Understanding Nail Infections To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus
Any one of these treatment options can offer relief for toenail fungus, but in order to effectively treat and then prevent re-infection, it is important to understand how nail infections work. Knowledge is power, and, in this case, it gives you the tools to answer the question, how to get rid of toenail fungus fast!
Approximately 12% of the adult population suffers with a nail fungus to some degree. This problem can affect both old and young but is more common in older adults and particularly those with a compromised immune system.
You should understand you have both good and bad bacteria in and even on your body at all times. Inside the body, the good bacteria work to keep bad bacteria in check, but when the scales get tipped in the other direction, it can leave you vulnerable to all sorts of infections, including toenail fungus.
Of course, imbalances in your system is only one of the many ways you could acquire a toenail fungus. Here are just a few more culprits:
- Tight, dirty footwear
- Contact- nail salon , pool, gym or sauna that are contaminated.
- Athletes foot
- Poor circulation arterial disease or diabetes are common causes
- Genetic condition
- Contaminated nail utensils
Final Thoughts On How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Fast
How to get rid of toenail fungus fast is not an easy question to answer, as there are quite a few variables to consider such as your health and commitment to a treatment plan.
That being said, if you are diligent with an effective treatment and take steps to eradicate the source of fungus in your life while protecting your feet from any potential re-infection, you will be miles ahead of most people.
Most importantly you should take action to finally get rid of toenail fungus in as much time as needed. The more you wait the worse it will be because toenail fungus are contagious and become more and more difficult to eradicate over time.
So how to get rid of toenail fungus fast? As fast as possible?
Get started as soon as you can with one of the effective treatment options mentioned above and persist until your nails are clear and healthy again.
OTC treatment options mentioned in this article:
Visit our main website to get a broader and deeper picture about the different treatments available to get rid of toenail fungus fast.
Option : Apply Bleach With Vinegar Directly On Your Toenails Every Day
For this method, you will need.
1 cup of water ¼ cup vinegar 2 teaspoons hydrogen peroxide ½ teaspoon of bleach
It is recommended that you only use ¼ cup of vinegar and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide. Anything more will damage your skin! Also, if there is too much vinegar and/or hydrogen peroxide the solution may become too foamy and the reaction time will be slowed down.
Preparing the Solution:
Start by mixing ¾ of a cup of water, 1 teaspoon of bleach, and 2 teaspoons of hydrogen peroxide in a small bowl. To this solution add ¼ cup vinegar and mix very well until all of the ingredients have been combined. Now you can use this solution to soak your feet in for 10 minutes.
For All 5 Options: Once the solution is no longer needed, be sure to wash it off with water and dry thoroughly before returning your foot back into your shoe. If the skin on the bottom of your toes has become red or irritated during treatment you may need to take a break before continuing. If this happens, be sure not to use the solution for several days and let your skin heal . Once the skin is back to normal you can begin treatment once again.
When using bleach, you can expect results pretty quickly. Most people report seeing a huge difference within the first few days of treatment however, some experience relief within one week, and others do not see noticeable results until weeks or even months later.
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Acrylic Nail Fungus Home Remedies
The first step after noticing an infection is to have the acrylic nail removed and to wash your fingernail with soap and water. Avoid putting on a new nail until the infection clears.
Anecdotally, some people claim the following home remedies have helped them clear their infection:
- Vinegar. Vinegar contains acid that can inhibit the growth of fungi and bacteria. Try soaking your finger in a 2:1 ratio of warm water to vinegar.
- Vicks VapoRub. An older 2011 study found Vicks VapoRub seemed to have a positive clinical effect on killing toenail fungi. You can try applying a small amount to your finger once a day.
- Tea tree oil. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health , one small study found evidence that tea tree oil may help treat nail fungus, but more research is needed. Try applying oil to your nail twice per day.
- Oregano oil. The chemical thymol found in oregano oil may have antifungal properties. Try applying oregano oil to your nail twice per day with a cotton swab.
- Listerine mouthwash. Listerine contains ingredients that have antifungal properties. Some people claim soaking your finger in original Listerine for 30 minutes a day may help clear the infection.
Pills For Toenail Fungus Treatment
Oral medications, or those that come in pill form, generally work more quickly than topical medications for toenail fungus treatment. They have higher cure rates and the overall treatment time may be shorter than topical options. Pills to treat toenail fungus, however, will require a prescription. It is also important to note that improvement will continue AFTER oral therapy is stopped, and it may take 9 to 12 months for you to see full results.
