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.
Do Fungal Nail Infections Occur On Both Hands & Feet
Fungal nail infections tend to affect toenails far more than fingernails. This is because the feet are more often exposed to the kind of environments and surfaces where this type of infection thrives.
The infection can appear on any part of your nail but usually occurs under the nail plate on the nail bed.
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What Causes Fungal Nail Infections
- A fungal nail infection occurs when a fungus infects a fingernail, toenail or the skin under the nail .
- Fungi tend to attack nails that are already damaged through small cuts in the skin around your nail or through the opening between your nail and nail bed.
- Toenails are affected 7 times more often than fingernails.
- You can get a fungal nail infection from sharing personal items such as nail clippers, or towels, walking barefoot in public showers or pools, or if you have athletes foot , where the fungus spreads from your skin to your nail.
- Nail injury, athletes foot, diabetes, smoking or medication that suppress your immune system can increase your risk of getting a fungal nail infection.
How Do You Get Toenail Fungus
Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments. Toenail fungus can be caused by simply wearing socks and shoes, which insulate your toes. That keeps them nice and toasty but also creates that perfect environment for fungi to overpopulate.
But its not just toenail fungus that can develop in this way. Any part of your body that is warm and moist for extended periods of time can develop a topical fungal infection.
Jock itch , athletes foot , toenail fungus all fall under the same classification of fungal infections.
This means that not only can they all develop from that warm, moist environment in which fungi flourish, but they are also highly contagious.
A fungal infection on one part of your body can spread to another. For example, athletes foot can spread to your toenails and vice versa. Toenail fungus in one nail can also spread to other nails.
And that towel you used after showering to dry your feet that has athletes foot or toenail fungus, can be spread to other parts of your body that youve wiped with it.
Because fungal infections spread so easily, you can catch a fungal infection from other people. Its unlikely you will catch toenail fungus directly from another persons infected toenails.
But if you are not wearing rubber flip flops in the gym shower or you are sharing towels or wearing someone elses shoes, and that person has a fungal infection, you can easily get it and it can spread to your toenails.
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I Would Highly Recommend This Doctor For Any And All Foot Issues
Prior to having my bunion removed , boy was I nervous. But to tell the truth, Dr. Patel put me at ease with everything from start to finish. My foot healed exactly as he said, and I wondered why I put it off so long. Susans nurse/office staff took care of all the paperwork and working with my insurance always on hand to assist with all my questions.
When the time came for my other foot, well it was a no-brainer. Dr. Patel is my only choice! I would highly recommend this doctor for any and all foot issuesnothing to be afraid of -take care of those feet.Sincerely,
Donna C. Hamden. CT
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Fungal Nail Infection Symptoms
Symptoms are different depending on which type of fungal nail infection you have. They usually start mild and get more serious.
- At first, you may only see a white or yellow spot under your nail. Over time, this spreads and can turn your whole nail white, yellow, green, or black.
- The nail may thicken and could be hard to trim.
- It may start to curl up or down or loosen from the nail bed.
- Your nail could become brittle and crumble when you touch it.
- Your nail may become misshapen.
- You may notice a bad smell.
Itâs easy to ignore fungal nail infections at first, since you may not have any pain. But if you donât treat them, it can hurt to put any pressure on the area. If an infection gets bad enough, it could even become hard to walk.
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:
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What Causes Nail Fungus
Tiny, microscopic organisms called fungi cause a fungal nail infection.
Many people pick up the fungi when they have skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a fungal infection such as athletes foot or ringworm on their hands.
Another common way to get a fungal nail infection is by walking barefoot in a warm, moist area such as a pool deck or locker room. These fungi thrive in warm, moist areas.
You can also get a fungal nail infection by sharing an infected nail clipper or towel.
But you dont have to catch it from someone. You can get it if your nails are frequently moist or you often wear sweaty socks and shoes.
The fungi usually infect a nail by getting into a:
-
Small cut in the skin surrounding your nail
-
Crack in your nail
The area under a nail gives fungi a warm, moist place to grow. The infection can then spread to other nails and even your skin.
ReferencesGupta A and Brintnell W. Onychomycosis: A complex disease? Poster presented at: 69th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology 2011 Feb 4-8 New Orleans.
Gold LFS and Rosen T. Onychomycosis: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention strategies. Dermatology News . March 2016:2-15.
Verma S and Heffernan MP. Onychomycosis. In: Wolff K, Goldsmith LA, et al. Fitzpatricks Dermatology in General Medicine . McGraw Hill Medical, New York, 2008: 1817-20.
What Can You Do To Help Prevent Fungal Nail
Maintain good foot hygiene and check and trim your nails on a regular basis. Nails should be cut or filed straight across . Always make sure your nail clippers are disinfected
Look out for athlete’s foot in the skin between the toes and treat with an antifungal cream as it can soon spread to the nails
Wear shoes that fit well and have enough space to allow your feet to ‘breathe’ a little this reduces the possibility of warm, moist environments where the fungi can breed
Throw out old shoes, especially trainers
Wear cotton socks and change them regularly
Don’t share your towels and socks with other people
Avoid walking around barefoot in public spaces wear flip flops or sandals around the pool or in public changing rooms and showers
Don’t use the same nail accessories or tools on your infected nail as the nails which are clear
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Treatment From Your Gp
Your GP can prescribe antifungal tablets. You’ll need to take these every day for up to 6 months.
Tablets can have side effects including:
- headaches
- loss of taste
- diarrhoea
You cannot take antifungal tablets if you’re pregnant or have certain conditions. They can damage your liver.
