Types Of Toenail Fungus And Symptoms
“The symptoms of most fungal toenail infections are similar,” says Dr. Zahn. The hallmark symptoms include nail discoloration, nail separation, brittleness, thickening of the nail, and sometimes pain.
Yet, those symptoms are present in other conditions like psoriasis or from banging your toenail. With the symptoms so similar, it’s difficult to identify the type of fungal infection on your own.
Your doctor or dermatologist may take a small sample of the debris beneath the nail, trim the nail, or scrape a tiny bit of skin to pinpoint the type of fungus.
How Much Can Diet Help In Toenail Fungus Treatment
Well, not many studies have reported a complete treatment of toenail fungus on changing your diet.
However, many experts have proven how changing diet and following healthy food habits can improve your bodys immunity that fights such infections.
As one of the biggest reasons for being infected with toenail fungus is having a weaker immunity or poor nail hygiene, it is strongly believedthat healthy eating should be considered when you want to treat it.
What Tests Might I Have For Toenail Fungus
Your provider will probably take a small sample from underneath your nail to further analyze it. Viewing the cells under a microscope can confirm a toenail fungus diagnosis. If the initial test is negative, a scraping can be sent to see if the fungus grows out in a culture. It also helps your provider identify the type of fungus.
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Apply Or Consume Garlic
A 2019 study published online indicated that garlic is an antifungal powerhouse, potentially making it a gem for treating toenail fungal infections. It is best to place crushed or chopped garlic on the affected area daily, Hayag says. It is important to take caution when following this remedy, as garlic has the potential to cause chemical burns to the skin. To avoid any burns, theres also the option of taking garlic supplements to see if that might help clear things up.
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Why Are Natural Remedies Like Vicks Vaporub So Popular
At the onset, a fungal toenail infection may not seem like a serious medical condition, and one may be tempted to postpone seeking medical advice. As the infection progresses and the toenail thickens and becomes discolored, treatment may take on a new importance.
Since our goal is to reach the best possible understanding of treatment options, letâs look at the choices in more detail.
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When To See A Doctor
In most cases, toenail fungus is considered a cosmetic problem. Still, it may cause serious complications for some people.
If you have diabetes, toenail fungus may lead to foot ulcers or other foot problems. According to a 2012 study, chronic toenail fungus is a significant risk factor for bacterial cellulitis of the leg.
If you have diabetes or a weakened immune system, you shouldnt use home remedies for toenail fungus. Contact your doctor for the appropriate course of action.
What Is An Anti
An anti-fungal diet is a diet that helps you fight fungi by improving your bodys immunity. The diet excludes the foods that help the fungi to grow.
It promotes the consumption of certain oils and ingredients that can improve the activity of good gut bacteria. Thus, the body begins flushing out fungi.
An anti-fungal dietalso requires you to ensure that your meals are nutrient-dense and you consume vitamins or minerals supplements if needed.
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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.
Am I At Risk For Developing Toenail Fungus
The organisms that cause a toenail infection thrive in dark, moist places, including inside your shoes. While anyone can develop the problem, these factors increase your risk:
- Excessively sweaty feet
- Diabetes or peripheral artery disease
- A weakened immune system
Youre also more likely to develop a fungal infection if you go barefoot in damp, public places like gyms and swimming pools.
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Consulting The Scientific Research
Itâs time to get science-y.
In 2011, an interesting study researching over-the-counter cures for toenail fungus was published. In this study, researchers used Vicks VapoRub against toenail fungus.
The first thing to note here is there are a few types of toenail fungus. Toenail fungus can be caused by dermatophytes, yeasts, and non-dermatophyte molds.
However, the most common culprit of toenail fungus is the dermatophyte trichophyton rubrum, also known as T. rubrum.
In this study, researchers studied the following toenail fungus:
- T. mentagrophytes
- T. rubrum
- Candida parapsilosis
After 48 weeks, all patients with T. mentagrophytes or Candida parapsilosis toenail fungus went on to a âtotal cureâ.
