Is It Possible To Cure Toenail Fungus

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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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.

Nail Fungus Sufferers: What Works And What Doesnt

Are you tired of suffering from stubborn and ugly nail infections? Do you long for letting your once beautiful toes see the sunlight again? Do you wonder what its going to take to get rid of the fungus?

Over the years weve had the opportunity to collect testimonials from people who left comments on ToenailFungusTreatments.com, who have used different types of nail fungus remedies. After analyzing them, weve created some useful suggestions for those who want to eliminate nail fungus.

Of course, nothing is ever 100% guaranteed, but if we can learn from others with similar problems, we have a better chance of crossing off one more problem we have from the list that seems to accumulate many problems as we age.

How Doctors Heal Patients

In fact, I was thinking about doctors and how they learn. I know that if you ask any doctor who he or she learned the most from, they will say their patients. In the practice of medicine, a doctor who pays the most attention to the results that their patients are receiving, and makes appropriate adjustments is often the most successful both with people and against disease.

Recognizing this feedback loop was very valuable, we started collecting reports on remedies from our readers and have been able to create some basic guidelines for anyone with nail fungus problems who wants to use these treatments to get clear nails again.

Guidelines From Our Readers about Nail Fungus Remedies

Ugly Toenail Transformed to Beautiful and Perfect

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Mayo Clinic Q And A: Treatment For Toenail Fungus Isnt Always Necessary

DEAR MAYO CLINIC: I am in my late 50s, and a few of my toenails have turned a yellowish color and seem to have thickened. Is this something I should be concerned about? Is there anything I can do to fix this?

ANSWER: What youre likely experiencing is a fungal nail infection. Fungal nail infections are common, especially among older adults. As nail growth slows with age, its easier for fungus to establish in the nail bed. Treatments are available, although they may take some vigilance and are not always necessary.

Toenail fungus usually is caused by a microscopic organism called dermatophyte fungus. It often begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of your toenail. But as the infection goes deeper, nail fungus may cause your nail to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. These fungal infections are more likely to happen in your toenails than in your fingernails because toenails often are confined in a dark, warm, moist environment, where fungi can thrive. Toes also have less blood flow than fingers, making it harder for your bodys immune system to detect and stop the infection. But it is possible for fingernails to be affected.

The older you are, the more likely you are to get toenailfungus. Thats because as you age, your immune system changes. Inaddition, your nails become more brittle and drier over time, creating morecracks where fungus can live.

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How Do Dermatologists Treat A Fungal Nail Infection

Treatment usually begins with your dermatologist trimming your infected nail, cutting back each infected nail to the place where it attaches to your finger or toe. Your dermatologist may also scrape away debris under the nail. This helps get rid of some fungus.

To completely get rid of the infection, most people also need one or more of the following treatments:

Medicine you apply to the nail: If you have a mild infection, a medicine that you apply to your nails may get rid of the infection. This treatment helps keep new fungus out while the nails grow. Fingernails typically grow out in four to six months. Toenails take longer, usually takes 12 to 18 months.

Probably the most difficult part of this treatment is remembering to use it as often as prescribed. Some treatments must be applied every day. Others you apply once a week. To get the best results, its essential that you apply these medicines exactly as directed.

The US Food and Drug Administration has approved the following medicines that you apply to the nail to treat nail fungus:

• Amorolfine

• Efinaconazole

• Tavaborole

Side effects from these medicines are generally mild. Possible side effects include redness and swelling, an ingrown toenail, and stinging or burning when you apply the medicine. In clinical trials, none of these side effects caused patients to stop using the treatment.

The FDA has approved the following systemic medicines to treat nail fungus:

• Fluconazole

• Itraconazole

• Terbinafine

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Soak Your Feet In This Solution For At Least Half An Hour

Scrub the infected toenail very gently with a very soft toothbrush. Repeat twice a day for a few days to see the difference

According to some studies, vinegar may not be as effective in removing toenail fungus. And in severe cases, you may need to remove the toenail entirely to get rid of the problem. Vinegar is also acidic in nature. Hence, soaking your feet every day in vinegar may cause skin irritation in some. If this happens, it is the best to soak feet thrice a week instead of everyday. Also, people affected with diabetes and autoimmune disorders, or those suffering from circulation problems should consult their doctor first before staring on any foot treatment or remedy. Toenail fungus if left untreated, or in absence of proper treatment can turn into a serious affair more quickly than you can expect.

Hence, in case you feel it is not getting better with self-care measures and home remedies, it is recommended to seek medical advice immediately, to avoid spread of infection and any further complications.

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Vicks Vapor Rub For Toenail Fungus Myth Or Miracle Cure

Is VICKS VapoRub for toenail fungus effective?

There our a lot of home remedies out there for curing toenail fungus, but a lot of them simply do not work. You have apple cider vinegar, Epsom salt baths, all the essential oils, etc.

VICKS Vaper Rub, which is really called the trademark name of VICKS VapoRub, is one of the many cheap treatment options out there that some people suggest But Does It Actually Work?

The answer is YES, at least to some extent… It definitely does have some potential as a treatment option as you will see. And… it’s easy to find in stores and it’s cheap, so of course this is something that a lot of people are going to be interested in, especially when you look at other treatment options which can get pretty darn expensive.

Some statistics say that around 10% of the population has at least some amount of toenail fungus and around 50% of people 70 years old and older have it. It’s a pretty crazy statistic and there is no doubt that toenail fungus is a big problem.

