How Did I Get Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus usually enters the nail bed when there has been an injury to the area, such as a crack or a split.
Once the fungus enters, the warm, dark environment that it finds in shoes and socks allow it to grow and spread. The fungus starts by growing under the nail bed, making it very difficult to reach with any sort of medication.
The standard treatment usually involves prescription medication or partial or full removal of the toenail.
The fungus first appears as a black spot on the toenail. This spot can start to grow and your nail can start changing color as it progresses.
If you let it go, your nail may thicken, change color further, and even produce a foul odor . It is best to deal with the early signs before it turns into something really serious.
One of the main causes of toenail fungus is poor hygiene, and the chances of getting toenail fungus increase with age men being more likely to get it over women.
This could be due to many factors, but most likely because men typically dont take care of their foot/nail hygiene as much as women do.
A Toenail Fungus Can Be Cured
Toe nail fungus is a condition affecting the toenails. It is unsightly and causes thickened toenails, some slight discoloration and can cause the nails to crumble. It is contracted from walking in damp areas such as a golf club shower room or common area, or a gym in school, or anyplace where someone already afflicted with the problem has walked barefoot. It is much the same as the condition commonly called athletes foot but is more problematical to cure. A cure can take months to manifest itself.
I have had this condition for several years and let it go until now it affects the toenails on both my feet. I tried using the common over the counter medicines but they did not help my condition. I also tried many of the various suggested home remedies. I tried smearing Vaseline on the nails but it didnt help. In all honesty, I probably gave up on it too soon. I also tried several of the other foot creams on the market but they did nothing, or at least nothing that is recognizable. I am currently using a gel that is over the counter also. It is called Xonex. Xonex seems to have some effect in that my nails are no longer as ugly as they once were. The Xonex label says it will get rid of the detritus of depleted protein from under the nails. It seems to be doing that but is not curing the fungus.
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Keep Your Nail Care Items Exclusive
At home, make sure to never share your personal hygiene items such as nail clippers, nail files, and feet scrubbers with anyone, including your family.
This is the quickest way to spread toenail fungus and is a reason why when one child in the family gets a fungus, its only a matter of time before the others start to pick it up.
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How To Treat Fungal Nail Effectively
Owing to the high recurrence rate of fungal nail infections, pharmacy professionals should be able to advise patients on effective treatment and preventative and appropriate self-care strategies to avoid re-infection.
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Fungal nail infection is a mycotic infection caused by fungal invasion of the nail structure and is one of the most common nail disorders, representing half of nail abnormalities in adults. Its prevalence in Europe is around 4.3% over all age groups and 15.5% of all nail dystrophies in children. OM is more commonly diagnosed in men and older people, affecting 2050% of people aged over 60 years. An increased incidence among older people may be attributed to multiple factors, including reduced peripheral circulation, diabetes, inactivity, relative immunosuppression, and reduced nail growth and quality. Toenails are affected more commonly than fingernails.
This article will cover the causes, types and treatment of OM, practical information to help guide patient consultations and when to refer to podiatry.
The Initial Causes Can Nail Salons Treat Fungus
If you suspect that your nails are infected with fungus, it is best to consult your doctor and get a diagnosis. Your doctor will ask you about the symptoms and conduct a thorough examination of your nails. A biopsy is required to determine the cause of the infection. Various types of fungus are found in the skin, including the toenails. Among the most common forms of nail fungus are yellow and black, with white patches surrounded by dark brown or white spots.
The infection is caused by fungus. It can spread to the skin and other parts of the body. It is very common to find a nail fungus on the foot in elderly people, and it is often not treated until the condition gets worse. The disease can even be spread to the skin. The afflicted person should see a doctor immediately if they notice any changes in the color of his or her nails.
Nail fungus can occur in the toenails. The infection occurs due to a variety of factors, including excessive moisture, soaking your hands in water, and a lack of hygiene. If the afflicted person is prone to infection, the fungus will grow in the toenails and may spread to other parts of the body. Consequently, it is essential to prevent the nail fungus from spreading to the skin
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Can You Really Pick Up Infections Or Nail Fungus At Salons
You can. Anytime your nails are getting wet, cut or filedor your cuticles are being trimmedit is an opportunity for bacteria and fungi to get in under the nail.
Both bacteria and fungi can cause nail infections and are very common in the environment. You can easily pick up a nail fungus, for example, at a swimming pool, from the gym floor, the dirt outside or even from a family member.
Nail Removal Home Remedies And Laser Treatment
In the most serious instances of toenail fungus infection, the toenail may be removed surgically or dissolved with acid. This can be done to just a portion of the nail in the hope that the remaining nail will grow back healthy. In cases where the entire toenail has to be removed, artificial nails and products using light-cured resins to form a temporary covering can be used to protect the underlying tissue until the nail grows back.
