application of topical preparations is no longer enough. In such patients, itraconazole in pulse therapy or fluconazole or terbinafine is introduced. Other medications and antibiotics are helpful in the treatment, incl. nystatin and natamycin. In addition, patients should take a large amount of B vitamins during the treatment.

As for the prognosis – the yeast infection of nail plates and shafts is chronic and recurrent.

How to improve the effectiveness of the treatment of candidiasis and nail shafts?

In order to improve the treatment results, it is important to follow a few basic rules.

1. Remember to trim your nails during yeast infection! Long nails are a greater source of infection in other people and surrounding shafts. However, they must not be cut too short as they can damage the skin.

2. Patients with candidiasis of nails and nail folds should refrain from painting their nails during the disease and treatment. Hiding an ugly nail plate under a layer of varnish is not a good idea as it delays the effectiveness of the treatment.

3. In the course of the disease, you should not stick artificial nails on the diseased plate. They are an additional burden for a weak nail plate, and by causing pressure they delay the recovery process. It should be remembered that water likes to collect under artificial nails, which is an excellent environment for the growth of microorganisms.

How to avoid getting sick with nail yeast and nail shafts?

The preventive recommendations include:

– avoiding walking barefoot in public places such as: swimming pool, sauna, sanatorium;

– thoroughly drying your hands after they get wet;

– examination of the condition of nails and skin after long-term use of antibiotics;

– avoiding the use of an infected person’s personal belongings;

– wearing airy footwear (e.g. in hot weather)

Source: A. Kaszuba, Z. Adamski “Practitioner’s guide. Dermatology”; XNUMXst edition, Czelej Publishing House