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How Are Thick Toenails Diagnosed
See a doctor if you notice a change in the appearance of your nails. Treating a fungal infection in its early stages will help prevent the condition from worsening.
Your doctor will look at your nails to diagnose the condition. The doctor may also take a swab underneath the nail or take a toenail clipping to diagnose the condition.
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How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus Naturally And Fast At Home
Toenail fungus, aka onychomycosis, is a very popular problem. The symptoms of toenail fungus include swelling, inflammation, yellowing, crumbling and thickening of the nail. This condition is often not painful, if the infection does not spread.
In fact, the fungus tends to thrive under some certain conditions, like a weakened immune system, skins unbalanced pH level, continuous exposure to a moist environment containing poor hygiene, sweaty shoes and socks, and diabetes.
When left untreated, this condition could result in splitting, cracking and even whole loss of toenails. However, luckily, there are some ways on how to get rid of toenail fungus naturally and fast without too much cost. The following at-home remedies resorting natural ingredients available in any local grocery store. Take a look from VKool.com!
Using A Mixture With Vinegar
Like in the previous case, you will have to use a bit weaker version of the product. Going with 3% H2O2 will do the trick. You will have to prepare the same items as before, but now, you will also need vinegar.
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There are two approaches to this method. Generally speaking, experts recommend using the second method instead of the first. This is because, during the first method, you will directly mix vinegar and hydrogen peroxide which leads to the creation of peracetic acid, a substance that doesnt create proper results.
- Method 1 can last anywhere from 1 to 10 minutes. You will have to mix water, vinegar, and hydrogen in a tub or a vessel. Stir the mixture and soak your feet. Although this method can take a few minutes, we recommend that you soak your feet for at least 10 minutes. Finish by properly drying your feet.
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How Are Thick Toenails Treated
Although not all cases of toenail fungus need to be treated, thick toenails may be a sign that the fungus has gotten worse. Several methods are available to treat your toenails. You can try some home-based treatments first and then talk to your doctor about prescription-based options. Topical and oral medications are the mainstays of therapy.
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Keep Clippers To Yourself
If you have been using a certain pair of clippers on your toes, you will very much want to disinfect or replace those as well. How best to do this?
- Let the clippers soak in boiling water for a few minutes.
- After removing them , scrub with dish soap and an old toothbrush to clean off any remaining dead skin cells or residues.
- Rise, then wipe down the clippers with a paper towel soaked in rubbing alcohol.
- Completely dry the clippers with a paper towel to avoid rusting.
You can also use Barbicide if you happen to have it around.
Now that you have a clean pair of toenail clippers, make sure to use them only on your toenails. They should be the larger kind designed for toenails, too. Sharing clippers runs another risk of fungal infection, and using the same pair of clippers on your fingernails and toenails can run the risk of transferring an infection from your feet to your hands, or vice versa.
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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Concord Foot Doctor Explains How To Eliminate Toenail Fungus Naturally
Toenail fungus is a common yet frustrating problem. You can catch it from using a shared shower, walking barefoot at a public pool, or even getting a pedicure. It can grow quickly under your toenail and cause the nail to thicken and crumble.
If the toenail fungus is severe, you should visit your local foot doctor for treatment. However, you can also try a natural toenail fungus treatment to solve the issue without chemicals or medicines. Here are six of the best natural remedies:
1. White Vinegar
White vinegar other wise known as Acetic Acid can help eliminate fungus when diluted in lukewarm water. The acidity of vinegar creates an environment that most fungus find in hospital and may help eliminate a fungal toenail infection.
2. Listerine and White Vinegar
The thymol and menthol in Listerine evaporate quickly and cause dehydration of superficial fungus infecting a toe nail plate. Soak for 15-20 minutes 3-4 days per week.
3. Tea Tree Oil
Tea tree oil is a popular home remedy for many skin infections, including fungal infections. Dab a few drops of the oil onto your toenails twice a day, or mix a few drops of oil with some water and soak your entire foot.