Much of the time it goes away on its own due to the body’s effective immune response, but sometimes it can get out of hand and requires serious attention. Of course you do not want that to happen so treating as soon as possible should be a priority.

Toenail Fungus Explained:

• Thickened nails
• Discoloration, usually whitish or yellowish
• Brittle fractured nails
• Darkened color from all the dead debris
• Bad smells and strange looks from onlookers

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What Is A Fungal Nail Infection

Fungal nail infections are a common problem that can affect any nail, but most often affects the toenails.

Theyre caused by the growth of fungal spores that make their way between the toenail and the skin underneath the nail bed. The spores feed off the skin or the keratin in the nail.

The type of fungi responsible for athletes foot, another common foot condition that affects the skin mainly between the toes, can cause the infection to spread to the nails.

More rarely, fungal nail infections can be caused by other types of fungi, usually yeasts, which tend to attack nails that are already damaged because they are easier for the fungi to invade.

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Best Ways To Treat A Nail Fungus

Nail fungus can cause thick, discolored nails, and, for some patients, it can even be painful. An Internet search will bring up plenty of ways to treat the condition, but which ones are best? Dermatologist Dr. Christopher Hull discusses what nail fungus actually is, why its so hard to get rid of, and which treatments work best.

Remedies To Fight Toenail Fungus At Home

Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is perhaps one of the most common nail disorders. It is a fungal infection that penetrates through chinks in your toenail, cuts in the surrounding skin, or the separation between the nail and the toe, and affects the material below the toenail.

The fungus tends to thrive in certain conditions, such as abnormal body pH, a weakened immune system, continuous exposure to a moist environment including sweaty shoes and socks, poor hygiene, and diabetes.

As embarrassing as this condition may be, simply camouflaging your unsightly toenail, such as painting your nails, without tending to it properly would do you more harm than good. If the infection goes untreated long enough, it could spread to the adjoining skin, to the other toenails, and even perhaps to your fingernails.

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Health Conditions That Mimic Toenail Fungus Symptoms

Below is a list of health conditions that usually display similar symptoms to that of toenail infections. Knowing how to differentiate between these conditions is the first step to figuring out proper treatment.

• Psoriasis This causes the skin to appear red and scaly. A large number of people who are affected by this skin disorder also have this condition spreading to the nail. Nails on both hand and feet will begin displaying symptoms similar to fungal infections such as discoloration, brittle and loose texture.
• Skin Cancer If a spot inside the toenail is visible it can also be a sign of melanoma which is a fatal type of cancer of the skin. Black or brown spots located underneath the toenail maybe a serious medical condition that you should have a doctor checkout immediately.

Learning the difference between a simple toenail fungal infection and a more serious health condition is vital for your safety. Do not simply ignore what appears to be toenail fungal infection, it is best to have your doctor check it out in order to give you proper treatment as soon as possible.

Will White Iodine Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus

Creams and most topical medications are usually not as effective as oral medications in treating nail fungus, but they can work and dont have as many potential side effects.

Unfortunately, toenails can often be too hard for topical medications to penetrate, which includes white iodine. Nonetheless, some experts claim that iodine may have some effect on fungal toenail infections because iodine molecules are small in size. This allows iodine to penetrate deeper into your nail bed, thus destroying the fungus.

But like most home remedies, white iodine may take time to show noticeable effects. In addition to taking the correct precautions to prevent fungal infections from spreading, you can also use coconut oil in conjunction with your iodine treatment. After applying a coat of iodine to your nails, allow your nails to dry before moisturizing with coconut oil.

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What Should You Do For The Best Outcome

Regardless of the recommended course of treatment for fungal nails, one thing always tends to ring true:

The sooner you come for help with fungal toenails, the better your chances of treatment successand the faster you can see results!

Letting the fungus continue to grow and thrive within your toenails will only increase the challenge of fighting it.

You dont even have to wait until your nails are looking that bad to come to see us. In the earliest stages of a fungal infection, you may only see some white streaks or spots under your nail. It can be easy to pass these off as simple nicks and bumps on the nail, but keep track of them. If they change shape or grow over time, its worth having us take a look. Catching a fungal infection this early can save you plenty of time.

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How Can One Get Rid Of Toenail Fungus

Toenail Fungus can be treated in multiple ways.

• 1. Over the Counter Treatments

Over the counter gets, creams, soaks, sprays, and oral medicines can work best when your toenail fungus is mild and has just begun.

You may use products containing Undecylenic Acid, Tolnaftate, Clotrimazole, Terbinafine, or Tea Tree Oil.

• 2. Essential Oils

Milder Toenail Fungus can be treated with the application of diluted essential oils. Eucalyptus, Tea Tree, Lavender, Cinnamon , Lemon or Lemon Grass Essential Oils can be used for topical treatment of Toenail Fungus.

• 3. Home Remedies

Some home remedies can be very effective in controlling the infection. These remedies can prevent the fungi from entering the tissue and spreading to the bloodstream.

Garlic, onion, ginger and lemon are the most common ingredients used in the treatment of toenail fungus.

• 4. Diet & Exercise

Toenail Fungus has a lot to do with your immune system or your bodys natural defense mechanism.

If you eat healthy foods and exercise well, there are chances your immunity raises and fights the fungi.

Science explains how our bodys soldiers can destroy the thriving fungi within days if we have the right amount of them.

• 5. Nail Hygiene

Maintaining hygiene is very important. As fungi can grow and multiply easily in moist and humid environments, you have to take care your toenails excessively.

Trimming and shaping the toenails can reduce chances of fungi entering your skin and prevents spread of infection.