Can You Get Toenail Fungus From A Swimming Pool
Its a common myth that toenail fungus dies in chlorine, much like parasites, viruses, and bacteria.
However, the fungi causing toenail concerns thrive on the outskirts of jacuzzis and pools and in it.
People often contract a toenail fungus from swimming pools and changing rooms because of this misinformation.
Showering before and after entering a pool is essential to prevent fungi transmission, like wearing swimming shoes.
What Causes Fungal Nails
Fungus tends to live in warm, damp, dark environments. Your toenails spend hours every day in an environment where fungi can thrive your socks and shoes. A fungal nail infection means, simply, that a lot of fungi have congregated in your nails.
Youre more likely to get a fungal infection if you dont thoroughly wash and dry your feet or if your feet are hot and sweaty. If you go barefoot in a locker room or swim in a public pool, you may be exposing yourself to nail fungi.
Its easy for fungi to spread. You may catch it from another person. Once your nails become infected, the infection can easily spread to other parts of your body. Its common for nail fungus to accompany athletes foot, an infection of the skin between your toes.
Your risk of developing fungal nails is higher if you have diabetes, a weakened immune system, or poor circulation. Your toes dont receive as much blood as your fingers, so its harder for them to combat infections, and these conditions make it that much harder. Also, some people are genetically susceptible to nail fungus.
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Whats The Best Way To Live With Toenail Fungus
Look, toenail fungus is prevalent among adults and rarely harmful. The symptoms are easy to spot by yourself or with a quick visit to your doctors office.
Treating the fungus will need good hygiene care and discipline on your part. So make sure you get rid of old socks, keep your nails short and keep your feet dry as much as you can.
However, I can understand if this feels quite overwhelming right now.
This is why Im sharing this next solution with you here.
Its not a magic bullet, but it is worth trying. Ive been using it for a few weeks and started to see some noticeable progress on my small toe, which is the worst toe for my case.
Next week, Ill post some natural home remedies for toenail fungus. So keep your notifications on for this page so you do not miss them.
Together we can tackle this embarrassing infection and get back to wearing open-toe sandals on that next beach resort vacation.
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What Is Fungal Infection
Fungal infections can affect anyone, and they can appear on several parts of the body. A jock with athletes foot, a baby with thrush, and a woman with a vaginal yeast infection are just a few examples.
Fungi are microorganisms characterized by a substance in their cell walls called chitin. Some fungi, like many types of mushrooms, are edible. Other types of fungi, like aspergillus, can be extremely dangerous and lead to life-threatening diseases.
Different types of fungi can cause fungal infections. In some cases, fungi that arent typically found on or inside your body can colonize it and cause an infection. In other cases, fungi that are normally present on or inside your body can multiply out of control and cause an infection.
Fungal infections can be contagious. They can spread from one person to another. In some cases, you can also catch disease-causing fungi from infected animals or contaminated soil or surfaces.
If you develop signs or symptoms of a fungal infection, make an appointment with your doctor.
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During Manicure And Pedicure
Believe it or not, but the fungal spores can also survive on the metal surface for almost 48 hours or more. Therefore, whenever someone goes for a pedicure or manicure they should ensure that all the metal tools used for it are clean, and sterilized.
Imagine, someone with toenail fungus infection came for the manicure, and then the next hour you visited that saloon.
Now the fungal spore might reside in your toes, and grow within a few days. Those suffering with toenail fungus need to take care, if the saloon service is aware of you suffering with the toenail fungus. You should tell them very clearly, so that no one else can get the toenail fungus infection.
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Home Remedies For Toenail Fungus:
Baking soda soaks up moisture that may cause toenail fungus. Baking soda was examined for its effect on common fungi that cause illnesses, such as toenail fungus.
Baking soda inhibited fungal development in 79 percent of the specimens tested, according to the researchers. Baking soda inhibited fungal development in another 17% of cases, but it did not eliminate it.
How To Use It?
To absorb moisture, consider placing baking soda inside your socks and shoes.
People can also use a baking soda and water mixture directly to the infected nail and leave it on for at least 10 minutes before washing. Repeat many times a day until the fungus is gone.
Another home treatment for toenail fungus is to use apple cider vinegar. Vinegar has antifungal properties and may be used with water to make a foot soak. Its acetic acid element assists in the whitening of discolored toenails and the prevention of infection spreading to other toes.
How To Use It?
Soak your feet in two parts vinegar to one part of lukewarm water for 20 minutes every day. For a more intense foot soak, use one part vinegar to one part water. Essential oils can be used to make the situation more pleasant if the fragrance is too strong. Both white vinegar and apple cider vinegar are equally effective.
Garlic, which is typically used to season food, may also help cure toenail fungus. There is some evidence to support this assertion, however, it is limited.
