Overcoming Onychomycosis™ By Scott Davis If you want a natural and proven solution for onychomycosis, you should not look beyond Overcoming Onychomycosis. It is easy to follow and safe as well. You will not have to take drugs and chemicals. Yes, you will have to choose healthy foods to treat your nail fungus. You can notice the difference within a few days. Gradually, your nails will look and feel different. Also, you will not experience the same condition again!
What are the complications of untreated white superficial onychomycosis?
Untreated white superficial onychomycosis (WSO) is associated with several complications, especially if the infection progresses or in patients with underlying predisposing medical conditions. The main risks are as follows:
1. Progressive Nail Damage
The infection will extend to the entire nail, where it will be brittle, crumbly, and pigmented.
Eventually, it may lead to complete dystrophic onychomycosis, in which the entire nail is destroyed.
2. Infection of Other Fingers and Skin
The fungus can spread to neighboring nails, thereby becoming more difficult to treat.
It can also lead to tinea pedis (athlete’s foot) or onycholysis, where the nail comes off the nail bed.
In more severe situations, the fungus can spread to the hands (tinea manuum) or the groin (tinea cruris).
3. Risk of Secondary Bacterial Infections
Split or cracked nails are a doorway to bacteria, making them vulnerable to cellulitis, a throbbing infection that can go far and quickly.
In diabetic or immunocompromised patients, infection is a dangerous risk and can be so bad that it results in ulcers on the feet or osteomyelitis, infection of bones.
4. Pain and Discomfort
Pain, tenderness, and difficulty in walking caused by the advancing infection, perhaps combined with nail thickening and deformity.
Shoes may become painful to wear, resulting in mobility issues.
5. Cosmetic and Psychological Impact
The white, chalky lesions on the nail can extend and cause the nail to be unsightly.
Some individuals are embarrassed or self-conscious, leading them to shun open-toe shoes or social gatherings.
6. Resistance to Treatment
Mild WSO is typically responsive to topical antifungals, but if left untreated, the infection can be treated with stronger oral antifungals or even nail avulsion for cure.
Fungal spores may persist in the environment, increasing the risk of reinfection.
Would you like recommendations for early treatment options to prevent such complications?
Proximal subungual onychomycosis (PSO) is a less common but clinically significant nail infection, especially in immunocompromised individuals. It primarily spreads along the proximal nail fold and distally underneath the nail plate. This is how it infects:
1. Initial Entry via the Proximal Nail Fold
The fungus (most commonly Trichophyton rubrum, but sometimes Candida) infects the nail matrix and proximal nail fold, typically via:
Small cuticular defects or trauma
Weakened immune defenses, particularly in HIV-positive patients or immunosuppressed patients (post-transplant, chemotherapy)
Wet environments, which facilitate fungal colonization
2. Spread Through the Nail Matrix
Following entry into the nail matrix, the fungus infects keratinocytes, leading to:
Thickening and whitening of the proximal nail
Subungual hyperkeratosis as fungal growth continues
3. Distal Extension and Deep Invasion
As the nail plate is pushed outward, the infection is spread distally along the nail bed, which causes the nail plate to elevate.
In untreated or advanced cases, PSO can extend to deeper tissues and produce paronychia (infection of the nail fold) or even osteomyelitis (bone infection), especially in immunosuppressed patients.
4. Person-to-Person and Environmental Transmission
Direct Contact: Skin-to-skin contact (e.g., use of shared nail tools, pedicures)
Fomite Transmission: Infected surfaces (e.g., shower floor, socks, shoes)
Autoinoculation: Spread from infected toenail to fingernails or other areas (e.g., tinea corporis)
Risk Factors for More Rapid Spread
Immunosuppression (HIV, diabetes, chemotherapy)
Peripheral vascular disease (impairs immune response in extremities)
Repeated trauma (cuticle disruption, rough pedicures)
Poor foot hygiene (warm, moist environments promote fungal growth)
Would you like treatment options for PSO, especially in high-risk patients?
Overcoming Onychomycosis™ By Scott Davis If you want a natural and proven solution for onychomycosis, you should not look beyond Overcoming Onychomycosis. It is easy to follow and safe as well. You will not have to take drugs and chemicals. Yes, you will have to choose healthy foods to treat your nail fungus. You can notice the difference within a few days. Gradually, your nails will look and feel different. Also, you will not experience the same condition again!