If you prefer to go the home-remedy route, such as applying tea tree oil or Vicks VapoRub to your nails, keep in mind that the effectiveness of these products for treating toenail fungus hasnt been well studied, and they are not recommended by podiatrists.
Finally, the Food and Drug Administration has approved several laser devices for temporary increase in clear nails in patients with onychomycosis. But while laser treatments are vigorously marketed, clinical trials of lasers have reported mixed results, and the treatments may not be covered by health insurance. If you wish to try laser treatment of toenail fungus, speak to your doctor about what to expect from the treatment, and call your insurance carrier to find out whether the treatment will be covered.
Additional reporting by Susan Jara.
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Can I Get A Pedicure If I Have Toenail Fungus
Truthfully, people do it all the timemost of the time because they don’t even know they have the fungus. The experts we spoke to can identify it pretty easily though and might draw your attention to it. “If someone were to have a foot fungus, we’ll ask them, ‘Have you noticed your toenails looking different?'” Barb said. “We can’t diagnose them, but we can refer them to a podiatrist.”
A pedicure probably won’t hurt you if you already have a toenail fungus. But if you’re aware of the issue, you might want to alert the staff ahead of time. That way, they can be sure to fully sterilize the equipment after you use it. In some cases, they may even ask you to bring your own disposable tools for the job.
Don’t be worried about a tiny bit of discoloration, though. “As far as yellow toenails, that’s usually from polish,” says Barb. “We’ll tell them how to take care of it.”
Avoid Having Damp Feet
Always ensure your feet are completely dry after youve bathed them in the foot basin and certainly before putting on shoes.
If not, the damp, enclosed space will be a perfect area for bacteria to thrive in, and fungus will start to grow between your feet and around your nails.
A good pedicurist will dry your feet completely before she paints your nail, including between the toes.
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Get Rid Of Fungal Toenails Once And For All
Foras easy as it is to develop this problem, getting rid of it can actually bemore of a hassle than you might think. In fact, when left untreated, toenailfungus can be hard to eradicate once the fungus has found its way underneaththe nail, it will fight for its new home. So its important that you get propertreatment as soon as you notice anything amiss.
Withregard to fungal toenail treatment, there are a couple of different options. Wecan discuss these together and determine which is best for you. They include:
- Topicalmedications,which are used to treat the condition from the outside, often as a polishapplied to the surface of infected nails.
- Oralmedications,which are delivered via bloodstream to the area and work to eradicate theoffensive fungus from the inside out.
Often,we use a combination of the two treatments in order to target the source of theinfection both from the inside and from the outside.
What Causes Nail Fungus
Onychomycosis is a condition that causes your nail to become discolored, thickened, and cracked. Nail fungus can be caused by various factors, but the most common cause of scrapes and cuts around the nails. Mild nail fungus cases can typically be cured with simple at home remedies. However, if you are experiencing a lot of pain, then it is recommended to seek a professional for treatment.
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Get Pampered Without Worrying About Infection
Whenyou visit a nail salon, it is essential that you inspect the establishmentscleanliness, observe their practices, and make sure all personnel have theproper licensure.
Morespecifically, you can reduce your risk of contamination at a salon with thefollowing tips:
- Book the earliest possible appointment. The equipment at a salon is often cleanest first thing in the morning, so try to schedule your appointment for the earliest time possible.
- Keep a critical mindset when evaluating cleanliness. Once at the salon, take the time to check out the floors, chairs, and soaking tubs for cleanliness. Seeing dirty surfaces and dingy water? Turn around and head out the door. If a salon is not committed to a clean environment, they are not likely committed to your health and safety.
- Observe the processes used by technicians and staff. Pay attention to the disinfection practices salon employees are actually performing. If a tool is dropped, do they pick it up and continue using it without sanitizing first? That kind of action is enough cause to take your business elsewhere.
- Dont be afraid to ask questions. In the event you arent sure exactly what the nail technicians are doing to sanitize their tools and avoid cross-contamination, ask. If they are following appropriate practices, you will get a straight response.
Is Toenail Fungus Really Such A Problem
If youre thinking you can just live with it, we dont advise letting toenail fungus go untreated. Its an insidious problem, and without treatment, you have to deal with the discomfort of the nail as well as feeling self-conscious about its unsightliness.
If you let a nail fungus infection go for too long, several problems emerge. The infected nail can become misshapen and increasingly separated from your nail bed. Itching and pain are unpleasant side effects if theyre too severe, you can have trouble wearing shoes or walking.
You need to be especially attentive to treating toenail fungus if your immune system is compromised. If youre living with diabetes, its critical not to ignore the fungus. Even a mild infection like this can snowball into something more serious, like cellulitis, a severe bacterial skin infection.
