Who Can Get Mycosis And How Can It Be Prevented
Mycosis is a fungal infection that affects the legs. This condition is very common: one in four people have a toenail fungus. If this disease starts, its treatment can be very cumbersome. Pathogenic fungi are often found in small numbers on human skin, where they generally do not cause harm. However, under favorable conditions, they can penetrate the epidermis, multiply and cause infection. Favorable conditions for fungi are warm, moist, airless areas of the skin, such as between the toes.
Almost anyone can get mycosis. But it is more common in people who sweat more, or those who wear thick shoes and socks, which also causes excessive sweating of the feet. Mycosis can be transmitted from person to person. For example, it can happen in a public shower used by athletes or swimmers. Small flakes of fungal-infected skin can fall off while you shower. Once a small patch of infection begins to develop, it tends to spread along the skin. About where else you can get the fungus is written here.
Treating Athletes Foot Fungus
Athletes foot is one of the most common foot infections. It is easily acquired, especially by people who often use communal showers and pools, such as those in college dorms or gyms. It grows in warm, damp places like public showers, locker rooms, and pools.
This foot condition is also common with shoes that are too tight or socks or shoes that are damp. Athletes foot can also be contracted from getting pedicures with not properly sanitized equipment.
Tinea pedis, the scientific name for athletes foot, is often characterized by itching, burning, redness, peeling, and sores and blisters. Athletes foot can also be known as jungle rot, from military personnel who contract it in warm, damp climates.
Four different kinds of fungus can cause of athletes foot. These fungi live on dead skin, hair, or toenails.
Athletes foot consists of three different kinds of infections. The most common variety is called interdigital and grows between the toes, usually the two smallest. It often causes scaling, itching, and burning and can move to the rest of the foot. Interdigital infections can also be called toe web infections.
An infection on the sole is known as moccasin infection. It causes the skin to crack and thicken and is accompanied by dry skin, itching, scaling, and irritation. It can move to the sides of feet, as well.
Nail Fungus And Acrylic Nails
Acrylic nails are plastic nails that are applied over your natural nails. While they are not particularly dangerous, frequent application of these chemicals can cause an allergic reaction or damage your nails. This increases the risk of a fungal infection. It can be difficult to notice as the acrylic nails will cover the evidence, allowing the fungus to thrive in a moist and dark place.
If you are prone to fungal infection, it may be best to avoid false nails in general.
Before We Start . . .
Be sure to consult a doctor if you are pregnant, breastfeeding, or if you have a preexisting health condition .
Don’t Miss: Can You Paint Over Toenail Fungus
Treating Fungal Nail Infection
Treatment may not be necessary in mild cases of fungal nail infection. For more severe or troublesome cases, antifungal medication may be recommended.
A fungal nail infection is unlikely to get better without treatment, but if you’re not bothered by it you might decide it’s not worth treating because treatment can take a long time, may cause side effects, and isn’t always effective.
Whether or not you decide to have treatment, you should still follow the self-help advice below to help stop the condition getting worse or spreading to others.
How Do I Know If I Have A Fungal Nail Infection
Because other infections can affect the nail and mimic symptoms of a fungal nail infection, the only way to confirm a diagnosis is to see a doctor. Theyll take a scraping of the nail and look under a microscope for signs of fungus.
In some cases, your doctor may send the sample to a lab for analysis and identification.
Over-the-counter products arent usually recommended to treat nail infections since they dont provide reliable results. Instead, your doctor may prescribe an oral antifungal medication, such as:
- terbinafine
Read Also: What Medication Kills Toenail Fungus
How Can You Treat Athletes Foot
There are many noninfective conditions that affect the foot, such as psoriasis and poison ivy. If you are unsure whether your problem is athletes foot , you should visit a physician. Your pharmacist may also be able to recognize the presence of athletes foot. Once athletes foot is confirmed, you may treat the problem with nonprescription products. Generally, OTC products are safer than prescription products, as they have fewer side effects. Used properly, nonprescription products may also cure athletes foot.
Your pharmacist can provide full counseling information on treatment options for athletes foot. You must read the labels carefully and follow all directions provided. Some products can be used in anyone aged 2 years and above, but they must be used twice daily for 4 weeks to produce a cure.
Another product must only be used in those aged 12 years and above, but it can cure athletes foot between the toes in 1 week if used twice daily or in 4 weeks if you choose to use it only once daily. However, it will not cure athletes foot on the bottom or sides of the feet, which is known as moccasin type.
