Yeast Related Nail Fungus *Ony in THUMBS!!

[zinnias_are_nice]

I have been battling a nail infection for eight monts. I've tried all OTC creams and was prescribed an oral fungal killer which didn't work and made me gain weight.*ugh* I read that it was likely caused by candida yeast,so I went on a yeast free/sugar free diet for two monts. I think it would start getting better until I would have my period and it would get inflamed again. The nail now has ridges in it and the surrounding skin on the left side of each nail is red and cracking.*VERY PAINFUL*!! I'm so tires of fooling around with this problem! Can any one tell me why I am having this problem and why it is only on my thumbs? Any for sure remedy to rid me of this problem?


This discussion is related to thumb nail infection.

[Vanessa Lacuesta]

Hi,

For how long have you been having this?

This sounds like a case of paronychia with an associated onychomycosis. Paronychia refers to a soft tissue infection of the skin surrounding the  nail bed. Onychomycosis is a fungal infection affecting the nails .These requires prolonged oral medications that may require about 3 months of intake. Yeast infections affecting the nails are one of the most difficult to treat . Another differential will be psoriasis. Psoriatic lesions may also involve the nails however, this skin condition is usually associated with skin conditions in other parts of the body like the scalp, elbows and knees. In your case, the condition is more localized, so an infection may be likely.

Prolonged oral medications are usually needed for this type of condition. For how long have you taken your medications? Antibiotics may also be needed to treat the surrounding skin inflammation and infection.

At this point, a paronychia and onychomycosis are the primary differentials that I have in mind.