Another problem is that untreated fungus eventually can spread to either neighboring toenails or to the skin of your foot, causing athletes foot. Possibly the worst outcome of untreated nail fungus is needing to have your nail surgically removed.
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Best Ways To Treat A Nail Fungus
Nail fungus can cause thick, discolored nails, and, for some patients, it can even be painful. An Internet search will bring up plenty of ways to treat the condition, but which ones are best? Dermatologist Dr. Christopher Hull discusses what nail fungus actually is, why its so hard to get rid of, and which treatments work best.
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What Is The Most Effective Treatment For Toenail Fungus
The most effective toenail fungus treatment for you will largely depend on your symptoms and situation. Your provider will consider several factors before recommending a treatment plan thats customized to you.
Overall, oral antifungal medications may offer the most treatment potential. Pairing oral drugs with topical antifungal medication may make treatment more effective.
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Topical Treatments And Oral Therapy Cant Always Do The Job Laser Therapy Can
Nail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the fungal infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. It can affect several nails. Factors that contribute to becoming infected include poor personal hygiene, walking barefoot in public places, not drying off after baths or exercise and having a weakened immune system.
Nail Fungus Treatment Richmond Hill
Laser nail fungus treatment is a popular treatment performed at Mederm Esthetics & Laser. About 10 percent of people suffer from nail fungus around the world. In fact, toenail fungus is more common than fingernail fungus. In terms of how to spot it, your toenails will appear thick, yellow or stained, and you might experience discomfort when walking. Other symptoms that you can experience are nails with white spots, nails that are brittle, and nails with yellow streaks.
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Clean Socks And Shoes
Regularly changing your socks and shoes can also cut down on the growth of unwanted foot fungus. Both socks and athletic shoes can also be washed in hot water to rid the growth of yeasts and fungi that may be growing on the fabric. Some shoes can be machine dried. Drying shoes in the sun is another option when cleaning footwear.
Adding a half-cup of baking soda or one cup of vinegar to the washing machine can help eliminate bacteria or fungus on socks or shoes.
Boots and other footwear that are not machine washable could be wiped out with a vinegar and water solution or sprayed with an over-the-counter antifungal spray. Medicated powders are also helpful in treating shoes for foot fungus.
Allowing the feet to breathe by taking off shoes and socks when possible can prevent fungal growth. Protect your feet by wearing breathable footwear and clean socks. Antimicrobial socks and shoes made from bamboo, copper, or specialty fabrics are also available. They can help reduce unwanted bacteria and yeast from growing in your footwear.
A proactive approach to keeping your feet clean and dry can prevent the spread of toenail fungus. You can wash or soak feet with warm soapy water or a foot bath using everyday household items. Soaking your feet in an all-natural, homeopathic concoction can be beneficial in reducing or eliminating toenail fungus.
Why Is My Toenail Black
You might have dealt with a fungus that causes yellow toenails or white toenails, but discovering a black toenail can be a bit alarming.
Unless you remember that you stubbed your toe recently, youre probably wondering how you got it and what it means.
There are a few reasons why your toenail is turning black or has black spots on it. Most dont impact your overall health much, but some types of black toenails should definitely be checked out by your doctor as soon as possible.
Here are some reasons for a black toenail, how to treat it, and the ways you can prevent it.
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Natural Remedies For Nail Fungus
If your toe or fingernails have ever turned crusty and dark, and the symptoms seem to linger forever, then you know what it is to have nail fungus. While not usually dangerous, it can be very annoying and painful in some cases, in addition to being hard to treat. Lets take a look at some of the particulars of this relatively common fungal infection and some essential natural remedies for nail fungus.
Antifungal Nail Polish For Yellow Toenails
What is Yellow Toenail Fungus? Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis or tinea unguium, is an infection of the toenail bed and underlying plate. Fungus feeds off the protein keratin found in nail tissue, which can cause the yellowing of the nail. The more discolored the nail, the more progressive the infection.
To prevent toenail fungus and yellow toenails you should:
- Trim your toenails straight across so that the nail does not extend beyond the tip of the toe. The tip of the nail is the most vulnerable to infection.
- Dry your feet thoroughly after you get out of the shower or bath.
- Never go barefoot when showering in a public use facility such as a gym or spa. Always where shower shoes or spa slippers.
- Sweaty feet are at an increased risk of contracting toenail fungus. Keep the inside of your shoes dry and free of bacteria by wearing moisture wicking socks and sprinkling your feet and the inside of your shoes with antibacterial foot powder.
- When getting a professional pedicure it is best to bring your own nail tools to minimize the risk of infection. Use only licensed and accredited nail salons and ask questions about the salons sterilization practices before making your appointment.
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