4. Urea Paste
You can buy over-the-counter urea paste to dissolve the infected portion of the toenail. Then, use an over-the-counter antifungal cream to prevent infection in the area. Before you do this, though, you should consult your local foot doctor.
5. Pau Darco Tea
6. Vicks VapoRub
What Are The Foods That Are Said To Treat Toenail Fungus
- 1. Coconut Oil
Lauric acid in coconut oil makes it impossible for fungi or yeast to grow. Most anti-fungal diets involve replacing your current food oil with coconut oil.
You may use it as a dressing on your salad, to cook or saute vegetables. You should use virgin or unrefined coconut oil as it has more benefits.
- 2. Probiotics
Probiotics have been used for ages now to improve immunity levels. Unlike antibiotics, probiotics dont kill the good bacteria in your gut but promote the good bacterias growth by removing bad bacteria.
This process helps eliminate fungi of all types. You can find probiotics in many fermented foods such as yogurt, curd or other supplements.
Including probiotics in your daily diet can also improve digestion and metabolism.
- 3. Sugar-Free Diet
If a sugar-free diet seems impossible to you, you can try a low-sugar diet. Consuming too much sugar or sweets can damage your metabolism and gut health.
Sugar allows yeast, Candida or fungi to grow and multiply more. Hence, you should find substitutes of sugar. You may use honey instead of sugar to add natural sweetness to your food.
- 4. Garlic
Studies explain how chewing raw garlic every day can reduce fungis ability to thrive. Allicin in garlic provides you with lots of antioxidants that can help your body fight any alien attackers like fungi.
You can also have garlic supplements or simply include pieces of it in vegetable salads.
- 5. Curcumin
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What Are The Foods To Be Excluded From Your Diet To Treat Toenail Fungus
Heres what you should avoid:
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| menolatum and toenail fungus |
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Mixing With Baking Soda
This is the most complex method on our list. You will need half a cup of baking soda, 1 cup of 3% hydrogen peroxide, 4 cups of warm water, one-quarter cup of vinegar, half cup salt, and 1 tub. The whole process takes about 10 minutes. You start by mixing all the ingredients together. There is no particular order just make sure you add soda, peroxide, salt, vinegar, and water into the tub. You will have to stir them together in order to create a proper mixture. Again, you will have to be very attentive regarding the substances. Most of this stuff is really strong, so you will have to watch how your skin reacts. If there is a negative impact on the skin, you should stop the treatment. In fact, the third method is perhaps the riskiest because of how many things are involved. Lastly, make sure to wipe your feet after each therapy.
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Tips For Keeping Toenail Fungus From Returning
Toenail fungus is a tough foe to battle. The sooner its found out, the easier it tends to be to treat. Unfortunately, most cases are not discovered until the fungus has had a good opportunity to entrench itself in your toenail.
Treatment has likely taken months, but youve reached that light at the end of the tunnel. The fungus has been declared eradicated and youre already growing new, clear toenails to replace the war-torn battlefields that once were. Well done!
Unfortunately, it can come back.
A fungal toenail infection is not like a cold. Having had it doesnt really mean your immune system is fully geared up to keep the same case from returning. And, like a cold, there is more than one type of nasty organism out there that can cause similar symptomsin this case, discolored, crumbling, thickened nails.
You know how bad it is. The last thing you want is to fight that battle over again, and people with diabetes should be especially careful of any type of infection. You also dont want anyone you live with to have to go through it, either!
So what can you do to prevent toenail fungus from coming back? Quite a lot.
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How To Get Rid Of Yellow Nails
Treatment of yellow nails will depend on the cause. Most likely, your nails have become discolored because of an infection you have or a product you used. These home remedies are based on those causes of discoloration. However, it is important to be aware that home remedies are not always effective. See your physician if home remedies arent helpful in eliminating discoloration. If you dont already have a doctor, our Healthline FindCare tool can help you connect to physicians in your area.