Doctors Thought It Was A Simple Foot Infection They Were So Wrong
Melissa Curley Bogner was baffled: Why did her feet feel suddenly hot in January?
The 41-year-old management analyst for the Navy had grown accustomed to periodic bouts of neuropathy numbness in her hands and feet the apparent legacy of a severe allergic reaction to a drug she took in 2000 to treat a gynecological infection.
But this 2015 episode was different. Along with the sensation that her feet felt unusually warm, the skin on the second toe of her right foot looked inflamed. Weeks later, she noticed a small blister.
Bogner, who lives in Southern Maryland, initially shrugged it off. She figured that whatever was wrong would go away on its own.
I didnt go to the doctor because it didnt hurt, she recalled. But eight months later, Bogner would learn that her foot problems were classic signs of a condition that was neither temporary nor trivial.
Its been life-altering, Bogner said of the diagnosis. Summer, a time of year Bogner once eagerly anticipated, has become the season she finds hardest to endure. To cope with her new reality, she has sought to channel her energy into a self-help group for people diagnosed with the little-known malady.
At first, Bogner tried to largely ignore the problem, assuming that her shoes were to blame. Changing footwear didnt help. Sometimes her toe would itch and feel tingly. At other times, the redness seemed to lessen, but it never disappeared entirely.
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The Link Between Diabetes And Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a common foot problem for people with diabetes. If you develop an infection, it is important to see a foot doctor for toenail fungus removal near Sugar Land as soon as possible to prevent the fungus from spreading.
Watch this video to learn how diabetes increases the chances of developing toenail fungus. Because diabetes frequently causes nerve damage, you may not be aware when you injure your toenail. Such an injury can create an opening for fungus, allowing an infection to take hold. Without treatment from a foot doctor, the infection can spread beyond the nail to the foot. In turn, that infection can cause cracks in the skin that allow bacteria to enter, causing a secondary infection that must be treated by a foot and ankle specialist.
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Cons Of Wearing Nail Polish When You Have A Nail Fungal Infection
Despite how much nicer and healthier your nails may look when you put on polish on an infected nail, this is just a temporary fix. Wearing it for longer periods might pose more harm than good to your nail fungus problem. Fungi thrives in darker environments and nail polish can easily promote its growth. Many commercial nail polishes use strong chemicals in their product that may only cause further damage to a nail with fungal infection. At the same time, painting a healthy nail right after an infected nail may lead to contamination and affect other healthier nails. When treating nail fungal infections with topical treatments, nail polishes only prohibit its penetration and reduce the solutions efficiency to cure.
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White Chalky Patches On Toenails: Fungus Or Dehydrated Nails
Have you ever been to the nail salon and your polish was removed only to uncover white patches? And when the nail technician is questioned she usually states it is due to wearing dark polish, or leaving the polish on too long. You may then nod, and agree to cover the unsightly nail again with polish. Read why this is not the best idea, what could be causing it, and what the remedy is.
White chalky spots on toenails, is if fungus or something else?
White chalky patches on the nail can simply be a result of excessive dehydration of the keratin molecules on the nail surface, causing keratin granulations. It is generally caused by wearing nail polish for too long, using dehydrating nail polish remover too often, or constantly exposing your nails to harsh or drying chemicals . All of these products can dry out the nails, causing the keratin molecules of the nail plate to clump together into chalky-looking formations.
The best way to get rid of keratin granulation is to give your nails a several-week-long break from nail polish, nail polish remover and chemicals in conjunction with using moisturizers and/or hand creams to replenish the moisture balance of the nails.
Initially, tiny white patches appear on the surface of the nail-plate. As the fungus spreads, the nails may dry out and the surface of the nails flake and crumble.
keratin granulation
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Can Toenail Fungus Spread To Your Other Toes
If you have a fungal toenail infection, the last thing you want is more of it. Even one discolored, thick, brittle, jagged, and/or misshapen toenail is already more than enough.
Unfortunately, the answer to the question of whether toenail fungus to spread to other toes is a definite yes. And not only can it spread to more of your toes, it can also spread to your fingernails, your skin, and other people as well!
How does the fungus spread so easily, and what can you do to fight back? Were happy to help you with that!
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What About The Cost Of Oral Medications For Fungal Nails
A further consideration is cost. Because newer oral antifungal agents are very expensive, some insurance companies balk at paying for what they consider a “cosmetic issue,” unless nail fungus causes pain or other functional symptoms. Terbinafine and fluconazole are now available as generic drugs and are quite inexpensive.
