How To Get Rid Of Foot Nail Fungus

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.

Why Does It Develop

A fungal nail infection occurs from the overgrowth of fungi in, under, or on the nail. Fungi thrive in warm, moist environments, so this type of environment can cause them to naturally overpopulate. The same fungi that cause jock itch, athletes foot, and ringworm can cause nail infections.

Fungi that are already present in or on your body can cause nail infections. If you have come in contact with someone else who has a fungal infection, you may have contracted it as well. Fungal infections affect toenails more commonly than fingernails, likely because your toes are usually confined to shoes, where theyre in a warm, moist environment.

If you get a manicure or pedicure at a nail salon, be sure to ask how the staff disinfects their tools and how often they do it. Tools, such as emery boards and nail clippers, can spread fungal infections from person to person if theyre not sanitized.

Which Treatment Is Right For Me

Nail fungus is usually harmless. But many people find discolored or thickened nails unpleasant to look at and want to get rid of the fungus as soon as possible. Fungal nail infections can also spread, and may infect other people. Regardless of the treatment you choose, it will take a while until the nail looks normal again. Its especially important to be patient where toenails are concerned. It can take a year for a healthy big toenail to grow back. Nail fungus can sometimes be very persistent despite treatment. It can also come back after successful treatment.

Topical treatment isnt likely to get rid of a fungal nail infection. Treatment with tablets is considerably more effective and takes less time. But some people cant take tablets because of the very rare, yet serious risks. How you feel about the pros and cons of the different treatment options is a personal matter. You can also discuss the options with your doctor.

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What Causes Foot Fungus

• Foot fungal infection is caused by a microscopic fungus that lives on dead tissue of the hair, toenails, and outer skin layer. You get the fungus through direct contact with an infected person or by touching surfaces contaminated with the fungus.
• The fungus thrives in warm and moist environments mostly found in showers, locker room floors, and around swimming pools.
• Thus, it is recommended to dry your feet with a clean towel after showering and before wearing shoes.
• You can get foot fungus from visiting public places barefoot, especially locker rooms, showers, and swimming pools.
• Sharing socks, shoes, or towels with infected people or wearing tight-fitting closed shoes may also cause foot fungal infection.
• People who sweat profusely are more likely to get foot fungus. Also, having a minor skin or nail injury on the foot can lead to a fungal infection.
• In people with weak immune systems such as diabetes, cancer, and HIV/AIDS patients, a fungal infection in another part of the body may spread and cause foot fungal infections.
• Because many elderly people have chronic diseases and take immunosuppressive medications, they also have a weaker immune system and are more prone to fungal infections.

How Long Does A Foot Soak Take To Cure Fungus

Theres no obvious answer, and for some people, the answer may in fact be: it wont cure it.

For any foot soak to be effective treating fungus, it has to be used regularly over a sustained period of time.

Wed advice soaking your feet for between 20-30 minutes each day to see any effect with the solutions below.

This is something you need to do daily, since fungus spreads easily and can be difficult to disrupt.

To get some perspective, the strongest antifungal prescription medication Jublia, a 10% topical agent that uses efinaconazole comes with a recommended usage period of at least 48 weeks.

This is due to the fact that fungus spreads under the nail, which in turn can take a very long time to heal and regrow.

Any fook soak treatment plan is going to be slow and you are unlikely to see a reduction of fungus overnight.

The good news?

There are many benefits to soaking your feet other than treating fungus!

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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.

Keep Fungus Away From Shoes In The First Place

• Clean nail clippers thoroughly in boiling water with a toothbrush. Wipe them dry with rubbing alcohol and follow up with a clean towel.
• Protect your feet around swimming pools and locker rooms by wearing flip-flops and drying feet thoroughly. These locations tend to be breading grounds for foot fungus, so you should take protective measures when in these locations.

Find out more about toenail fungus:

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When Are The Different Treatments Considered

Most doctors recommend treating nail fungus with nail polish or cream if

• not much more than half of the nail is affected by the fungus,
• the base of the nail is not infected, and
• only some nails are affected.