The top treatments for toenail fungus are:
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Toenail Fungus: Causes And Risk Factors
Toenail fungus is a fungal infection in the toenail. It happens when a fungus anything from mold to yeast to other types of fungus gets in the nail bed from a cut or break in the nail or repetitive trauma to the nail, and penetrates the nail itself, says Dr. Sundling. The nail then continues to grow with the fungus. Once a nail plate is infected with fungus, it will never not be infected, and you must wait to see how it grows out and whether the new nail growing behind it is healthy. The new nail rarely grows in healthy without treatment, says Sundling.
Toenail fungus is very common 14 percent of people have it in North America, according to an article published in the journal PLoS Pathogens and its more common the older you get, adds Sundling. Wearing shoes that are too small can damage the nail and make it more vulnerable to fungus, as can having a fungal infection on the skin of the foot and not treating it, which could expose the nail to fungus. You may be more at risk to toenail fungus if you have diabetes, or a weaker immune system.
What Are Treatments For Toenail Fungus
Do you need to treat your nail fungus? Maybe it doesn’t hurt, and the yellow, thick nails don’t bother you.
But nail fungus doesn’t go away by itself. And if you don’t treat it, there’s a chance it could get worse. It could spread to other nails or through your body. It could cause pain when you walk.
There are a number of ways to take care of it, including:
Nonprescription options. You can buy antifungal creams, gels, and nail polish at the store and online without a prescription. You might want to try one of them first if the infection doesn’t look bad. Some people also swear by home remedies like menthol rub, tea tree oil, mouthwash, or snakeroot extract — but studies show mixed results.
Prescription polish and creams. Your foot doctor will likely trim your nail and file away its dead layers. They may also take a piece of your nail and send it to the lab to make sure itâs really a fungus and to find out what type it is.
The doctor might suggest an antifungal drug that you paint on your nails. This may work on its own, or they may suggest you take it with antifungal pills.
Prescription medications. One of several antifungal pills may help. They work, but it may take many months to do the job. They also come with side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches. They may cause liver damage too, so your doctor will watch you closely while you take them. Be sure to tell them about any other meds youâre taking — some antifungal pills might not work well with them.
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How Does White Iodine Affect Yeast
White iodines use as an antifungal is not well-studied, even though many people swear by it for treating toenail fungus. However, according to one study published in the Postgraduate Medical Journal, iodine may be beneficial in reducing symptoms of vaginal yeast infection.
Vaginal yeast infections are caused by the same species of yeast that are also responsible for certain fungal infections. Inflammation diminished quickly during the treatment, and no side effects or complications were found in the 7-day treatment.
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Medical Complications From Untreated Fungal Toenail Infection
Without proper treatment to stop your toenail fungal infection from getting worse, or spreading, complications will eventually develop. Fungal infections of your toenail can spread to the surrounding skin and when your skin becomes cracked, bacteria can enter and cause an abscess.
An abscess on the toe is a tender mass generally surrounded by a colored area from pink to deep red. They are often easy to feel by touching. Inside they are full of pus, bacteria and debris.
Untreated toenail fungal infections can lead to cellulitis and should be treated immediately with antibiotics. Untreated skin infections of the toe may lead to severe cellulitis and if the infection enters the bloodstream it can become septicemia, also known as bacteremia or blood poisoning. Once the infection enters the bloodstream the bacteria and their toxins are carried through the bloodstream to your entire body. If the bacteria levels become high enough, septicemia can quickly become life threatening.
A good reason to seek treatment if you suspect you have a toenail fungal infection is because of the similarity of symptoms for differing diagnosis of more serious toenail conditions. You may have a toenail fungus, but you could also be experiencing similar symptoms of a toenail viral infection , complications from toenail trauma, a pre-malignant lesion or, more seriously, melanoma of the nail bed.
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Who Apple Cider Vinegar Will Not Work For
If you are diabetic, chances are that your toenail fungus infection is as a result of diabetes and not a fungus per se. People who are diabetic often have the fungus infection known as onychomycosis. This infection affects their toenail. If you are in the class of these people, using ACV will amount to a total waste of your time.
How Fungi Infect The Nail
Onchomycosis, or toenail fungal infection, is an invasion by a microscopic organism that thrives in warm, damp environments. Fungal spores are in the air, and they will grow if they land on a receptive surface like your toenail. They feed off the nail tissues, burrowing into the skin under the nail. Over time the nail thickens and may lift off the nail bed as fungal debris accumulates. Once your nail is raised off the nail bed, it won’t reattach, and a new nail won’t grow from that part of the nail bed. However, your nail will continue to grow from the root at the base.
