Keep Your Feet Dry To Treat Toenail Fungus
As we discussed toenail fungus is caused by bacteria. These bacteria prefer a damp environment to thrive, therefore it is essential to keep the feet dry all day long. If you keep your feet dry and clean, it will help in discouraging bacteria to multiply. For this, take the below listed precautions.
Suggestions:
- After taking bath, do remember to dry your feet properly. You can dry your feet with a clean and dry towel, tissue.
- Clean especially between the toes.
- You can use hair dryer also to dry the feet.
- Dry feet will discourage fungus from multiplying and further worsening the situation.
What Happens If I Dont Treat Toenail Fungus
According to Dr. Wagenseller, In many cases, it is not necessary to treat toenail fungus, and the condition is more often a cosmetic concern. If the appearance of your toenails is your biggest concern, you may want to forego medications that can have serious side effects. If the fungal infection is more serious and you notice a foul-smelling discharge or other signs of infection, treatment is necessary to ensure your whole body health and safety. Otherwise, determining whether or not to treat toenail fungus is really a matter of personal preference.
Baking Soda: Can Grandmas Home Remedies Help Against Fungus
Pro: Baking powder can be found in every household and is inexpensive. Some internet portals recommend sprinkling the affected areas with baking soda immediately after showering. The fungus is supposed to be dried out by this. Others mix a sachet of baking powder with a bit of water and then apply the mixture to the nails affected by the fungus.
Cons: The same applies to this treatment variant: There is no scientific evidence of its effectiveness.
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What Are The Treatment Options For Fungal Infections
Infections on your feet or body can be treated with a cream. Since its on the surface, you can treat it with a topical ant-fungal medication.
For fungal infections no longer isolated to a small part of the body , an oral medication is recommended to fully treat the extent of the infection.
Toenail fungus infections are best treated with oral medications. Typically, these medications are about 70% effective and require vigilance in preventing recurrence. Toenail fungus usually disappears within six to twelve months of taking the pill and then require regular cream application to keep it from returning. Using these oral medications intermittently or pulse-dosing can be a way to avoid over exposure to these oral medications.
About 95% of the fungal infections we see as dermatologists are easy to diagnose and treat. Only about 5% require oral medications for deeper infections in the skin.
Cream For Nail Fungus Only The First Step
Nail fungus creams or ointments are useful when it comes to removing fungus-infected nail mass. You can either have the nails affected by the fungus sanded down or treat them yourself with high-dose urea ointment. This makes the nail more permeable for external therapy. But be careful: only use the creams on a thickened nail, no longer on a crumbly, porous one. The removal of the infected nail mass alone is not enough, however, as the nail fungus can also have settled in and under the healthy-looking nail. In order to avoid reinfection, the treatment should be carried out with a nail polish or an antifungal cream.
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How Do Dermatologists Diagnose Nail Fungus
To find out if a patient has nail fungus, a dermatologist examines your nails and nearby skin. Its important to check the skin because the fungus can spread. You may already have a skin infection caused by fungus like athletes foot.
To get rid of the infection, you will need to treat all infected areas.
Before giving you the diagnosis, your dermatologist may also take some samples. Collecting a bit of debris from beneath a nail, trimming off part your nail, or scraping off a bit of skin can be very helpful. In a lab, these samples can be examined under a microscope to find out whats causing the problem.
Are you hiding an infected nail with nail polish?
Be sure to ask your dermatologist if you can wear nail polish while treating nail fungus.
The Most Common Types Of Nail Fungus
The most common type of nail fungus is known as distal subungual onychomycosis, and is caused by a fungi known as a dermatophyte, says Dr. Chen. It can show up on fingernails or toenails, and manifests as a yellow-ish area on the nail that can ultimately lead to splitting, crumbling, or even separation of the nail from the skin as it gets worse, she says. Its also worth noting that this is the same fungi that causes athletes foot, a fungal infection that can spread from the skin to the nail, adds Dr. Stern.
White superficial onychomycosis is the second most common it leads to white spots on the surface of the nail, which can ultimately spread to resemble a white chalky powder covering the entire nail, says Chen.
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Tea Tree Oil And Olive Oil As A Remedy For Toenail Fungus Treatment
Tea tree oil is known to be a great anti bacterial agent. Tea tree oil helps to put a stop on the fungus from infecting and growing in numbers. On the other hand, olive oil helps to alleviate the tough skin caused due to toenail fungus. It is also a powerful antiseptic agent. Tea tree oil is alos effective in treating eczema, warts, fungus and many other skin ailment.
Procedure:
- Mix same amount of both tea tree oil and olive oil.
