Causes Of Toenail Fungus
Your toenails are frequently being exposed to the pathogen that causes fungal infections.
In fact, fungus and bacteria can be found almost anywhere, from public pools and locker rooms to the inside of your own shoes warm, damp, and dark places are the perfect environment for fungus to thrive. And when it finds a home in which to fester, the fungus begins to damage the keratin in the nail and, in severe cases, even cause debilitating pain.
However, fungal toenails can also develop in other ways in some cases, the fungus is contracted after an initial injury to the nail bed. Something as simple as a stubbed toe or an ingrown toenail can make the area more susceptible to the development of this condition.
In other cases, toenail fungus is the result of other underlying conditions that may contribute to a person developing infections in general. A good example of this is diabetes if you are living with diabetes, then you are already at a higher risk of infection, so when fungi comes into the picture, it is likely to take hold of the nail quite quickly.
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Natural Ways To Deal With Nail Fungus
Fight the funk.
This article was written by Hallie Levine and provided by our partners at Prevention.
That pedicure you shelled out big bucks for may have left you with an unwelcome gift: onychomycosis, otherwise known as nail fungus. Or maybe it’s a souvenir from the shared showers at your gym or your barefoot walks around the public pool. Although it starts innocuously enough, as a white or yellow spot underneath your finger or toenail, your nail can start to thicken and even crumble as the fungus penetrates deeper and deeper. Ick. And fungus is more likely to appear and persist in your toenails because your tootsies are often confined in the warm, moist environment of your shoes, where these little buggers can thrive.
If you see a dermatologist, you’ll most likely get a prescription for an antifungal oral medication such as Lamisil or Sporanox, which tend to be expensive, don’t always work, and carry side effects ranging from skin rashes to potentially toxic liver damage. “That’s not pleasant, which is why so many people look for a drug-free alternative,” says Joe Graedon, a pharmacologist at the UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy at Chapel Hill and author of The People’s Pharmacy. There are newer topical treatments, such as Kerydin, but they also require a prescription and can take up to a year to work. Here are some of Graedon’s top drug-free remedies for toenail fungus.
How Effective Are Topical Treatments
So far, only a few studies have looked into topical nail fungus treatments with nail polishes or creams. Because these studies had weaknesses, the results should be interpreted with caution. Amorolfine has not yet been well studied. Ciclopirox polish and treatment sets with urea and bifonazole cream were tested in a few studies.
Research on the effectiveness of nail polish containing ciclopirox showed that, after one year:
- About 10 out of 100 people who did not use ciclopirox no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
- About 32 out of 100 people who used ciclopirox no longer had a detectable fungal nail infection.
In other words, treatment with ciclopirox got rid of the fungal infection in about 22 out of 100 people. But even if the fungus had gone away, the cosmetic result wasnt always satisfying. The nails only looked healthy after treatment in 7 out of 100 people.
Treatment with sets containing urea and bifonazole cream was tested in one study. It was compared with a treatment in which only urea cream was applied and the nail was removed, but without applying bifonazole cream afterwards. Three months after treatment was completed, it was found that:
- No fungus was visible or detectable in about 41 out of 100 people who only used urea cream.
- No fungus was visible or detectable in about 51 out of 100 people who used both urea and bifonazole cream.
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How To Treat Fingernail Fungus
Fact Checked
Fingernail fungus occurs when fungi or bacteria enter the nail bed 1. This can occur either through a crack or break in the cuticles or nail plate, or it could be the result of bacteria inside the body. Fingernail fungus is characterized by thick, yellow and cracked nail beds and can be embarrassing. There are steps you can take to cure a fingernail fungus, but the cure can take time. According to Dr. David Nelson, an orthopedic surgeon, it can take months before the fingernail fungus improves or disappears. There are prescriptions to treat fingernail fungus, but these come with high price tags and adverse side effects. There are several simple, at-home solutions for curing a fingernail fungus.
Purchase an over-the-counter cream with clotrimazole in it. Clotrimazole has antifungal properties that will destroy the fungus. Apply the cream to the affected nail. Rub it deeply into the cuticles, the top of the nail plate and as far under the nail bed as you can get it. Repeat this process, morning and night, until you see results.Clotrimazole treatment is a favorite of Dr. Nelson, and he recommends it to his patients suffering from fingernail fungus.