How To Use It?
Can I Wear Nail Polish With Toenail Fungus
Apart from warm environments, the fungus can also thrive in dark and wet spots.
One thing I wanted to do with my fungal infection was to cover it up with regular nail polish.
Doing so gave the fungus the perfect environment to thrive and made it impossible to treat adequately.
When using opaque nail polish, each coat creates a layer where the fungus can spread to.
It also creates a thick layer of material that prevents topical treatments from accessing the source of infection.
This doesnt mean, though, that you should avoid cosmetic nail polish.
With the combination of medicinal fungal nail polish, cosmetic polish can be applied on top.
Since the medicated polish is closest to the nail bed, it will eliminate the fungus.
Does Nail Polish Help Toenail Fungus?
A fantastic alternative to traditional polish is to use medicated toenail polish.
The specialty formula features antifungal medicines that work at the source of the infection while hiding nail discoloration.
This instance is the only time that nail polish could help ward off toenail fungus.
Most of the medicated nail polishes will contain one of two antifungal ingredients.
Amorolfine is an antifungal chemical applied once or twice weekly.
Ciclopirox is another standard option, which needs to be applied every other day for the first month.
In the second month, Ciclopirox nail polish should be applied twice per week.
For the third month, it can be applied once weekly.
Can You Get Toenail Fungus From Sharing Nail Polish?
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Wearing Single Pair Of Shoes
If a person will only wear a single pair of shoes all day, both for the indoors and outdoors, then chances are that he might develop the toenail fungus. The reason for it is the exposure to the outside dirt and the already existing spores in the environment.
For example, if he went for a walk in the same shoes, and then wore those shoes for the entire day, you never know when the fungal spores in the park got stuck with his feet.
Another reason is when people take outdoor shoes inside their house, then the richness of toenail fungus increases. As many people have carpeted floors, so if any of their family members would come inside the house with the dirty shoes, then the fungal spores might stay on the carpet.
Now healthy feet will be easily exposed to the fungal spores, this way the chance of getting toenail fungus will increase.
The Structure Of The Fungus
The structure of the fungus plays a very crucial role in making it a strong micro-organism. The fungus cells have a very thick cell wall, and destroying it is very difficult.
Fungal cell wall has one of the strongest biochemical compounds, that is chitin. It is a polysaccharide. It is one of the hardest sugars. Breaking it is not very easy.
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How Is Toenail Fungus Treated
Toenail fungus is notoriously tricky to treat. You may need to treat the condition for several months to get rid of the fungus. Still, toenail fungus often comes back.
A dermatologist or podiatrist can explain your treatment options. If you have a mild case that doesnt bother you, your provider may recommend no treatment.
Toenail fungus treatment options include:
- Oral antifungal medication: You take prescribed medication, such terbinafine , itraconazole and fluconazole , to treat the fungi. You will need to take this medication every day for several months . Your provider may use blood tests to check for potential medication side effects. These medications can affect the liver and interact with other medications, so oral antifungals are not for everyone.
- Topical medication: You regularly apply a medication right on the nail. The medication treats the fungi over time. Topical medications are most effective when paired with oral medications.
- Laser treatments: Your provider directs a high-tech laser beam and special lights at the toenail to treat the fungus. Lasers are FDA approved for temporary increase of clear nail in nail fungus but is not a cure. Cure rates for laser treatment are lower than oral and topical mediations so they are not typically used as first-line treatments for nail fungus.
Fungal Nail Infection Symptoms
Symptoms are different depending on which type of fungal nail infection you have. They usually start mild and get more serious.
- At first, you may only see a white or yellow spot under your nail. Over time, this spreads and can turn your whole nail white, yellow, green, or black.
- The nail may thicken and could be hard to trim.
- It may start to curl up or down or loosen from the nail bed.
- Your nail could become brittle and crumble when you touch it.
- Your nail may become misshapen.
- You may notice a bad smell.
Itâs easy to ignore fungal nail infections at first, since you may not have any pain. But if you donât treat them, it can hurt to put any pressure on the area. If an infection gets bad enough, it could even become hard to walk.
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Can Your Nail Fungus Be Spread
The simple answer to this is yes. Toenail fungus is actually very contagious, and can be spread by touching infected surfaces. A common fungus is athlete’s foot, which is spread when you step barefoot in an infected area, like a locker room or public space.
This means that if someone has a fungal infection that lives in your home, you run the risk of contracting it as well if you walk barefoot where theyve been. However, its extremely uncommon that you would get a toenail fungus from direct contact with someone who has the condition. It would require constant, very close contact in order for it to be spread.