- Clean the infected area properly and pat dry it.
- Apply the mixture on the affected area.
- The olive oil helps tea tree oil by making the affected skin surface softer, which lets the tea tree oil get absorbed easily.
- Apply this mixture 2 times in a day to get rid of toenail fungus.
- It is one of the best home remedies for toenail fungus.
Accurate Diagnosis Should Be First Step In Treating Nail Fungus
NEW YORK Board-certified dermatologist can evaluate condition, recommend treatment
- If you get a manicure or pedicure at a salon, make sure the staff sterilizes its equipment. Dont shave your legs for at least 24 hours before a pedicure, as this may cause nicks and breaks in the skin that could lead to infection.
- Because fungus can thrive in warm, moist environments, wear breathable socks, and use flip-flops at public pools, gyms, locker rooms and showers.
- If you notice symptoms of a fungal infection in any of your nails or your feet , see a board-certified dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment to prevent the disease from spreading onto other nails or to other members of your household.
Nail fungus can be an embarrassing problem, but you shouldnt be embarrassed to discuss it with a board-certified dermatologist, who can help you manage this condition, Dr. Lipner says. Dermatologists have the expertise to determine whats causing your nail problem and recommend an appropriate treatment, so see a dermatologist if you have any concerns about your nails.
More Information
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Toenail Fungus Affects Everyone
A toenail fungal infection can be extremely hard to treat but with the potency of bleach can help.
Toenail fungus is medically known as onychomycosis, which affects about 15% of the American population, including myself. Well, I did, but I got rid of it.
If you have toenail fungus then it will be comforting to know that 50% of the people in the podiatrist office are in there for a nail fungal infection.
Bleach can be effective in the battle of fungus. If you are not comfortable using bleach, I wrote an article on how to get rid of toenail fungus naturally.
If you just want to get rid of toenail fungus as fast as possible, I wrote about how I cured fungus on toenails.
# 1 Soaking Feet In Diluted Bleach
One of the most common ways to use bleach for nail fungal infection is in the form of the soak. This is effective because the water dilutes the bleach which makes it less irritating on your skin.
Here is how to do it:
I had a more severe toenail fungal infection so the soaks did not work the best for me.
There are things you can add to the soaks to increase effectiveness.
This includes:
- Oil of oregano
- Other essential oils that fight fungus
There is a foot soak that I personally recommend. It is all natural and contains tea tree oil. If youre interested you can read what some people have said about this foot soak.
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The Podiatrist’s Take On Home Remedies
While home remedies are unlikely to cause any harm in themselves, Dr. Hinkes urges caution when relying on them when looking for how to get rid of toenail fungus. “Resorting to folk remedies can be dangerous because it could keep the patient from getting a legitimate diagnosis and treatment,” he says. “Now in some people, this could be a critical thing, because it can be contagiousyou can pass it to other people and you can pass it to other parts of your body. So it’s really not something you want to fool with.” Dr. Hinkes’ advice is clear: Visit a foot care specialist. This could be a podiatrist, but foot care nurses also offer an excellent and affordable service as an alternative. And if neither of those is available, try a dermatologist. Left untreated, this condition won’t go away on its own and can cause serious pain, deformity, and even lead to further complications. Podiatrists recommend seeking expert helpyou’re better safe than sorry. If you’re desperate, though, try these DIY foot and toenail fungus treatments.
Leather Shoes To Treat Toenail Fungus
You should avoid wearing shoes completely if you have toenail fungus. But if it is unavoidable, prefer wearing leather shoes. Leather allows the air to pass with no trouble. Whereas shoes made up of plastic or rubber, prevent the air from moving freely. This tends to create a moist environment inside your shoes, resulting in sweaty feet, encouraging fungal infection.
Suggestions:
- Try to avoid wearing shoes for a long time and also tie them a little loose.
- In addition, keep 2-3 pair of shoes with you to wear them alternatively.
- Wearing shoes alternatively will give them time to dry and prevent toenail fungus.
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Podiatrists Clear Strategy To Treat Toenail Fungus
Medical history
The podiatrist will be interested to know how long you have suffered from the problem and what treatments you have pursued so far. This helps her to understand the magnitude of the problem and treatment factors you have considered. A full medical history is important to rule out underlying health issues that could interfere with the oral medication given.
Physical exam
The doctor will physically examine the nails to determine the extent of damage and the color.
Lab analysis
Just by conducting a physical exam, the doctor cannot conclude that you have a fungal nail infection. They need to eliminate the possibility of it being yeast or mold. The doctor scrapes under the nail to harvest samples and send them to the lab. This will help the doctor prescribe the best course of treatment once the problem is identified.