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How To Get Rid Of Smelly Toenails
How to get rid of smelly Toenails? Why do my toenails smell bad? These are very common questions among people who experience nail fungus. Smelly toenails are usually associated with sweaty feet and poor hygiene. The smell would usually go away with a thorough wash. In some cases, the foul smell may have a medical cause. White smelly gunk under the toenails that have a similar smell to cheese is likely to be toenail fungus.
Smelly odor coming from your nails can be alarming. Usually, a bad smell coming from the feet can be easily washed away. When the nail itself emits an odor, this may be because of an infection. If you have also noticed that there is a buildup of dirt or another residue that is emitting the odor, you likely are infected with a fungus.
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Is Cellulitis Contagious
Cellulitis usually doesnt spread from person to person. It is possible to catch a bacterial skin infection if you have an open cut on your skin that touches skin that has an active infection.
If you do develop cellulitis from a transmitted infection, it could be dangerous if you dont treat it in a timely manner. This is why its important to tell your doctor as soon as you notice symptoms of cellulitis.
Complications of cellulitis can be severe if left untreated. Some complications can include:
- severe tissue damage
Your doctor will likely be able to diagnose cellulitis just by looking at your skin. A physical exam might reveal:
- swelling of the skin
- redness and warmth of the affected area
- swollen glands
Depending on the severity of your symptoms, your doctor may want to monitor the affected area for a few days to see if the discoloration and swelling spread. In some cases, your doctor may take blood or a sample of the wound to test for bacteria.
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The Treatment That Works
A more recent advancement in treatment is laser therapy. We have been treating nail fungus with the PinPointe laser system for many years and have been very pleased with the results! This treatment involves direct laser therapy to the nails. It directs heat underneath the nail to a temperature that kills the fungus, but does not burn or harm your toe.
For most people, this procedure takes 3-4 treatments, which are spaced out every three months or so. However, it can take up to a year to fully grow out the infected nail and replace it with healthy nail.
We also use a prescription-grade topical treatment that is showing via studies to likely be the most effective topical treatment available. When combined with the laser, we see excellent results. It quickly reduces the yellow discoloration, thickness and brittleness of the nail, so it looks better while the nail is growing out. Patients love it!
The final step is using an anti-fungal nail polish that helps prevent the nail fungus from returning. We want our patients to have clear nails that last.
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+ Vitamins & Minerals To Help Overcome Toenail Fungus
In searching for a nail fungus cure, many people forget the most important one already in their possession: their immune system. Nail fungus lives under the nail plate, which can make it challenging for topical toenail fungus medication to reach it. However, one fighting force the fungus cant run away from is the bodys internal fungal killers the white blood cells. There are a number of vitamins and minerals you can consume that will boost weekend immune system function and strengthen nails which, in turn, will assist in eradicating the fungal infection.
For healthy clear nails, you will need to do a few things simultaneously will treating them to stimulate fungus free growth. Firstly, vitamins and minerals in your diet or as a supplement will promote nail growth. Specifically, keep a check for vitamin A, Niacin , Pantothenic acid vitamin C and vitamin E and biotin that nourish your nails and strengthen nails from the inside. Secondly, exfoliating your fungi infested nails will also remove dead cells.
Is The Distortion Of Your Nails Due To Underactive Thyroid
Fungus nail infection can be caused by thyroid issues. In a small percentage of people this common foot condition is related to sub par or over working of thyroid gland in the body. The thyroid is a small butterfly-shaped gland that sits low on the front of the neck. Its main function is to keep the body warm, keep the immune response at optimum levels and maintain metabolism.
Thyroid problems such as hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism may cause abnormality in nail shape, brittle nails or splitting of the nail bed from the nail plate and dry cuticles.
The reason this nail fungus like symptoms occur is that the thyroid hormone controls the strength with which our heart pumps blood. So stronger the contractions, the greater the amount of blood that will be supplied to body parts, such as the toes. Thus, when pumping are weaker they provide sluggish blood flow, the toes receive decreased amounts of oxygen, get cold and allow for an environment conducive for nail fungus.
Iodine is an important mineral for proper thyroid functioning. Your body uses iodine to make thyroid hormones. Deficiencies of Iodine are commonly found in Europe and Third World countries, where the soil and food supply dont have sufficient iodine levels.
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