Date: April 11th 2007

Screening and diagnosis The first step to beating nail fungus is getting a diagnosis. Your doctor will likely examine your nails first. To test for fungi, your doctor may scrape some debris from under your nail for analysis. The debris can be examined under a microscope or cultured in a lab to identify what is causing the infection. Other conditions, such as psoriasis, can mimic a fungal infection of the nail. Microorganisms, including yeast and bacteria, also can infect nails. Knowing the cause of your infection helps determine the best course of treatment.