If your nail has a very bad infection, you may need to have it removed. This is a small procedure done under local anaesthetic.
Top 12 Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Nail Fungus Naturally
Commonly known to the layman as fungal nail infection, Onychomycosis is an infection that occurs when fungus forms beneath the nails. The condition can develop as a result of poor foot hygiene, continuous exposure to moist environments, wearing unbreathable synthetic socks, accumulation of sweat in shoes, imbalanced pH levels of the skin, a compromised immune system, and conditions like diabetes that constricts blood flow.Upon infection, Onychomycosis will cause the nail to thicken, discolor, and eventually crumble into pieces. If left untreated, the condition can become painful. As the infection progresses, areas around the infected toenails or fingernails may swell and begin to give off a foul smell too.
Contents
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How To Tell If Your Toenail Fungus Is Dying Off
If youâve found a good toenail fungus treatment and now are wondering about the signs your toenail fungus is finally dying off, youâve come to the right place.
In this short guide, we are going to walk you through what to expect when youâre treating toenail fungus.
This treatment can be a lengthy process, so itâs important to stick with it and see it all to the very end.
How Can It Be Treated
Treating a fungal nail can be a lengthy process it can take several months to clear. This is largely due to the time it takes for your toenail to grow.
You’ll only see a clear improvement when the damaged nail has grown out. It can take six months to a year after the treatment has finished before the nail looks normal again.
Speak to your pharmacist for advice on treating fungal nail infections. See your GP if over the counter treatment hasnt worked or if the infection is severe or has spread to other nails. Make sure you see your GP or a foot specialist if you have diabetes and develop a fungal nail infection, as people with diabetes are at an increased risk of foot problems.
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Treatment Options For Nail Fungus
Interviewer:
Dr. Hull:
Interviewer:
Dr. Hull:
Most of my conversation is usually discussing medical therapy, so things that are available by prescription only. And those come in two main forms, which are topical antifungal medications, and then oral antifungal medications. There are other surgical or procedural options, so you can remove nails as well. And then there’s starting to be more interest in technologies like lasers for nail fungus.
Interviewer:
Dr. Hull:
Interviewer:
Dr. Hull:
Interviewer:
Dr. Hull:
Fungal Nail Infection Prevention
Itâs a good idea to wash your hands and feet often. Use soap, and make sure you get between your fingers and toes.
Keep your fingernails and toenails short and trimmed straight across.
Wear socks that wick away moisture. If your feet sweat a lot, change your socks once or twice a day, or take off your shoes and let your feet cool when you have the chance.
Use antifungal powder or spray on your feet as well as in your shoes. Throw away old pairs of closed-toe shoes since fungi might be living in them.
If you get manicures at nail salons, visit only the ones that disinfect tools after each client. You can also bring your own file and clippers from home. Ask them not to cut your cuticles, since this can cause tiny breaks in the skin that let germs in.
Donât share towels if someone else in your family has nail fungus. This will pass around the infection.
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Are There Warning Signs Before My Toenail Will Fall Off
If youve injured your toenail, you will probably experience some pain. There may also be bleeding either under the nail or from the nail. You may notice discoloration and looseness of your toenail. If you are at risk of losing a toenail due to a fungal infection you will notice symptoms consistent with fungal toenail infections including:
- Yellow, brown or white discoloration
- Thickening of the nail
- And in some cases, swelling and pain
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Whats The Best Treatment Option
If preventive measures are already useless because you already have nail fungus, the only option is to treat the infection before it gets worse.
For the most convenient and effective treatment of your nail fungus it is highly recommended that you treat it with a product called Funginix. This fungus fighter has the best combination of anti-fungal agents, essential oils and fungus fighting extracts available to create the most powerful anti-fungal solution for your nail fungus infection.
It is clinically proven safe and effective. Application is as easy as putting on nail polish and it works. So instead wondering how do you get nail fungus, take immediate action and start treating your nail fungus infection with Funginix.
What Is The Treatment For Fungal Nail
Your foot is the ideal breeding ground for nail fungi that thrive on nails. Fungi thrive in a warm, moist environment. You can be exposed in steamy locker rooms. Wearing the same pair of sweaty tennis shoes or socks for too long can also cause problems.17
- Tea tree oil can be an effective treatment for fungus on your toenails.18
- Ingredients in clear nail polish can kill or halt the spread of toenail fungus. You will need to re-paint the affected nail numerous times for more than a year for the best results.19
- Creams that include ingredients made from thyme or thyme oil can kill nail fungus and other kinds of fungus that cause infections.20,21
- Laser therapy has been very effective at killing nail funguses.22
A fungal nail infection wont go away on its own.
If you suspect you have a nail fungus, speak to your doctor about taking antifungal medications.23 If your fungal nail is severe, your doctor may remove it to promote a new, healthier nail growing in its place.24
Are you concerned that your nail fungus is serious? Speak with your doctor or podiatrist about antibiotic treatment. This will keep the fungus from spreading to the rest of your foot.
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How To Get Your Toenail To Grow Back After Fungus
Here are some things to think about when deciding on a nail fungus treatment.
If you have a disease like diabetes, your doctor will make sure you treat nail fungus. This illness often makes you more likely to have other problems from minor foot issues.
You may not be able to take antifungal pills because of side effects or because they donât work well with other drugs you take. If thats the case, try a product that goes onto your nail. Your doctor will call this a topical treatment.
Be patient. Your nails may not look normal after treatment. It can take as long as a year to 18 months for your nail to grow out a fungus.
What Other Conditions Can Be Mistaken For Fungal Nails
Here are some other conditions you may have instead of fungal nails:
Trichophyton
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