Overcoming Onychomycosis™ By Scott Davis If you want a natural and proven solution for onychomycosis, you should not look beyond Overcoming Onychomycosis. It is easy to follow and safe as well. You will not have to take drugs and chemicals. Yes, you will have to choose healthy foods to treat your nail fungus. You can notice the difference within a few days. Gradually, your nails will look and feel different. Also, you will not experience the same condition again!
What role do genetics play in onychomycosis?
Genetics is an important factor in causation and susceptibility for onychomycosis, a fungal nail infection. While environmental factors like humidity, trauma, and personal hygiene play an important role, genetics may contribute to the body’s response to fungal infection in some ways. Below is how genetics may affect the causation of onychomycosis:
1. Genetic Susceptibility to Fungal Infections
Immune System Response:
Certain genetic diseases can impair the immune system’s ability to fight fungal infections. Impaired immune response due to genetic predisposition can make individuals susceptible to onychomycosis infection. For example, people with a family history of immune system disorders or a history of repeated fungal infections are at greater risk of developing onychomycosis.
Genetic Variations in Skin and Nail Barrier Function:
The strength and integrity of the nail plate and surrounding skin are important barriers to fungal penetration. Genetic variation can influence the thickness of the nail, rate of nail growth, and the ability of the nail to resist environmental stress. If a person is genetically predisposed to poor nail structure or failed nail growth, they may be more vulnerable to fungal infection.
2. Family History and Hereditary Conditions
Family History of Onychomycosis:
When onychomycosis is familial, it suggests a genetic predisposition to the condition. While environmental influences like exposure to fungi (e.g., in moist or shared environments) are involved in raising the risk, the risk of onychomycosis might be higher in those with a family history of onychomycosis.
Genetic Syndromes:
Certain genetic syndromes predispose to fungal infections, including onychomycosis. Examples include:
Pachyonychia congenita is a rare genetic disorder that can cause thick nails and a predisposition to fungal infection.
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a disorder of connective tissue, can also affect the health and strength of nails and make them more prone to infection.
3. Genetic Factors Involved in Nail and Skin Disorders
Psoriasis and Other Skin Disorders
Genetic predisposition to psoriasis or other skin diseases can predispose to onychomycosis. Psoriatic patients are also at risk for nail disease, including onychomycosis, since the nail matrix is vulnerable to the underlying dermatosis, and it becomes simpler for fungal invasion to take place.
Diabetes and Genetic Factors
While diabetes itself will predispose an individual to onychomycosis via impaired circulation and immunity, genetic vulnerabilities to diabetes susceptibility may be involved. For example, individuals at risk for type 1 or type 2 diabetes by virtue of genetics may have dysfunctional immunity or peripheral neuropathy, both risk factors for fungal disease like onychomycosis.
4. Fungus-Susceptibility Affecting Genetic Variants
Genetic Variations in Skin Microflora:
Having specific microorganisms on the skin (skin microbiota) is well known to aid in protection against fungal infection. Genetic variation in the skin microbiota composition could influence whether an individual is susceptible to colonization and infection with fungi or not. Some individuals are more prone to onychomycosis because there are fewer antifungal microbes present.
Variations in the Antifungal Immune Response
There are some genetic variations that can affect how the body recognizes and responds to fungal infections. For example, genetic variations in pro-inflammatory cytokine production (immune signaling molecules) can affect the body’s ability to mount an effective immune response against fungi that cause onychomycosis.
5. Gender and Genetic Influence
Men vs. Women
Onychomycosis occurs more frequently in men than women, and this may be influenced by both genetic and hormonal factors. Men may have a genetic tendency towards increased sebaceous secretion (oil production), creating a more conducive medium for fungi. Pattern of nail growth in men and skin type may also be accountable for greater susceptibility.
6. Hereditary Factors in Nail Growth and Shape
Structure and Shape of Nails:
Genetic factors affect the form, thickness, and growth of the nails. As an example, people whose nails are thicker have a higher risk for onychomycosis because their nail plate forms an easier channel for fungal invasion. Nails growing more slowly or unevenly offer a more suitable environment in which to harbor and infect the fungus.
Conclusion
While environmental factors such as exposure to fungus, moisture, trauma, and personal hygiene practices are significant in the etiology of onychomycosis, genetic factors could make some individuals more susceptible to fungal infection. The genetic factors have an impact on the immune response, integrity of skin and nail barriers, and susceptibility to fungus as a whole and increase the risk of developing onychomycosis. If there is a family history or genetic disorder that predisposes an individual to nail or skin irregularities, they may need to be extra cautious to prevent fungal infections.
Would you like to know more about preventing onychomycosis or treating it?
