Prevention And Treatment Of Toenail Fungus
Once its taken hold, toenail fungus can be hard to kick. Here are some techniques for the prevention and treatment of toenail fungus.
Anyone who enjoys wearing open-toed sandals in the summer knows how good it feels to have healthy-looking toenails. But good looks arent the only reason to keep your toenails in top shape. Fungal infections of the toenails also known as onychomycosis don’t go away on their own, and if left untreated, the fungus will spread and can eventually destroy the nail.
If you have comprised blood flow, theres even more reason to safeguard your toenails, since youll have trouble healing, says Ami Sheth, a doctor of podiatric medicine in Los Gatos, California, and a spokesperson for the American Podiatric Medical Association. And once you have a wound, you can get fungal skin infections, which can lead to a subsequent bacterial infection if the skin breaks down, notes Dr. Sheth.
However, because toenail fungal infections are typically painless, people are often unaware that they have a problem unless they are inspecting their feet regularly.
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When To See A Doctor
Most nail fungal infections will clear up on their own or in combination with home remedies. But its a good idea to visit a doctor for an antifungal prescription if home remedies arent effective or if its causing you serious discomfort.
People who are immunosuppressed may also want to visit their doctor for treatment to avoid developing a more serious infection.
Here are some ways you can prevent fungal infections with acrylic nails:
- Get your nails put on at a reputable salon that follows good hygiene habits.
- Dry your nails well after bathing or swimming.
- Keep your hands dry as much as possible.
- If youre prone to fungal infection, consider using an antifungal spray or powder on your nails.
- Avoid putting sharp objects under your nails.
Other potential risks of acrylic nails include the following:
A Pharmacist Can Help With Fungal Nail Infections
Speak to a pharmacist if the look of your nail bothers you or it’s painful.
They may suggest:
- antifungal nail cream it can take up to 12 months to cure the infection and does not always work
- nail-softening cream it’s used for 2 weeks to soften the nail so the infected part can be scraped off
The infection is cured when you see healthy nail growing back at the base.
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How Does Nail Fungus Occur
You should be able to get a clear picture of the nail fungus that occurs. The artificial acrylic nails are usually attached to the natural nails by gluing them with nail glue.
The nail fungus can grow between the natural and artificial nails, causing the natural nails to either change color, thicken or rip.
Can Nail Fungus Heal On Its Own
After what we have discussed, the answer to this question is no.
You should not be leaving your nail fungus to heal for itself, because this only provides the infection more time to become more engrained in your skin and build roots that are going to be harder for you to get rid of.
Even when nail fungal infections do not seem painful or even bothersome at the beginning, it is important that you realize the dangers that not treating the infection can cause.
Instead of hiding it under your socks or closed-toe shoes, you have to see a doctor that will prescribe you the appropriate treatment.
If you get the infection looked at in its earlier stages, it is possible for you to be cured of the fungus with only topical applications of anti-fungal creams.
However, the more you delay it, the more the chances that you will be prescribed courses of antibiotics that can make you feel sick and nauseous.
If you delay the treatment for longer, then you risk losing your nail and the neighboring nails altogether, or worse, having the infection spread to other parts of your body.
Once the infection has spread to your bloodstream, you are risking your life for an infection that could have been easily taken care of if you had paid attention to it sooner.
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Are Mycotic Nails Contagious
Fungal infections are contagious. They can be passed from person to person. Its important to do what you can to keep from passing on your infection. Take some preventative steps, including:
- Keeping your feet away from other people.
- Not sharing a shower stall without cleaning it first.
- Wearing shoes in locker rooms and other communal spaces.
Can Toenail Fungus Spread Internally If Not Treated
The slightest sign of toenail fungus e.g. minor discoloration must not be ignored. Ignoring toenail fungus could prove to be very costly in a short time. Many people tend to ignore it because it can seem really insignificant.
The dangers of neglecting toenail fungus infection include:
Foot pain: an untreated toenail fungus infection can quickly deteriorate into thick, brittle, and crumbly nails which could be very painful. In this situation, it can become quite difficult to walk especially when wearing shoes.