Lamisil AT Cream can also cure athletes foot in those aged 12 years and above. The spray pump and solution forms only cure the condition between the toes if used twice daily for 1 week, but the cream can also cure the infection on the bottom and sides of the feet when used twice daily for 2 weeks.
Dont Miss: Does A Dermatologist Treat Nail Fungus
Toe Fungus Symptoms That May Develop
Symptoms of toe fungus may vary, depending on which type of infection is invading the foot. If the fungus is located on the skin, symptoms may include:
- Red, cracked skin
If the fungus is located on the toenail, symptoms may include:
- Discoloration of the nail, which may turn yellow or brown
- Thickening of the nail
- Foul odor coming from the infected area
- White marks on the nail
- Debris that collects under the nail
Also Check: How Do I Get Rid Of Lawn Fungus
How To Treat Toenail Fungus
You can use simple home remedies to get rid of toenail fungus, or a podiatrist can take care of toenail fungus, particularly if it is caught early.
Topical or oral treatments can also work on toenail fungus, as well as the removal of the infected nail. A temporary removal can work to treat the area, but a permanent removal so that the bad nail wont grow back can also be performed.
Ways You Can Treat Athletes Foot Today
What can you do today to begin treating a foot fungus issue? Here are some practical ideas that you can implement immediately.
Change your shoes. Footwear contributes to the development of foot fungus by providing it the dark, moist environment it likes. Most shoes create heat around the foot because there is no real air flow that can reach your toes. This causes sweating and if there is a foot fungus around, its going to start a party with those conditions. Find a breathable shoe that keeps your foot cool, go barefoot if you can, and use orthotics that are specifically designed to remove moisture for best results.
Wear socks. Wearing shoes without socks causes the moisture from your sweat to remain around the foot for a longer period of time. This increases the risk of athletes foot forming. Throw on a pair of cotton socks and youll instantly reduce that risk.
Keep your toes dry. If wearing socks isnt keeping your toes dry enough, then consider placing some facial tissues between your toes. It feels a bit strange to do at first, but the moisture will be removed from the places on the foot where the fungus likes to grow and that lowers your risk of an infection. You will need to change out your tissues 4-6 times per day.
You May Like: How To Stop Fungus On Feet
Also Check: How To Kill Finger Nail Fungus
Diagnosing Toe Fungus What To Expect
Your doctors first priority will be determining which type of toe fungus you have, skin or nail. In order to make a proper diagnosis, your doctor will give you a physical examination.
Your doctor will also ask about what symptoms you are experiencing, what kinds of activities you participate in, what type of shoes you wear regularly, and your medical history.
To rule out skin conditions, he or she will take samples of the scales to test in a laboratory. He or she may take samples of the fungus to examine and identify.
Clean Socks And Shoes
Regularly changing your socks and shoes can also cut down on the growth of unwanted foot fungus. Both socks and athletic shoes can also be washed in hot water to rid the growth of yeasts and fungi that may be growing on the fabric. Some shoes can be machine dried. Drying shoes in the sun is another option when cleaning footwear.
Adding a half-cup of baking soda or one cup of vinegar to the washing machine can help eliminate bacteria or fungus on socks or shoes.
Boots and other footwear that are not machine washable could be wiped out with a vinegar and water solution or sprayed with an over-the-counter antifungal spray. Medicated powders are also helpful in treating shoes for foot fungus.
Allowing the feet to breathe by taking off shoes and socks when possible can prevent fungal growth. Protect your feet by wearing breathable footwear and clean socks. Antimicrobial socks and shoes made from bamboo, copper, or specialty fabrics are also available. They can help reduce unwanted bacteria and yeast from growing in your footwear.
A proactive approach to keeping your feet clean and dry can prevent the spread of toenail fungus. You can wash or soak feet with warm soapy water or a foot bath using everyday household items. Soaking your feet in an all-natural, homeopathic concoction can be beneficial in reducing or eliminating toenail fungus.
Also Check: How To Treat Mouth Fungus
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.
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.
Read Also: Does Nail Polish Kill Toenail Fungus
Toenail Fungus Home Care
Sometimes itâs possible to treat your toenail fungus at home. You can try:
- Over the counter antifungal creams or ointments. File or cut off any white markings on your nails. Soak your nails in water and dry off before you put on the medicated cream.
- Special nail care. If you keep your nails trimmed, it can reduce the pressure and pain you feel. You can also thin your nail bed by filing it down. This can help antifungal creams get to the problem easier.