Avoid wearing nail polish while you are treating your fingernail fungus. This will help speed the healing process, and allow the antifungal agent to work effectively.
Tips
Warnings
Soak In Listerine And White Vinegar
The combination of Listerines antifungal ingredients and vinegars acidity makes an inhospitable environment for fungi. This treatment is effective for green nails which may have whats called atypical organisms, says Dr. Goldenberg. If you have true toenail fungus, its less likely to work, though.
How to use it: Combine the two in equal portions and soak your toes in the solution, ideally for 45 to 60 minutes daily.
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Aloe Vera And Tea Tree Oil To Make Hand Fungus Cream
You can also make a very effective moisturizing healing hand cream for hand fungus with aloe vera.
Aloe vera is well-known for its amazing properties to heal damaged skin. For example, aloe vera is a great natural remedy for burned skin. However, aloe vera is also full of antioxidants and antimicrobials that have antifungal properties.
According to research into the antifungal use of aloe vera, the journal Oman Medical Journal reported that aloe vera can destroy fungi and treat fungal infections. It was found that aloe vera has antifungal properties and contain enzymes, nutrients, and minerals that benefit the skin.13
How to use aloe vera for hand fungus
The best way to use aloe vera as a natural hand fungus remedy is to add a few drops of tea tree oil to it. Here is how to make your own antifungal ointment at home:
The best kind of aloe vera gel to use is the kind with as few added ingredients as possible. Alternatively, you can squeeze the flesh from an aloe vera leaf and apply that directly to your hands as a natural moisturizer.
Cure Nail Fungus Fast
Their ideal nesting place is a dark, wet, and warm environment.
However, you would not have to be troubled about this one.Wash and rinse your feet well, and confirm theyre completely dry before putting on your socks and finishing your dressing. Cure Nail Fungus Fast Wash and rinse your feet well, and confirm theyre completely dry before putting on your socks and finishing your dressing.Even if you have a slight an infection, some of the topical therapies listed, corresponding to using anti-fungal sprays and creams, may be beneficial.
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What Is Hydrogen Peroxide
Hydrogen Peroxide is a naturally-occurring compound used primarily as an antiseptic to kill bacteria and other organisms. Although it is toxic to cells, Hydrogen Peroxide is naturally produced in small amounts in the body as a defense against microorganisms. Available without a prescription, Hydrogen Peroxide is used to disinfect surfaces, small cuts, and scrapes, or treat acne. Hydrogen Peroxide is used in cosmetics to bleach hair or to whiten teeth.
As a surface or instrument disinfectant, Hydrogen Peroxide is used in a wide variety of products. In general, 3% Hydrogen Peroxide is used in the home and 30% or more Hydrogen Peroxide in clinical or industrial applications.
3% Hydrogen Peroxide can be used to disinfectant skin surfaces. At one time, Hydrogen Peroxide was widely used to disinfect cuts, scrapes, and burns. However, Hydrogen Peroxide interferes with the healing process by killing new skin cells, so it is no longer advised for disinfecting wounds.
At one time, Hydrogen Peroxide was a popular treatment for acne because it killed bacteria. Again, however, Hydrogen Peroxide interferes with the healing process making acne scars more likely, so it is no longer advised for use against acne.
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Your Options For Treating Toenail Fungus
If you think you may have toenail fungus, you should see a podiatrist or dermatologist, who will send a specimen or a piece of your nail to a lab. Different types of fungus are treated slightly differently, so its important to know which type you have, says Sundling.
Also, sometimes the root of the problem is not a fungus at all, but rather another condition, or some kind of trauma to the nail bed for instance, if you dropped something on your toe. There is no treatment for toenail trauma, but removing the nail may be an option if the nail is painful.
If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options:
Stop This Skin Infection In Its Tracks With These Over
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Verywell / Sabrina Jiang
Toenail fungus is a common fungal condition that often starts after a rash on the foot spreads to the nails. When mild, it looks like white and yellow spots growing under the nail beds. But if left untreated, the fungus can grow severely by hardening the nails and spreading to other toes.
