Tips To Combat Foot Fungus
The best way to combat foot fungus is to reduce your exposure to it. There are simple things you can do to prevent from contracting foot and nail fungus.
How Apple Cider Vinegar May Help Treat Toenail Fungus
If you notice that your toenails are starting to thicken or change color, there is a chance you may have onychomycosis. Onychomycosis is the medical term for the condition commonly known as toenail fungus. If you are in the early stages of developing toenail fungus, you may notice a white or yellow spot under the tip of your toenail. Afterward, you may notice that the fungus will travel deeper and start to discolor, thicken, or distort the edge of the nail. Nevertheless, there are items you likely have in your kitchen cabinet that can aid in fighting toenail fungus. Apple cider vinegar is a popular remedy for toenail fungus due to its antifungal properties. If you want to treat your fungus using ACV, you can soak your feet in a mixture of warm water and the vinegar for about 15 minutes, twice a day. When purchasing the ACV, you should make sure it is raw, unpasteurized, and organic. For further assistance with treating toenail fungus, please consider scheduling a consultation with a podiatrist.
If left untreated, toenail fungus may spread to other toenails, skin, or even fingernails. If you suspect you have toenail fungus it is important to seek treatment right away. For more information about treatment, contact Dr. Gordon Fosdick of Affiliated Foot Care Center. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.
Symptoms
- Warped or oddly shaped nails
- Yellowish nails
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.
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How Do You Get A Fungal Nail Infection
This type of infection is highly contagious and flourishes in warm, moist environments. You can pick it up by:
Walking barefoot in places such as communal swimming pools, showers, gyms and changing rooms
Not keeping your feet clean
Not drying between your toes
Wearing shoes that cause your feet to get hot and sweaty
Having athlete’s foot, where the infection can easily spread to the nail, or simply having a damaged nail can also increase your risk
How Is Athletes Foot Treated
Athletes foot can often be treated with over-the-counter topical antifungal medications. If OTC medications dont treat your infection, your doctor may prescribe topical or oral prescription-strength antifungal medications. Your doctor may also recommend home treatments to help clear up the infection.
Recommended Reading: How Do You Treat Fingernail Fungus
Lets Talk About Using Bleach
Bleach for your toenail fungus can be helpful to some and problematic for others. Soaks in diluted bleach proves useful for some with less extreme fungal infections. Others use bleach by directly applying it to their infected nails.
If you do this, you should use extreme caution and check with your doctor if this safe to do.
More onusing bleach to kill toenail fungus.
Doctor Prescribed Ways To Treat Nail Fungus
Fortunately, there several ways to get rid of nail fungus. Most treatments aim to eradicate the causative organism and restore the normal appearance of healthy nails. Treatment options range from self-care remedies, to medications recommended by a general practitioner, to ointments bought over-the-counter without a prescription.
Its important to note that repeat infections are common even with treatment. Whats more, remedies are not all equally effective with some even causing possible side effects.
With that in mind, here are some of the top ways to treat and get rid of nail fungus at home.
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Hair Dryer And Talcum Powder
If fungi do not have an ideal environment to live in, they cannot continue to grow and thrive. Getting rid of moisture from the feet, especially between the toes, can help keep the fungus from spreading and getting worse.
People can remove moisture from their feet by thoroughly drying them with a hair dryer after bathing, making sure that no moisture remains but being careful not to burn the skin. People with loss of sensation or feeling in the feet should not use this method.
When the feet are dry, follow up by sprinkling them with talcum powder to help absorb sweat. Many foot powders contain talc and help keep the feet dry.
In addition to these steps, wearing socks that absorbs moisture away from the skin can help keep the feet dry. The following types of socks can help keep feet dry throughout the day:
- wool
- bamboo
- synthetic wicking fabric, often called tech socks
Changing socks at least once a day when feet feel sweaty or damp is also helpful. Or, in warmer weather, wear open shoes or sandals to increase airflow to the feet.
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How To Use Bleach For Treating Toenail Fungus
Bleach is known as the most powerful element to healing your nail fungus . Many people are confused about how exactly they need to use the same. There are a good number of options available in the market for the treatment of a nail fungus. The majority choose bleach because it is very effective and inexpensive.
They are still searching for possible ways to get rid of toenail fungus. People can choose either of the two ways of using bleach for toenail fungus. Here they are:
A Pharmacist Can Help With Athlete’s Foot
Athlete’s foot is unlikely to get better on its own, but you can buy antifungal medicines for it from a pharmacy. They usually take a few weeks to work.
Athlete’s foot treatments are available as:
- creams
- sprays
- powders
They’re not all suitable for everyone for example, some are only for adults. Always check the packet or ask a pharmacist.