Topical treatment is also usually recommended for children. One reason for this is that most oral medications arent suitable for children. Another reason is that children have thinner nails that grow more quickly, so its assumed that treatment with nail polish or creams is more likely to work in children than in adults. White superficial onychomycosis is also often treated with a nail polish or cream.

If several nails are infected by the fungus, or if the infection has spread out more on the affected nails, its usually necessary to take oral medication. And if the infection started at the base of the nail, its highly likely that only tablets will help.

Apple Cider Vinegar And Epsom Salt

Another foot soak method, this is said to work really well for toenail fungal infections. Apple cider vinegar has a number of healing and antibacterial properties if its organic, making it a go-to for many homeopathic treatments.

• 1/3 cup full strength ACV
• 2 cups hot water
• 1/3 cup Epsom salt

Mix and soak your toes/feet for at least 30 minutes every day. Apple cider vinegar is also a good supplement to take internally for overall health and to promote healing of fungus and bacteria from the inside out.

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What Side Effects And Drug

The possible side effects of itraconazole include headaches, dizziness, stomach and bowel problems, and rashes. Itraconazole can also interact with a number of other drugs. These include cholesterol-reducing and blood-sugar-lowering medications, as well as certain sleeping pills. It is therefore important to let your doctor know about any medication you take. Itraconazole is not an option for people with heart failure . It also isnt suitable for women who are pregnant or breastfeeding.

Terbinafine can cause gastrointestinal problems and a temporary loss of taste and smell. It can also interact with certain antidepressants and heart medications. Overall, terbinafine has far fewer drug-drug interactions than itraconazole. Nevertheless, its still important to tell your doctor if you are taking any other medication. As a precaution, this medication should not be taken during pregnancy or if you are breastfeeding.

The studies only rarely reported on how often the different side effects occurred. But most people tolerate nail fungus medications well. Only a few people in the studies stopped treatment because of side effects.

But there is a very small risk of liver damage from taking itraconazole or terbinafine. For this reason, people with a liver disease are only given these medications if its absolutely necessary.

Can Black Socks Because Of Toenail Fungus

• In some ways, black socks can cause toenail fungus.
• If the socks are occlusive and make you sweat more, this could create a good environment for black toenail fungus to flourish.
• But if some of the pieces of the black sock get caught underneath the toenail, this is not officially the fungus exclamation part.
• The first thing we would do is try to trim the toenail and make sure the small fibers of the black sock are not getting caught underneath the toenail.

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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.

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 Cure Toenail Fungus With Sea Salt

Sea salt is a cheap and easy remedy for treating toenail fungus. The natural treatment helps in curing the fungal growth and preventing the infection.

How to use?

• To a bowl of water add half a cup of sea salt
• Soak your feet in the sea salt solution for at least thirty minutes
• After that rinse your feet and pat them dry.

Benefits of Sea Salt solution

Sea salt is one of the most effective ways for how to get rid of toenail fungus. It not only prevents the fungal growth but also pampers your feet. You can dip your feet in the solution as and when you want to treat the fungal growth and rejuvenate yourself. It gives you excellent results.

Precautions

After dipping your feet in the solution do moisturize them as the sea salt solution will dry your skin.

Best Medicated Nail Polish: Arishine Toenail Fungus Treatment

• Treats discoloration, brittleness, and cracked nails

• Easy, on-the-go treatment

• Only works on nail plates

• Treatment process can be slow

The Arishine Toenail Treatment has the design and convenience of a pencil. Perfect for storing in a bag or pocket while at work, the repair pencil allows you to use a paintable nail polish on your infected toenail three times a day with ease to treat a nail fungal issue.

The Arishine treatment uses two percent deacetylated chitin, three percent O-hydroxybenzoic acid, and Angelica dahurica as active ingredients to get rid of fungus and heal the damage. This solution can help treat discoloration, brittleness, split, rough, and cracked nails. Ultimately, this medicated nail polish can lead to stronger and healthier nails.