Home Remedies For Foot Fungus
There are many home remedies, both proven and unproven, for athletes foot, toenail fungus, and other foot problems. Soaking the foot in a diluted vinegar or bleach solution can help cure athletes foot. Use baking soda or cornstarch and sprinkle it on the feet to keep them dry or remove odor.
Anti-fungal products can do wonders for toenail fungus. Olive leaf extract is not only anti-fungal but also antibacterial. Orange oil, another anti-fungal ingredient, can be applied to the affected nails to cure toenail fungus. Lavender or oregano oil can also be used.
To treat ingrown toenails at home that are not infected or just barely affected, soak the foot in warm water and Epsom salts, wedge cotton or something else soft underneath the nail to prop it up, and add antibacterial cream.
Recommended Reading: How To Identify Fungus On Trees
Question 4 Of : Will Foot Fungus Go Away On Its Own
Use Baking Soda And Hydrogen Peroxide
The best way to do this is to use an unused toothbrush, baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and water. The baking soda and hydrogen peroxide will be a 1:1 ratio.
Get about 4 tablespoons of baking soda and put it in the bowl and mix with about 4 tablespoons of hydrogen peroxide and add a splash of water.
Use the toothbrush and mix the ingredients. Then, use the toothbrush and scoop up some of the baking soda mixtures on the bottom and scrub in a circular motion on the shoes that need to be cleaned.
This needs to be a deep scrub. Start on the inside and make sure it is fully saturated, then go to the front, then to the sides, and then to the rest of the shoes.
Let sit for about 15 minutes and use ONLY hydrogen peroxide and water to clean the baking soda residue off of the shoes. Then let sit for another 20 minutes. After the 20 minutes is up, get water and rinse off the shoes using the toothbrush to ensure they have no chemicals on them.
At this point, the shoes should be completely cleared of any fungal spores and they should be whiter too! This process can be done to clean dirty shoes, carpet stains, pet odors, teeth whitening, and more!
Also Check: Does Iodine Kill Toenail Fungus
Know The Truth About Otc Remedies
When it comes to off-the-shelf toenail fungus products, theres probably no harm in using these medications, says Dr. Lipner. But the efficacy is not very good. So youre probably wasting your time, and youre probably wasting your money.
Same with the home remedy of using Vicks VapoRub. It works okay on a not-so-common type of foot fungus, but for the one most people have, it doesnt work well, she says. I think people believe that OTC products are safer in some way, but the reality is that they havent been approved by the FDAthey havent gone through extensive testing on thousands of patients. Why would you use products that havent been very well studied?
Staying One Step Ahead Of Toenail Fungus
An established fungal infection is hard to eradicate, but you can stop its spread and improve your toenails appearance.
Toenail fungus isnt a pressing health problem. Yet a fungal infection can ruin the appearance of your nails and cause pain as it lifts the nail away from the nail bed. And fungal infections are notoriously difficult to get rid of. You may want to consider fungal toenail a condition to be managed rather than cured, says Dr. James P. Ioli, chief of the podiatry service at Harvard-affiliated Brigham and Womens Hospital.
Also Check: Will Tea Tree Oil Cure Toenail Fungus
Recommended Reading: How To Care For Nail Fungus
Why Does Toenail Fungus Cause Nails To Fall Off
Toenail fungus is a pesky thing, and it likes to grow in the space between your toe, your toenail, as well as inside the nail itself. If this fungus is left unchecked and is allowed to run rampant, it can eventually cause the nail to slowly separate from the nail bed.
This can eventually cause a total detachment of the nail.
In addition, toenail fungus can cause the nail to become very brittle and easily broken. Accidental injury can be another reason for losing a toenail to nail fungus.
And I know what youâre thinking. âIf it falls off — great! Now Iâm rid of it.â
But itâs not that simple.
If your toenail falls off without fungal treatment, as it grows back in it will likely become reinfected.
If your infected toenail falls off, start using topical antifungal treatments so as your nail grows back it wonât be infected with the same lingering fungus.
Is Toe Fungus Contagious
Though toenail fungus is not highly contagious, it may be spread to others by sharing items that it comes in contact with, like shoes, socks, nail polish, etc. Therefore, if you have a nail infection, it is important to be careful.
While toe fungus can be passed from person to person, the most likely reason you may develop toe fungus is after an untreated bout of athletes foot.
Read Also: How Do People Get Toenail Fungus