You might need to try a few treatments to find one that works best for you.
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White Vinegar Or Apple Cider Vinegar
Vinegar is slightly acidic, so natural remedies like apple cider vinegar work to balance the pH of the skin. It also helps to prevent the fungus from spreading and kills bacteria and fungi. Mix equal parts vinegar and water and soak the infected area for 30 minutes daily. Make sure to thoroughly dry your foot after.
Best Product To Prevent Athletes Foot
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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 can also check out these 10 natural remedies for Athletes Foot from Global Healing Center for more ideas.
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.
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Causes Of Toenail Fungus
- Onychomycosis stems from a number of fungal pathogens, primarily a certain group of fungi known as dermatophytes. Other relatively less common carriers of this infection are yeast and mold.
- Your susceptibility to this type of infection increases with age as older people tend to have increasingly brittle and dry nails that may allow the fungus to slip in through the cracks.
- Direct skin-to-skin contact with people grappling with fungal infections like athletes foot or ringworm on their hands can transmit the fungus onto you, paving the way for a toenail infection.
- A warm, moist environment such as a pool deck or a locker room provide the ideal breeding grounds for these infection-causing fungi. Therefore, people who walk barefoot in such areas tend to pick up this infection quite easily.
- Another common way of catching a fungal nail infection is by sharing an infected nail clipper or towel.
- Moreover, people who are prone to having moisture-ridden nails or often wear sweaty socks and shoes are increasingly predisposed to getting a fungal nail infection all by themselves.
Nail Fungus Controls Unique Organic Formula Clears Nails Fast
I think you are going to be shocked when you see just how quickly Nail Fungus Control can clear you toenail fungal infection.For me, it cleared up my severe case of toenail fungus with about 2 and 1/2 bottles. See the progression below:
I would say about 32 days into my treatment, the nail had already begun to clear up enough to where I felt comfortable wearing sandals again. What a relief!
Those who developed Forces of Nature Nail Fungus Control deserve a Nobel prize or something, let me tell ya!
And with Forces of Nature Nail Fungus Control There is NO NEED for Mind Numbing, Hour Long, Foot-Bath Sessions Every Day!
The one thing I really like best about Nail Fungus Control is that it saves you A LOT of time. Those stupid Vinegar or Listerine foot bathsMan I hate those with a passion! I have so many memories of sitting hours on end with my feet submerged in a Tupperware container filled with vinegar, bored out of my mind and fully aware of all the time I was wasting. My eyes counted down every minute on the clock.
But with Nail Fungus Control, you can apply the treatment within seconds while youre putting your socks on to get ready to go to work for the day.
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Question 6 Of : What Natural Options Treat Foot Fungus
Potential Side Effects Of Using Bleach For Nail Fungus
A bleach is undoubtedly the most excellent home remedy. But, it can cause severe damage to the skin. Whether it is a chlorine bleach or a non-chlorine one, both are risky.
Here are some of the possible side effects of bleach when used for nail fungus:
Since the advent of this treatment, bleach is considered to be quite vital. Before using it on your toenail fungus, you need to know everything about it. These include its pros as well as cons. But, as notified by the majority of the people, this is truly a viable treatment. The toenail fungus appears to be quite small. However, if it is not treated on time, it may prove to be fatal. Till now, you might have got a real idea about how to get rid of toenail fungus with bleach. Still, we recommend you to see your doctor as some expert advice is very necessary.
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Ways To Treat Your Foot Fungus Today
If you have fungus, then one question youre probably asking is what can I do today?. Here are some things you can do today to help kill fungi on your feet for good.
Change your shoes Shoes and other footwear are typically not ventilated well and thus creates a dark, humid environment, perfect for fungus growth.
Most shoes are hot and humid inside and do not allow air to flow through the footwear. The sweating of feet also contributes to the damp environment.
So, alternating between different shoes and also investing in some foot powder would be advised.
Wear Socks Wearing shoes without socks allows for your feet to remain moist for longer periods of time. Socks absorb some of the sweat produced by your feet, allowing a dryer environment to exist and also reducing chances of fungus forming.
Become more active As we get older, our circulation becomes poorer. Being more active allows for the blood to circulate better and reach your toes. This increases the chances you will conquer toenail fungus and expedite the process.
Clean possible infected areas There is a high chance that if you have a fungal nail infection that your shower and bathroom is infected with the fungus. Cleaning it with bleach weekly will decrease the chances for the fungus to spread anymore that it has.
Limit chances of exposure If you frequent public areas such as showers or pools, protecting yourself from further exposure will be a key to your success.
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