Arishine is made of natural ingredients and does not conduct animal testing. Treatment requires three applications a day and should be used for four to 12 weeks, although improvement may be visible in as few as two weeks. Arishine offers customers a satisfaction guarantee.

Active Ingredients: Deacetylated chitin , O-hydroxybenzoic acid , and Angelica dahurica | Dose: Applicator automatically delivers correct amount with two to three clicks. Apply around nail on cuticles and under nail bed. | Uses: Treats fungus infection on and around nails helps heal discolored, brittle nails

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Side Effects Of Toenail Fungus Medication

One of the many benefits of using a homeopathic remedy is that there are little to no adverse side effects. Topical treatments often prescribed to treat toenail fungus can potentially burn or blister the skin. Oral medications for treating onychomycosis can cause liver or gastrointestinal damage. Be sure to read your medications list of potential side effects. Consult your pharmacist, physician, or specialist if you are concerned about side effects of prescription drugs.

How To Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus With Bleach

One constant question people who have toenail fungus ask is how to get rid of it using bleach. About one out of four Europeans suffer from toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis. It does not only leave the toenail looking ugly but also feels uncomfortable.

A great deal of money is spent on treating nail fungus, in general, each year. Toenail fungus has a high recurrence rate despite the fact that much is invested in treating it. The nail fungus develops as a result of improper nail care.

Additionally, a health issue may be the cause. Is bleach effective against toenail fungus & does One Cup of This Will Destroy Your Nail Fungus? The article will answer this question.

Bleach, One Cup of This Will Destroy Your Nail Fungus

Toenail fungus is often treated with bleach, and simply One Cup of This Will Destroy Your Nail Fungus. Despite a lack of concrete research to support the practice. Bleach sterilizes the nail by killing the fungus that causes infection.

Bleach has been reported to be effective by numerous individuals all over the world. Using bleach to remove toenail fungus can be done safely if a few precautions are taken.

Heres what you need

• Bleach

Warnings

Neither ammonia nor vinegar should be mixed with bleach or a dangerous chlorine gas will result from this process. Toenail bleach should not be applied undiluted. It can irritate your foots skin.

Other Toenail fungus treatment

Hydrogen peroxide

Black Tea

Wrapping Up

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Your Options For Treating Toenail Fungus

If you think you may have toenail fungus, you should see a podiatrist or dermatologist, who will send a specimen or a piece of your nail to a lab. Different types of fungus are treated slightly differently, so its important to know which type you have, says Sundling.

Also, sometimes the root of the problem is not a fungus at all, but rather another condition, or some kind of trauma to the nail bed for instance, if you dropped something on your toe. There is no treatment for toenail trauma, but removing the nail may be an option if the nail is painful.

If you do have a toenail fungus, your doctor will likely recommend one or more of the following treatment options:

Softening And Scraping Away The Nail

As it can take a long time for antifungal medication to work, some people may prefer to use a treatment that involves softening and removing infected parts of nail over a few weeks.

Treatment kits are available from pharmacies that contain a 40% urea paste, plasters and a scraping device. The paste softens the infected parts of the nail, allowing them to be scraped away so they can be gradually replaced with healthy nail.

To use the treatment:

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Treating Nail Fungus With Hydrogen Peroxide

Hydrogen peroxide is a light blue chemical that is an essential part of every household and is increasingly becoming a go-to solution for all sorts of problems.

It started as a mere house cleaning supply but is now being used for extensive purposes, including hair-bleaching, drain unclogging, teeth whitening, and nail and foot treatment.

According to Cleveland Clinic, nail fungus accounts for 50% of all nail issues and affects 1 in every ten people. Therefore, there is a high chance that you are scouring through this guide in search of a nail fungus solution.

Whats alarming is that toenail fungus is contagious, which means there is a high likelihood of you affecting a family member or friend. Therefore, we recommend that you jump right onto the hydrogen peroxide treatments to avoid any more troubles.