Table of Contents
How does the discoloration come about?
Can you treat this type of yeast infection?
Is black nail fungus more dangerous than normal onychomycosis?
Anyone who notices a change in color or shape on their nails should pay attention. A fungus can cause a nail change.
Nail fungus is the most common disease of the fingernails and toenails and is particularly persistent in treatment.
A black nail fungus is a unique form of onychomycosis, characterized by discoloration of the nail.
Black nail fungus due to mold
If it is a nail fungus infestation with mold, the nail can discolor darker than in the case of a dermatophyte infestation and thus lead to black nail fungus.
Nail fungus is usually caused by thread fungi, also known medically as dermatophytes.
In rare cases, other types of fungus, such as mold, are responsible for nail disease.
Mold can discolor the nail black.
In particular, infection with Hendersonula toruloidea (black mold ) leads to brown-black discoloration of the nails, which is also medically called black superficial onychomycosis.
The fungus owes its name to its melanin-containing cell walls, and it is through it, the black nail fungus is ultimately formed.
However, black onychomycosis can also develop differently.
Existing fungal nail disease and a bruise under the nail
This type of nail fungus can also develop when a nail is infected with the fungus, and there is also a bruise on the nail.
The bleeding under the fungal nail turns the nails black, or a black spot appears under the toenail.
For example, it can happen from a blow on the toenail or pressure during exercise.
Bruising under the toenail without nail fungus
If you bump , crush, pinch, or take your foot , a bruise will form under the nail plate of the affected nail.
This causes the toenail or fingernail to turn dark, blue to black.
This often happens with athletes, but especially with runners . This damage to the nail tissue has nothing to do with nail fungus and grows out by itself.
To find out whether it is actually nail fungus, a dermatologist should be asked for advice.
Infection with nail fungus
The fungus feels very comfortable in moist, warm places and can grow better. Therefore, the risk of infection in public places such as swimming pools, saunas or hotels is significantly higher.
There, the skin fungus can survive for days and weeks on infected skin flakes of sick people.
If you run without shoes in the risk areas, you are exposed to a high risk of infection with nail fungus. Through micro-injuries, the fungus can penetrate the skin or under the nail and spread unnoticed.
Anyone who suffers from a disease such as athlete’s foot and does not treat the infection can also get nail fungus. The pathogen slowly migrates to the front of the toes and attacks the nails there.
Black nail fungus: pictures and symptoms
In most cases, a nail infected with filamentous fungus turns white or yellow.
It can also turn brown and, in rare cases when the pathogen is mold, turn black.
When the nail fungus is left untreated for a long time, bleeding can occur under the nail plate through the nail bed attacked by the fungus.
Inflammation can also develop and cause these injuries. Then the nail gradually changes color, and a black point or spot appears under the toenail.
In the case of a black nail fungus, either mold is responsible for the discoloration or bleeding under the nail.
The fungus often affects the front outer edge of a nail. In the case of feet, the big toe is often affected, but the remaining toenails or fingernails can also be affected.
Over time, a cavity under the toenail may develop because the fungus continues to work through the nail layers, and thus a thickening comes to the nail plate.
If a black line appears on a supposed nail fungus, it can also be bleeding. On the other hand, it can also be a more severe condition.
If you notice a black line on the nail, you should have the infection examined by a doctor. In the worst case, it can be black skin cancer.