Analysis of Toenail Fungus
Severe cases can impair a person’s ability to walk, cause excruciating ingrown toenails, and may occur in more severe health conditions, not to mention actual nail loss. If you observe symptoms of a severe infection, it is imperative that you seek medical attention promptly. Your medical professional will examine your cuticles. He or she may also remove a few scrapes or nail clippings from under the nail and send them to a laboratory to identify the type of fungus causing the infection. Other conditions, such as psoriasis, may cause a fungal infection of the nail. Additionally, microorganisms like bacteria and yeast may infect your cuticles. Knowing the cause of an infection aids in determining the most effective treatment. (5)
Your healthcare provider may diagnose a fungal infection in your nail by observing the affected nail and questioning you about your symptoms. Additionally, he or she may take a nail clipping to examine under a microscope or submit it to the laboratory for fungal culture. To determine whether a patient has nail fungus, a dermatologist examines the patient’s epidermis and nails. It is necessary to evaluate the skin, as the fungus may spread. A cutaneous infection caused by a fungus, such as athlete’s foot, may already exist. To eliminate this infection, you will need to treat all infected areas.
Before rendering a diagnosis, your dermatologist may collect a few samples. Collecting debris from under a nail, trimming a portion of the nail, or even scraping away some epidermis may be beneficial. Such samples could be examined under a microscope in a laboratory to determine the cause of the problem. Fungal nail infections typically affect the toenails, but they can also affect the fingernails. Visit your healthcare provider or a podiatrist (foot specialist) if you suspect you have a fungal nail infection or any other nail-related condition, and if home remedies are ineffective. The sooner you visit the doctor, the more effective your treatment will be.
Infections caused by fungi may worsen over time. Consult your doctor if you suspect that your nails have turned black or brown, if it abruptly hurts, or if it pulls away from the nail bed. If you have diabetes and notice that the appearance of your toenails has changed, see your doctor immediately to prevent the problem from worsening. Nevertheless, your healthcare provider may be able to diagnose a fungal nail infection simply by observing your foot or fingertips. However, they may also conduct a few tests to confirm. Consequently, they may examine samples of your cuticles. Therefore, it is sometimes possible to diagnose a fungal nail infection based solely on a visual examination; laboratory tests may not be necessary but consist of the following:
Microscopy for Culture
