Candida nail infections can be divided into 3 general categories.

Infection may begin as chronic paronychia (the recent view is that this is an irritant or allergic hand dermatitis). There is redness and edema of the nail folds, followed by Candida colonization or, less likely, infection. Chronic paronychia is more common in people exposed occupationally to water and irritants.

Patients with chronic mucocutaneous candidiasis are characterized by Candida infections of the skin, mucous membranes, and nails. Patients are at risk of developing cutaneous and systemic granulomas. In rare cases, these patients may develop Candida granuloma involving the nail. This is due to Candida directly invading the nail plate. The nail plate will have gross hyperkeratosis.

The third type of presentation is onycholysis, which is defined as the nail plate separating from the nail bed. This occurs more commonly on the hands than the feet. Candida is often cultured, but in most cases is believed to be from colonization rather than pathogenic.