When you go to get your nails done at a salon, its important to know how often and what they use to sanitize their tools. Some of the items that are used, such as nail clippers, can spread fungal infections to you if theyre not properly sanitized.
What Can Be Done
It is recommended that anyone concerned about the health of their toenails should have an assessment by a footcare clinician. Bioped has chiropodists and footcare nurses who can assess toenail health and overall health of the feet and advise on how best to proceed. It is important to remember, just because toenails have thickened or are discoloured, it does not automatically mean there is a fungal infection present in the nail. There are several clinical signs footcare clinicians will look for during an assessment.
It is always best to be sure what a foot issue is before initiating any form of treatment. Book an appointment today with one of BioPeds footcare clinicians to discuss further and learn more about treatment options.
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Nail Color And Structure Changes
Keratin is a protein that promotes the development of the skin and nails. Nail psoriasis sometimes causes too much keratin to grow under the nail. This overgrowth is called subungual hyperkeratosis.
People with hyperkeratosis may notice a white, chalky substance under the nail. When this occurs in the toenails, the pressure of shoes pushing down on the nails might cause pain.
Is Toenail Fungus Contagious Things You Should Know
Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a very common medical condition that affects over 35 million people worldwide, especially those with a weakened immune system. It causes the nails to turn a number of colors such as yellow, orange, black, etc. Additionally if not treated they can thicken or become brittle or even fall off if the infection becomes severe.
If you believe you have contracted toenail fungus, then we highly recommend that you start treating the infection as soon as possible, so you can prevent it from spreading to other parts of your body or becoming worse. But is toenail fungus contagious?
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Toenail Fungus Prescription Medications
Sometimes prescription medications are needed to treat a toenail infection that just wont go away with natural remedies or over-the-counter medication in a few months. In this case, prescription-strength antifungal medication can eradicate stubborn onychomycosis.
Topical medications often are effective in treating mild to moderate toenail fungus. Topical solutions may include medicated nail polishes or liquid medications. Loprox , Penlac , Kerydin , and Jublia are among the top prescription drugs for toenail fungus.
Oral medications can come in capsules, tablets, or liquid. Some common prescriptions are Diflucan , Lamisil , Onmel , and Sporanox .
Warning Signs Of Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is an unsightly and embarrassing infection that is contagious and often difficult to get rid of. And while some of you may have a mild case and barely even notice the fungal growth at all, others actually suffer from intense pain as their infection grows and spreads.
When patients visit our office looking to relieve pain caused by toenail fungus, they are usually finally doing something about the infection after months or even years! of ignoring the condition and allowing it to thrive.
Waiting to seek treatment they soon find is a huge mistake!
Request an Appointment
Whenever you have an infection, you shouldnt wait to seek medical care the sooner you get the care you need, the quicker and more effective treatments will be.
Its like the old saying goes, the early bird gets the worm. And this is true when it comes to toenail fungus looking for symptoms of this pesky condition before they become a problem will help you make the most of treatment opportunities and minimize complications.
The bottom line is that the more you allow fungus to grow and spread under your nail, the more difficult it will be to actually get rid of it. So staying aware of symptoms and catching them early can really make a huge difference for your recovery.
And of course, if you want to catch it early, you need to know what to exactly look for thats why we are here!
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Toenail Fungus Shoe Spray
Toenail fungus shoe spray is one of the necessary items to have, especially to avoid buying new shoes.
There are many types of spray on the market, ranging from liquids to liquids that turn to powder.
Its a good idea to opt for antifungal sprays that also come with essential oils to add a pleasant scent to the shoes.
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What If I Decided Not To Have Any Form Of Treatment
Onychomycosis is not life threatening and many have lived with the condition for years however, it can make someone more susceptible to secondary bacterial infection, particularly of the lower legs in those with poor circulation. Likewise, it may impose psychological stress because of the social stigma it carries and impact on daily life. Onychomycosis may also adversely affect ones occupation as it may affect the ability to perform certain tasks.
In a quality of life assessment of people affected by onychomycosis, the constant reoccurrence as well as the number of nails affected was shown to negatively affect quality of life. Moreover, 64 â 74% of those surveyed, admitted to embarrassment and lower self-image/self-esteem.
Dont Ignore Fungal Skin Infections
Heres another thing you should know about those pesky dermatophytes. The very same types of fungi that cause fungal toenails can also cause skin infections such as athletes foot, ringworm, and jock itch.
If you already have one of these fungal infections somewhere on your body, it can spread to your feet and toenails through indirect contact with your hands, clothes, towels, etc.
If you develop any fungal skin infections and you dont want a much more irritating fungal nail infection, take steps to treat them as soon as possible. Most skin infections can be dealt with at home using over-the-counter topical products, but fungal toenails almost always require professional care.
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