Oral treatments
The doctor can recommend oral treatments aseffective and they may take up to three months to work such as Sporanox, Diflucan, and Lamisil. The treatment could have unpleasant side effects such as skin problems, stomach upset,and liver damage. If you have an existing liver problem you cannot tolerate oral medications.
Topical treatments
Laser treatment
This non-invasive treatment is offered by podiatrists and it works quickly. The laser kills the fungus attacking underneath the nail without damaging the nail itself. This is considered as an effective treatment.
Can I Prevent Toenail Fungus
Some people will struggle with toenail fungus for their entire lives. While you may not be able to completely avoid fungal infections, there are some steps you can take to limit your risk for toenail fungus, including:
- Use antifungal sprays or powders regularly, especially after engaging in exercise, swimming, or otherwise exposing feet to moisture.
- Make sure to wash feet thoroughly with warm soapy water at least once each day and always wash your hands after handling infected toenails to avoid spreading the fungal infection.
- Completely dry feet after showering and take special care to remove water between toes.
- Consider getting manicures from professionals who can help you to keep your toenails and cuticle beds clean and free from fungus.
- Wear moisture wicking socks and shoes.
- Always wear shoes or socks in public areas.
- Avoid painting toenails or using artificial nails when you have a fungal infection.
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Should I See A Dermatologist Or Podiatrist For Toenail Fungus
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Best For Fingernails: Dr Remedy Anti
Applying cuticle oil daily is arguably one of the best things you can do to keep your nails both healthy and hydrated. And this one goes above and beyond the call of duty, thanks to the inclusion of undecylenic acid, an ingredient to help treat and even prevent fungal infections from starting. The other nice thing? The formula can even permeate polish, meaning you can apply the oil even if your nails are painted.
This is one of my favorite products from Remedy Nails, raved a fan. Ive suffered from toenail fungus for years and tried many products. This has been the only one Ive had success with. I love using it on my fingernails as well. My cuticles look healthy!
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Clean Socks To Prevent Toenail Fungus
Like damp environment other factor responsible for bacterial growth is sweating. Sweating too provide a comfortable environment for bacteria to thrive. Follow below listed measures to prevent bacterial growth in your toenail.
Suggestions:
- Always wear socks which does not clutch moisture and make your feet to produce sweat.
- Prefer socks, which suck up sweat and keep your feet breathing fresh and free from sweat.
- When suffering from toenail fungus, keep changing your socks every 3-4 hour or whenever you feel sweaty in your feet.
- Avoid wearing shoes during toenail fungus. In its place, wear sandals to prevent toenail fungus from spreading.
Surgical Toe Fungus Removal Treatment
This is the last resort to treat the toenail fungus condition. The whole nail can be removed or part of it can be removed to allow a healthy growth of the nail. Sometimes the nail might be removed with some skin underneathit depends on the level of infection. This will ensure that the nail that grows back will not be susceptible to infections.
Over the counter remedies bought from your local drug store are not expensive. However, they are not as strong and might not completely clear the fungal infection. If they clear the infection for some time and it comes back, seek an alternative cureby visiting a podiatrist for further treatment.
John Smith is a Digital Marketing Consultant with more than 8 years of experience in SEO, SEM, SMO, blogging, etc having wide knowledge base into content marketing.
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Toenail Fungus Infection Treatment
As a rule, toenail fungal infections require medical treatment. Over-the-counter products might help some of the symptoms, but it’s a temporary fix. To completely eradicate the fungus and keep it from spreading to other nailsâor peopleâprescription medicine is necessary.
Fair warningâthis isn’t a “one and done” kind of treatment. “It’s a one year for cure with both orals and topicals, says Dr. Lipner. “Orals are taken for three months, and topicals are taken for one year.” You can’t just blame fungus for that.
Toenails grow on average about one millimeter per month, and it takes a least a year for an entirely new, healthy toenail to grow. Treatments vary depending on the type and severity, but typically antifungal medicines are applied to the toenail daily or weekly, while you also take antifungal medicine pills.
It’s rare, but when medication doesn’t resolve the problem, the toenail is surgically removed or non-surgically with a chemical applied to the nail. The nail can grow back, but if the fungus is persistent, a dermatologist can treat the nail so it doesn’t grow back.
Do Dermatologists Treat Hair And Nails
Absolutely we treat hair and nail fungal infections in addition to skin infections. Dermatologists treat fungal infections on the surface of the nail, embedded within the nail, or on the scalp. Depending on the location, we treat these with creams, gels, liquids, or oral medications. We also treat a variety of hair loss problems. too.
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