Nail Fungus: A Hidden Threat to Your Health

Dr. Asuncion is a specialist at the regional skin clinic in Manila. Throughout her decades-long career, she's seen almost everything.

At a recent press conference, Dr. Asuncion addressed the issue of nail fungus, warning that even minor symptoms should not be overlooked. According to her, "Nail fungus is no small problem. It infiltrates the bloodstream and internal organs, and silently erodes the body from within, making it extremely challenging to manage with external treatments."

She emphasizes that nail fungus is a dangerous condition, and ignoring its warning signs is a mistake that can lead to serious health risks.

Symptoms include thickened nails, discoloration ranging from yellow to brownish-black and white, a crumbly texture beneath the nail, and a strong odor from under the nail. Because this infection is prevalent in public places, avoiding it entirely is often impossible.

Dr. Asuncion noted, "The spores of the fungus can 'settle' on internal organs, growing like a natural habitat, leading to possible heart failure or kidney damage. Anyone with nail fungus should do everything possible to eradicate it. I've encountered many individuals with nail fungus who have never consulted a doctor, simply because they don't understand the risks involved."

"Fungal infections require frequent doctor's visits, and I can recount hundreds of cases where untreated nail fungus caused significant lung damage, yet treatment often starts too late," she added.

What's the most effective treatment for nail fungus?

"The most effective approach is systemic treatment, with terbinafine being the most efficient medication for dermatophyte infections," writes Dr. Rina Segal, a senior dermatologist at Rabin Medical Center in Petach Tikva. "However, one should consider rare but possible side effects, such as rashes or liver damage, which are generally reversible. As for topical treatments, recent products with lacquer bases show partial efficacy, mainly for nails with minimal or superficial infections, yet their effectiveness is limited, even after removing the infected part.
Overall, nail fungus, once a neglected issue, remains a therapeutic challenge, as we still lack an optimal solution that is effective, convenient, and free of side effects."