Can Fungal Infection Cause Swelling?

Fungal infections of the skin are quite common and can affect all parts of the body. Onychomycosis (tinea unguium) is a specific fungal infection that can affect both the fingernails and toenails. Fungal nail infections usually develop over time slowly, so any immediate difference in the way your nail looks or feels may not even be noticeable.

Causes of Fungal Nail Infections

There are a variety of causes of fungal nail infections which range from age, health conditions, and external factors. Some causes of fungal nail infections are preventable. 

It’s more likely that you’ll get a fungal nail infection if you:

·         have diabetes.

·         have a condition that causes poor circulation.

·         are over age 65.

·         wear artificial nails.

·         swim in a public swimming pool.

·         use a public shower at the gym or other recreational facilities.

·         have a nail injury.

·         get regular pedicures at places that don’t uses hygienic practices.

·         have a skin injury around the nail.

·         have wet fingers or toes frequently due to your work or where you live.

·         have a weakened immune system.

·         wear closed-toe shoes like tennis shoes or boots most of the time.

What Does Nail Fungus Look Like?

A fungal nail infection usually affects part of the nail, the whole nail, or several nails at once.

Common symptoms include:

·         a disfigured nail that may pull away from the nail bed.

·         a bad smell coming from the infected nail.

·         yellowing or discolouring of the nail.

·         a thickened and brittle nail.

·         mild swelling under the nail

These infections usually start near the cuticle, which becomes tender to the touch, red, and swollen. The nail itself may pull away from the nail bed or totally fall off after some time.

How Is A Fungal Nail Infection Treated?

Over-the-counter products are available to combat low-grade fungal nail infections. These include:

·         Clearzal Bac Nail Solution 30ML

·         Clearzal Hard Skin Remover 100G

·         Excilor Pen For Fungal Nail Infections 1

·         Excilor Solution 3.3MLS

For more severe cases where OTC products aren’t being effective, your GP may prescribe an oral antifungal medication, such as:

·         terbinafine (Lamisil)

·         itraconazole (Sporanox)

·         fluconazole (Diflucan)

·         griseofulvin (Gris-PEG)

If you start to see signs of nail fungus, come into any of our Pearl Chemist Group branches to speak with a pharmacist. They can recommend the best product to treat your case of nail fungus.