Compromised immune system literally provides a lot of risk to the onset of onychomycosis, a fungal infection of the nail. It is typically caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, or molds and typically leads to thicker, colored, or brittle nails. Let us observe how impaired immune system contributes to the risk:
1. Reduced Ability to Repel Fungal Infections
Immune Response: The immune system in the body is tasked with protecting the body against infections, including fungal infections. A weakened immune system due to chronic disease, drugs, or the normal aging process makes the body unable to perceive and destroy fungal pathogens like those that cause onychomycosis.
Opportunistic Infections: Once the immune system is weakened, it becomes susceptible to opportunistic infections, like fungal infections. Pathogens, which under a normal immune system would be repressed, will thrive and infect susceptible areas, like the nails.
2. Chronic Diseases That Weaken Immunity
Certain health diseases or therapies may weaken the immune system, thus predisposing an individual to onychomycosis:
Diabetes: People with diabetes, especially those with poorly regulated blood sugar, have a higher risk of developing onychomycosis. High blood sugar provides an environment ripe for fungi to grow, and nerve damage (peripheral neuropathy) reduces the ability to sense and react to early signs of nail infection.
HIV/AIDS: Individuals infected with HIV/AIDS have extremely impaired immune systems, and therefore, they are extremely susceptible to fungal infections like onychomycosis. They easily contract fungal infections because the immune system is not able to resist opportunistic infections.
Autoimmune Diseases: Autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, or psoriasis, which compromise the immune system, can also predispose a person to infections, including fungal infections like onychomycosis. These diseases are then treated further with immune-modulating medication or therapy, which once again compromises the immune system, making it harder for the body to combat fungal infections.
3. Immune-Suppressive Medications
Immunosuppressive Drugs: Medications used to treat autoimmune diseases, such as corticosteroids or biologic medications, work by inhibiting the immune system. This renders the body increasingly vulnerable to infection, including fungal nail infection.
Chemotherapy: Cancer chemotherapy significantly weakens the immune system by targeting rapidly growing cells. Chemotherapy lowers the body’s ability to fight off fungal infections and increases the risk of onychomycosis in chemotherapy patients.
4. Impact of Poor Circulation and Nerve Damage
Peripheral Vascular Disease: For patients with conditions like diabetes or peripheral vascular disease, poor circulation can reduce the supply of blood to the extremities, including nails, so that it is more difficult for the immune system to combat infection.
Nerve Damage (Neuropathy): Nerve damage from diabetes, HIV, or other conditions can lead to numbness of the hands or feet. This can render patients oblivious to the early symptoms of onychomycosis, such as color change or texture change in the nail, which can enable the infection to reach advanced stages unnoticed.
5. Age-Related Immune Decline
Older Individuals: As people age, their immune system will typically be less effective at fighting off infection. This makes older individuals more susceptible to developing fungal infections like onychomycosis. The nails also become slower in growth with age, providing more time for fungal infection to take hold and develop.
6. Lifestyle and Environmental Factors
A weakened immune system may also influence an individual’s ability to avoid environmental risk factors of onychomycosis:
Fungal Exposure: Weakened immune individuals have a higher chance of getting infected with fungi upon exposure to environments where fungi flourish, such as communal showers, swimming pools, and gym locker rooms.
Poor Hygiene and Nail Care: Compromised immune function sometimes makes it harder for the individual to maintain good hygiene and nail care, which again increases the risk of infection.
7. Skin Integrity
Exacerbated Skin Breakdown: Impaired immune function may lead to skin issues or skin atrophy, making it vulnerable to entry and invasion by fungi to the nail bed. Any kind of injury to the adjacent skin of the nails in the form of cuts or injury provides room for entry by fungal pathogens, subject to the fact that the immune system is not able to provide sufficient defense against the same.
For individuals with weakened immune systems, prevention and treatment of onychomycosis are crucial:
Correct Foot and Nail Care: Frequent washing of hands and feet, drying the nails, and keeping the nails trimmed properly might avoid fungal infection. Loose footwear and foot ventilation also reduce risk.
Antifungal Treatments: For people at increased risk, antifungal treatments (oral or topical) may be administered to prevent or treat onychomycosis. Medical consultation should be obtained early if any infection signs are noticed since early treatment will prevent complications.
Regular Observation: Patients with compromised immune systems, particularly diabetic patients or patients with autoimmune conditions, need their nails to be observed regularly for signs of infection. Early intervention can stop the infection from propagating.
Would you like further information on onychomycosis management in patients with compromised immune systems or on prevention?
Overcoming Onychomycosis™ By Scott Davis If you want a natural and proven solution for onychomycosis, you should not look beyond Overcoming Onychomycosis. It is easy to follow and safe as well. You will not have to take drugs and chemicals. Yes, you will have to choose healthy foods to treat your nail fungus. You can notice the difference within a few days. Gradually, your nails will look and feel different. Also, you will not experience the same condition again!