Fast spread: toenail fungus can quickly spread to surrounding skin and other nails if not treated promptly. The spread of this infection could result in a skin condition called athletes foot. This condition is characterized by red, itchy, and cracked skin. Untreated toenail fungus can also become jock itch when it spreads to the genitals.
Widespread infection: for people with underlying health issues, toenail fungus infection can quickly spread to the skin where it can cause a crack hence opening the skin for bacteria infection. This can become deadly when it enters the bloodstream hence toenail fungus must be treated promptly.
Lower quality of life: toenail fungal infections are not life-threatening for most people but could however greatly impact the quality of life if left untreated.
Treatments
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Nail Fungus Treatment : Can Nail Fungus Heal On Its Own
With all the activities you have to do in your day to day lives, it can be easy to ignore signs of nail fungus.
You may simply not have the time to get something as minor as some nail discoloration checked up.
Can nail fungus heal on its own? Its rare and it probably can never go away completely without intervention.
However, its better to be safe than sorry and not assume that you can get away without proper treatment.
Can Toenail Fungus Go Away On Its Own
Without the proper treatment, it cannot go away on its own. There are many different options available, both via doctors or podiatrists and over the counter. Unless you cant walk or stand on your foot because of the infection, health insurances wont cover the cost. They consider it a cosmetic condition unless a doctor says otherwise.
If you have the money, doctors can help by treating the fungus with lasers, or by giving you an oral medication to help to get rid of the fungal infection. They dont like to give oral medicines because they can cause very bad side effects.
There are many other treatments that you can use at home, and they work very well. There are foot soaks, creams, polishes, and complete systems that will not only kill the fungus but will also heal your nail and will enable you to keep your toe healthy.
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Is It Safe To Get A Pedicure If I Have Onychomycosis
A pedicure will cause no further harm if you already have a fungal nail infection. Some professional pampering may even make you feel more relaxed about yourself and your foot hygiene during the long process of eliminating a toenail fungus. Its a good idea to tell the nail salon about your fungal infection before you arrive. That way, theyll be prepared to carefully disinfect the tools used on your nails. Dont be embarrassed. They see a lot of foot fungus. Some salons may request that clients bring their own nail care kit, including nail clippers, trimmers, files, and even a small towel. If you bring your own kit, be sure to clean, disinfect, and thoroughly dry everything when you get home.
Forego nail polish, lacquer, and gel or acrylic nail application while treating your fungal infection. Your nails need time to breathe! All these applied products act to trap fungus beneath the nail and make it worse. Its also impossible for you to monitor the progress of your nail treatment and new growth.
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How Are Mycotic Nails Diagnosed
Your healthcare provider will likely diagnose your mycotic nail by looking at it and asking about your symptoms. Some tests might be necessary. Healthcare providers take a nail clipping and either look at it under a microscope then or send it to a laboratory. The lab will do a fungal culture to check for and identify any fungus.
How To Get Rid Of Nail Fungus
The nail fungus that appears on the artificial acrylic nails may not be as life-threatening. However, if not taken seriously, it may result in the fungus spreading into the natural nails.
This could lead to inflammation, itching, and pain and a cosmetically unpleasant natural nail appearance.
Some people may grow accustomed to ignoring symptoms, making it easier for the infection to spread. Hence, you should always seek immediate care upon noticing early signs.
There is also the home treatment for nail fungus from fake acrylic nails. These include the following:
After this is done, remove the nail. Do not put on another one if you suspect an allergic reaction to the nails.
Always clean any excess nail glue using both warm water and a nail sponge
If you notice any infesting fungus, get rid of them using home remedies such as tea tree oil, baking soda solution, apple cider vinegar, or mouthwash.
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How Did I Get A Toenail Fungus Infection
There are circumstances that may leave you particularly susceptible to a fungus infection. Age is certainly a factor, and older people with poor circulation to the feet or who have diabetes are at heightened risk. In general, everyone should be vigilant about foot protection in environments that nurture fungi, such as locker rooms, swimming pool areas, and public showers. Get in the habit of wearing shower shoes or flip-flops and wash and disinfect them thoroughly when you get home. The absence of infection will be your proof that good foot hygiene habits work.
