Types of Nail Fungus: A Complete Guide to Identification

Nail fungus might seem like a small cosmetic issue—but it's surprisingly common, often misunderstood, and notoriously stubborn to treat. What many don’t realize is that not all nail fungus is created equal. Whether it starts at the tip of your nail and creeps inward, shows up as chalky white patches on the surface, or begins at the base near the cuticle, each type has its own signs and implications.

In this complete guide, we’ll walk you through the three main types of nail fungus—from the widespread Distal Subungual Onychomycosis (DSO) to the milder White Superficial Onychomycosis (WSO) and the rare, immune-related Proximal Subungual Onychomycosis (PSO). You'll learn how to identify which one you might be dealing with, and more importantly, why knowing the exact type is crucial to getting the right treatment and lasting results.

Once you’ve pinpointed your specific type of nail fungus, it’s easy to enhance your treatment plan—consider buy antifungal supplements to support healthier, clearer nails.

What Is Nail Fungus?

Nail fungus or onychomycosis refers to a type of fungus that grows on your fingernails or your toenails. It starts off as a patch that's whitish or yellowish underneath the tip of your nail but grows downwards, causing your nail to lose color, thicken, or disintegrate.

It thrives where it's hot and humid, and caught easily in public pools, public gyms, or public showers. It's not usually harmful, but it's uncomfortable, unappealing, and difficult to cure unless properly diagnosed.

3 Types of Nail Fungus

Determination of type of fungus in nails helps in prescribing exact therapy. There are three categories:

1. Distal Subungual Onychomycosis (DSO)

It will most often originate at or close to a toenail or finger tip and travel towards your body.

Key signs:

• Yellow or creamy color on tip of nail
• Hard, brittle nails
• Nail can dissociate from the nail bed (onycholysis)

2. White Superficial Onychomycosis (WSO)

Much easier to treat and much less frequently occurring, this variety occurs on your nail surface.

Key signs:

• Whitish, chalky discoloration of the surface of the nail plate
• Surface of nails can become rough, crumbly
• Generally will not penetrate deep into the nail

3. Proximal Subungual Onychomycosis (PSO)

This rare variety most often signals a damaged immune system and starts in the bottom of the nail.

Key signs:

• White spots close to the cuticle
• Spreading discoloration beyond nails outward
• Often found in HIV or other immune-system disorder patients

Note: There are some other rarely occurring varieties, including Candida diseases, but above varieties are major clinical varieties.

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How to Identify the Type of Nail Fungus

There are certain types of nail fungus that require a professional identification, but there are also a few definitive visual indicators that you should look for:

• Location: Where does it tip, surface, base, or begin?
• Color: Dark, white, or yellow?
• Texture: Crumbly, thick, or brittle?
• Progression: How slow or rapid? 

If one's unsure, they should see a podiatrist or a dermatologist. These will, in most cases, take a sample of one's nail to identify what kind of fungus there is on a microscope or via lab tests.

Why Identifying the Type Matters

Knowing which type of nail fungus you have isn’t merely theoretical—it can influence just how effective your therapy will be.

• Targeted treatment: Some types respond more reliably to topical treatment, but others may require oral antifungals.
• Time of treatment: Superficial infections take several weeks to resolve; deep ones can take months.
• Prevent reoccurrence: Precise identification will also enable us to prevent administration of an ineffectual drug and probable reinfection.

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Conclusion

The fungus in your nails will seem to be a minor issue, but if you disregard it or treat it improperly, it will progress. You will have more healthy-looking nails if you know which type of fungus, DSO, WSO, or PSO, that you have. If you are unsure which one, don't wait to speak to a healthcare professional for identification and guidance on what to do.

FAQ

1. Can I treat nail fungus at home?

Superficial, and some mild, cases are often curable through natural approaches or OTC antifungal drugs. More serious cases, however, will necessitate prescription drugs. 

2. How long will it take to cure fungus on my nails? 

Treatments vary, depending upon type and severity, anywhere from several weeks to 12 months or more.

3. Can toenail fungus spread? 

Yes, there's a likelihood that fungus can spread person to person or via contact surfaces such as showers or nail salons.

4. If I don't treat my fungus nails, what will occur? 

It will just keep worsening if left unattended, damaging nails, becoming painful, and also causing secondary infection, most often in diabetic or immunocompromised people.