What Are The Most Effective Treatments For Toenail Fungus
The experts at Easton Dermatology Associates offer treatment customized to your exact situation, whether youve just noticed an irregularity with your toenail or youve been battling fungus for a while. Treatment options include:
- Prescription oral antifungal medications
- Topical nail cream
- Special antifungal nail polish that allows your nails to breathe
No matter what treatment you adopt, patience is key. It can take several months to clear up toenail fungus because even nails that grow at an average rate dont grow rapidly. We treat your fungus until its a thing of the past, and we also advise you on how to prevent a recurrence.
Its much easier to solve the problem when youre in the early stages of infection, before it becomes too advanced.
Do at either of our locations in Easton or Salisbury, Maryland, so we can start helping you eliminate embarrassing and persistent nail fungus problems ASAP. When next summer rolls around, you can be back in those oh-so-chic sandals!
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How To Cure Black Toenail Fungus
- After visiting a pool or some other that is damp, dry your toes thoroughly with a hair dryer and wipe them with a clean dry cloth.
- Apply Vicks Vapor Rub on the affected nail at bedtime. This will cut the oxygen supply to the fungus. This is an effective cure for toenail fungus.
- Soak the foot in warm salted water before bedtime for about 20 to 30 minutes. This is another home cure for nail fungus. It helps in lifting that part of the nail under which the fungi exists. Thereafter the nail can be trimmed easily and the flaky fungus can be easily scraped off.
- Soaking your toes in a weak solution of water and vinegar for about half an hour regularly before bedtime also helps to a great extent. Vinegar helps in lowering the pH content in the toenails thereby making it difficult for the fungus to survive. This is a natural cure for nail fungus.
- The quickest way to cure nail fungus is by allowing as much air as possible on the infected toe. Try going barefooted or wear peep toes/ sandals instead of shoes.
- Maintaining hygiene is crucial. Always wear clean socks and never repeat them before their next wash.
- Another beneficial cure for nail fungus is pure tea-tree oil.
Certainly, the best preventive care would be to stay away from these cold and damp areas. Since this is not possible most of the time, the next best option will be to keep your feet dry as much as possible. Also, wearing socks made of light material helps the skin to breathe and stay dry.
What Are The Treatments For Black Toenail
Fungal infections of the toes are relatively treatable at home when caught early. Over-the-counter ointments, creams, and polishes are usually effective. Severe cases may require a prescription antifungal treatment.
If a black toenail is caused by an injury, the resulting spot from broken blood vessels will disappear once your nail grows out.
Black toenail caused by trauma from an injury usually resolves on its own without treatment. However, if your toenail grows out and it still appears black, then the symptoms might be related to another underlying cause.
Toenail discoloration related to diabetes and other health conditions requires treatment for the underlying causes.
Symptoms often develop slowly over time. A nail with a fungal infection may:
- Turn yellow, white, or brown.
- Get thicker.
- Crumble or split and may separate from the skin.
A fungal nail infection usually isnt painful. But over time, you may be uncomfortable or even have pain when you wear shoes, walk, or stand for a long time. The fungus could also spread to other nails or your skin.
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Hydrogen Peroxide To Kill Fungus On Nail From Acrylics
Hydrogen peroxide is an active ingredient that can make the skin unfit for the fungal growth. Gradually killing the ingrown fungus within a period of months.
For some people with chronic fungal infection it can take almost an year. But for newly grown fungus it will take almost 6 months.
The Hydrogen peroxide is not a safe ingredient and users need to be extremely careful while using it. For sensitive skin using Hydrogen peroxide directly on the infected nail can be risky, the best way then is to use a diluted solution.
For faster results, you need to apply it twice a day, and then let it dry. After that cover your nail with a glove or socks.
As, Hydrogen peroxide works as a bleaching agent, you can also use Bleach for killing nail fungus.
For many years, baking soda has been an effective treatment for nail fungus, even if it is caused by the acrylic nails.
All you have to do is make a hand or foot soak mixed with a tablespoon of baking soda. It will gradually heal the nail fungus. The estimated healing time with the baking soda is almost 7 months.
If you find the nail fungus treatment with baking soda tough, think of using the baking soda paste. Mix the baking soda with an essential oil like the snakeroot extract, or any other ionized oil, and apply it twice a day.
Another amazing thing to treat nail fungus is putting a few pinches of baking soda in the gloves, and killing the already present fungus spores.
From One Toenail To Another And Feet
This is one of the most common ways for toenail fungus to spread, Athletes foot also called tinea pedis, its a very contagious infection that affects millions of people worldwide. Athletes foot isnt that serious, but it can be difficult to cure. It causes itching, blisters, stinging, discolored thick toenails and burning between the toes.