If you suspect you have a toenail fungus infection, your first course of action should be to see your doctor, who will diagnose the type and severity of the infection and the best course of treatment, up to and including blood tests. Your doctor may also refer you to a dermatologist or podiatrist. There are many oral and topical treatment options available and your health care professional will prescribe the most effective to address your fungal infection. One possibility of many is laser treatment, which has proven safe and effective against most cases of toenail fungus. Clear nail growth has been shown to emerge after the first laser treatment session.
Why Wont My Toenail Fungus Go Away
Now that its sandal season, youre probably going to be showing off your toenails a little more, and yellowish nails can leave you feeling self-conscious about toenail fungus. While toenail fungus may not seem like an immediate concern, youre going to want to take proactive treatment because its unlikely that the fungus will go away on its own. Today, we take a look at some of the ways you can treat lingering toenail fungus.
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What Causes Fungal Nail
Fungal nail is most commonly caused by a group of fungi called dermatophytes which infect the nail and the nail bed. It is highly contagious and transmitted in places like shower cubicles, swimming pools and changing rooms where people are barefoot. Toenail fungus can also be transferred in nail salons where the same nail accessories are used for many customers. Furthermore, nail trauma can also increase the chances of developing a fungal nail infection.
What Are Mycotic Nails
A mycotic nail is a fungal infection that affects your toenails or fingernails. It separates your nail from your nail bed, making it thick and fragile. It may change colors. The word mycotic means an infection with a fungus or a disease caused by a fungus. Mycotic nails are also known as onychomycosis.
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How Did I Get Fingernail Fungus
Fingernail fungus is caused by a variety of yeasts, fungi, and mold but the most common culprit is a fungus called dermatophyte. Dermatophytes are fungi that require keratin to grow, and this fungus can be present in animals, people, soil, and infected materials like clothes.
Incredibly, this fungus can live in the environment for up to 15 months! So its no wonder people have such a hard time getting rid of it. According to the Mayo Clinic, the following are common risk factors for developing nail fungus…1
Essential Oils From Plants
With this product, they come in a variety of forms from various plant species.
You can, for instance, use different essential oils like lavender, olive, and jojoba oil.
These natural oils have great antifungal, antiseptic and antibacterial properties that eliminate the fungus.
These oils have been proven to be effective for treating acrylic nail fungus. For over-the-counter options, you can try to use these over the countermeasures for treatment: Fungavir, Nail-RX, Fungi nix, and Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Antifungal Solution.
They work well and without causing any side effects for the treatment of acrylic nail fungus.As it is always said, prevention is often better than cure.
You can prevent contracting acrylic nail fungus infection by going to a nail salon with a spotless environment and well-sterilized equipment.
When you see one of your acrylic nail liftings or is not fitted well on your fingertip, glue it back immediately to keep dry.
Prepare yourself always and take a glue stick with you in your handbag in case of such emergencies.
Important to note!
Never try acrylic nails if you are in a profession requiring your attention and having your hands wet most of the time.
Repeated contact with water weakens the glue used to attach the artificial nails, and the nails lift in the long run.
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How Is A Fungal Rash Diagnosed
A healthcare provider may be able to diagnose a fungal rash by looking at it and asking about your symptoms. Many times, the diagnosis can be confirmed by examining scrapings of the scale under the microscope . In some cases, you may need a fungal culture test to identify a specific fungus and help determine the best treatment for you.
During a fungal culture test, your provider may take a small sample of skin or fluid . For severe infections, you may need a blood test.
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What Causes Fungal Nail Infections
Fungal nail infections are caused by the infiltration of the nail bed and nail plate by a fungus. While there are many types of fungus, including those that naturally move through the air outside, the kind of fungus that causes nail infections is most often spread through direct contact with someone that is infected. These infections are often picked up in public pool areas, changing rooms, public showers and gyms because fungus thrives in warm and moist environments.
The fungus feeds on the keratin within your nails, which causes the damaged appearance. This means that once you have an infection, your sneakers and work boots can be an ideal space for the infection to grow and spread so the earlier you start treating the infection, the easier it is.
Signs that you may have nail fungus include:
- A white or yellow discolouration or streaking of the nails
- Rougher nail ridges or thickened nails
- Crumbling, flaky or brittle nails
- The nail may start to lift up and come away at the end
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