The fungus often begins in the form of athlete’s foot between the toes or on the soles of the feet. At this stage, the fungal infection is easier to treat with over-the-counter medication. But Shari Lipner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medicine, told Verywell Health toenail fungus can be difficult to treat because of how slow the nails grow. The more severe the toenail fungus, the thicker the nail, and the more nails involved makes it that much harder to treat the nails even with effective therapies, she says.
Diagnosing the fungal infection early is key to make treatments effective. Dr. Lipner recommends visiting a board-certified dermatologist to properly treat the infection if it grows to be too severe.
Here are a few of the best over-the-counter toenail fungus treatments on the market.
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Can Athletes Foot Spread To Hands
Yes, athleteâs foot can spread to the hands. In fact, according to Dr. Carol DerSarkissian on WebMD, athleteâs foot can spread if you scratch the itch on your foot and then touch other parts of your body.17 This is sometimes called the âtwo feet-one hand syndromeâ and it is thought to be the principal way that tinea manuum develops.5
Question 5question 5 Of : What Causes Foot Fungus
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How To Prevent Hand Fungus
- Use the medicine completely and as recommended. The fungus may still be present long after it is no longer visible as a rash.
- Keep feet clean, cool and dry. Change socks. Wear shoes that breathe like leather, rather than plastic.
- Make sure shoes fit correctly and are not too tight.
- Apply an anti-fungal cream, like Lotrimin or Lamisil, or a prescription antifungal cream to the bottom of the feet, and on the nails, about twice a week.
- Avoid walking barefoot, especially in bathrooms, locker rooms, gyms, on carpeting, and in public bathing areas.
- Keep toenails short, cut straight across and avoid ingrown nails.
Sources:Hand Fungus, Hx Benefit website, October 12, 2017 Hand Fungus, Health Blogger website, September 26, 2017 Malone, S., Hand Fungus, Hand Fungus, Healthool website
Softening And Scraping Away The Nail
As it can take a long time for antifungal medication to work, some people may prefer to use a treatment that involves softening and removing infected parts of nail over a few weeks.
Treatment kits are available from pharmacies that contain a 40% urea paste, plasters and a scraping device. The paste softens the infected parts of the nail, allowing them to be scraped away so they can be gradually replaced with healthy nail.
To use the treatment:
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What Are Common Side Effects Of Psoriasis Medication
There are a variety of medication types and drug classes used to treat psoriasis. This means that side effects can vary greatly depending on your lifestyle and other medications youre taking. This is not a full list and you should discuss any possible side effects with your healthcare professional.
Some of the most common side effects of psoriasis medication include:
- Application site redness
- Stinging
What Is The New Pill For Psoriasis
The most recent developments in psoriasis medication tend to be related to injections and newer injectable treatments. A few new treatments have received FDA approval in 2017 and 2018 after completing clinical trials. However, two oral medications Otezla and Xeljanz have recently become available as oral treatments for psoriasis. Otezla is recommended by doctors and dermatologists for plaque psoriasis whereas Xeljanz is typically being recommended for psoriatic arthritis.
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Tips For Prevention Of Fungal Nails
Nail fungus causes only 50% of abnormal-appearing nails. It can be hard to tell the difference between the different causes of discolored nails . Onychomycosis is often not treated. Reasons to receive treatment include
No one knows where a specific person catches the fungus, as it is everywhere. However, since the fungus does thrive in warm moist areas , there are certain areas one should avoid or use with caution. Shower floors, locker rooms, and swimming pools are suspected of being sources of the fungus, although there are no studies proving this fact. Nail polish and acrylic nails also make the nail less “breathable” and make the nail more susceptible to fungal infection. Fungi are everywhere — in the air, the dust, and the soil. Hygienic measures such as spraying socks and footgear sound sensible, and perhaps these measures can even help a little bit. However, avoiding tight, nonbreathing shoes or steering clear of athletic facility floors may very well be the best prevention available. Daily washing of the feet and drying between the toes can help to prevent nail fungus. The fungi carried on the coats of pets, like cats and dogs, don’t often cause nail fungus. Wearing white socks does not help.