You can catch athletes foot through direct contact with a person who is already infected or touching surface thats already contaminated by the fungus.
The most common way of treating this infection is with over the counter topical antifungal medication. We recommend using Purely Northwest Toenail Fungus System because it features a foot soak which is very effective for these types of infection.
There are several ways you can prevent yourself from getting athletes foot infection. These includes:
- Put antifungal powder on your feet every day
- Dont share shoes or socks
- Wash your feet with water and soap and dry them completely
- Wear shoes made of breathable
- Going barefoot as often as possible
- Regularly wash floor where you walk in bare feet
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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.
Nail Fungal Infection Treatment
Prescription medicines can treat a fungal nail infection. Oral antifungal medicines help a new nail grow. This will replace the infected nail. You may need to take antifungal medicine for 6 to 12 weeks. Some oral medicines are not safe for people who have liver problems. They are not safe for people who have a history of congestive heart failure. Tell your doctor if you have one of these conditions. Your doctor will decide which medicine is right for you.
Apply topical treatments to the top of your nail. Topical medicines usually do not cure fungal nail infections.
In severe cases, a doctor might remove the nail completely. It can take several months to a year for the infection to go away.
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Dani Pro Doctor Formulated Nail Polish
This one is a unique formulae having undecylenic acid, it is an anti-fungal acid that is commonly used to treat the toenail fungus. Unlike the regular nail polishes, it does not contain any toxic chemicals. So that you should not get any type of severe infection.
How is it?
Its formula is quite simple. All the ingredients are toxicity free, and cruelty free. you can safely use it even when you have some nail injury. The undecylenic acid is good for the health of your toenail as it is antifungal and antibacterial.
These are available in different metallic shades too, mostly the hotter colors.
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Start Taking Care Of Your Fungal Toenails Now
If you dont want to worry about potentially spreading toenail fungus, the best thing you can do is get rid of it for good!
Fungal toenail treatment is not an immediate process. It can be challenging, depending on how ingrained the fungus is, and it may take several months or longer to fully eradicate it. But the sooner you start attacking the fungus, the sooner you can greatly reduce or completely eliminate its presence.
Its well worth having a consultation with us so we can take a look at the extent of your fungal infection and make our best recommendations for how you should move forward. We might suggest laser treatment, topical or oral antifungal medications, or even a combination of methods.
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Can Toenail Fungus Spread To The Bone
It is possible to get fungal infections that do spread to the bone, which is a very serious condition. Ultimately, when it comes to toenail fungus, since it can be spread to other parts of the body, and can spread internally, it is worth dealing with it as soon as you notice it. Ultimately many people think that toenail fungus might go away on its own in time, but this is not the case. Toenail fungus will typically need to be treated with antifungal medication. Some of these topical treatments are available over-the-counter and can come as antifungal creams or as a nail polish. Learn about our Clear + Restore product that can rejuvenate and improve the appearance of your toenails.
What Causes A Nail Fungal Infection
The infection is usually caused by exposure to a fungus. The fungus grows in wet, dark conditions. The fungus grows when your feet are in warm, sweaty environment . It enters your nail through a crack in the nail.
Nail fungal infections happen at any age. They are more common in adults older than 60 years of age. They are common in people who have diabetes or circulation problems. They also are common in people with a weakened immune system. Men are more likely than women to get fungal nail infections.
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Acrylic Nail Fungus Home Remedies
The first step after noticing an infection is to have the acrylic nail removed and to wash your fingernail with soap and water. Avoid putting on a new nail until the infection clears.
Anecdotally, some people claim the following home remedies have helped them clear their infection:
- Vinegar. Vinegar contains acid that can inhibit the growth of fungi and bacteria. Try soaking your finger in a 2:1 ratio of warm water to vinegar.
- Vicks VapoRub. An older 2011 study found Vicks VapoRub seemed to have a positive clinical effect on killing toenail fungi. You can try applying a small amount to your finger once a day.
- Tea tree oil. According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, one small study found evidence that tea tree oil may help treat nail fungus, but more research is needed. Try applying oil to your nail twice per day.
- Oregano oil. The chemical thymol found in oregano oil may have antifungal properties. Try applying oregano oil to your nail twice per day with a cotton swab.
- Listerine mouthwash. Listerine contains ingredients that have antifungal properties. Some people claim soaking your finger in original Listerine for 30 minutes a day may help clear the infection.