How To Use Vicks Vaporub For Toenail Fungus
You will have a better chance of Vick VapoRub working on your toenail fungus if you follow these steps:
Caution: Do not use Vicks to try to treat nail fungus if you have ingrown toenails, if the skin around the nail is red and/or sore, or if you have any open cuts.
What Are Treatments For Toenail Fungus
Do you need to treat your nail fungus? Maybe it doesn’t hurt, and the yellow, thick nails don’t bother you.
But nail fungus doesn’t go away by itself. And if you don’t treat it, there’s a chance it could get worse. It could spread to other nails or through your body. It could cause pain when you walk.
There are a number of ways to take care of it, including:
Nonprescription options. You can buy antifungal creams, gels, and nail polish at the store and online without a prescription. You might want to try one of them first if the infection doesn’t look bad. Some people also swear by home remedies like menthol rub, tea tree oil, mouthwash, or snakeroot extract — but studies show mixed results.
Prescription polish and creams. Your foot doctor will likely trim your nail and file away its dead layers. They may also take a piece of your nail and send it to the lab to make sure itâs really a fungus and to find out what type it is.
The doctor might suggest an antifungal drug that you paint on your nails. This may work on its own, or they may suggest you take it with antifungal pills.
Prescription medications. One of several antifungal pills may help. They work, but it may take many months to do the job. They also come with side effects like nausea, vomiting, and headaches. They may cause liver damage too, so your doctor will watch you closely while you take them. Be sure to tell them about any other meds youâre taking — some antifungal pills might not work well with them.
Keep Your Feet Clean And Dry
Although its summer season, a number of us put on shut footwear and socks to work or during exercise. Fight sweating by utilizing a foot powder and also putting on socks made from pure cotton.
Synthetic products in socks often raise sweat, developing the perfect condition for fungal contaminations. Modification your socks every day. Take notice of your feet when you bath or shower, and also dry in between your toes.
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What Is Toenail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a widespread, issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Those numbers jump to 20% for those over 60, and an astounding 50% for those 70 and above.
Also known as onychomycosis, nail fungus occurs when fungi, which are normally present in and on the human body, begin to overpopulate.
If this overabundance of fungi gets between the nailbed and the toenail, it causes a nail fungal infection.
Nail fungus is characterized by a yellow or white spot that starts under the tip of the nail and as it progresses and spreads deeper into the nail, it causes the nail to discolour, thicken and crumble at the edge..
Have Questions And Woes About Cutting Stubborn Fungal Toenails
Trimming toenails is not something most people tend to put a lot of thought into.
Although some of us should probably do it a bit more often, the act itself becomes pretty habitual. Snip, snip, done.
However, once a fungal toenail infection enters the picture, things can become a bit more difficult. Nails can grow thick, brittle, crumbly, and generally unwieldy. It starts to feel less like the classic way of trimming your toenails and more like hacking your way through a dense rainforest.
So what should you do when it comes to cutting thick fungal toenails to ensure a better experience? Were here to offer some advice.
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How About An Acrylic Nail
“If you lost your nail due to fungus, don’t get an acrylic toenail appliedit’ll make the problem worse as it provides a moist and warm safe haven for fungal infections,” says Dr. Batra.
If you lost it due to injury, however, an acrylic toenail is an option for a short-term fix , says Dr. Batra, but acrylic nails can interfere with optimal regrowth of the real nail. So consider stepping away from the nail glue and letting your body do its thing instead.
You can take some steps to heal from the inside-out too. “You can also take a biotin supplement, which helps strengthen nails and hair,” says Dr. Batra. “A healthy diet rich in protein may also helpthe building blocks of keratin are found in foods like quinoa, lean meats, eggs, and yogurt,” she says.
Otherwise, you just have to wait there are no other effective quick fixes to get nails to grow faster, says Dr. Batra. You may hate having a naked toe for a few months, but it’s #worthit for the nail to grow in healthy, straight, and strong. Why put yourself through the pain of a toenail falling off again?
Will The New Nail Look Normal
This is quite similar to the previous question. As long as the nail-growing cells are healthy and your body is producing everything it needs to grow the nail, then itll grow back and very likely have a normal appearance. If theres a problem with the toe, the nail growing cells have been partially damaged, or something like a fungal nail infection or other problem is present, then the nail may grow back distorted.
Its really a case-by-case situation and it depends very much on your personal history. But if youve just stubbed your toe or worn tight shoes or sports boots, then its likely itll grow back normal.
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If you notice an uptick in pain, red streaking up your toe, swelling, or any smelly drainage, its time to make an appointment with a podiatrist, as those are all signs of infection.
Says Fullem: The nail sits very close to the bones of our toes, and if an infection starts in the skin surrounding the nail it can easily travel to the underlying bone and cause a severe infection if left untreated.
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Heres To Many More Years Of Foot Care
At Feet First Clinic, were always excited to welcome new clients! After a successful 12 years of treating our amazing patients, were ready to continue offering only the best foot care services and products. Give us a call to ask our friendly staff any questions you may have! Our Toronto foot specialists are ready to help!
Call us at 416-769-3338 or Book Your Assessment Today!
Keep Your Fungal Nail Trimming Equipment Separate
Nail clippers and other equipment that comes in contact with fungal areas are not objects that should be used anywhere else, or for anyone else. Doing so invites a greater chance for a fungus to be carried from one set of nails to another.
This is not just a warning against sharing toenail trimmers between family members you should also not use that set of trimmers on your fingernails, either! It is quite possible for a fungal infection to be transferred from toenails to fingernails, and you cant exactly hide the latter in a pair of socks all day.
Similarly, only use proper trimming equipment on your toes. Using smaller fingernail clippers not only increases the risk of transferring the fungus if you slip up, they are likely also not going to work very well.
It is also wise to regularly disinfect your equipment, just in case. A soak of a few minutes in rubbing alcohol or diluted bleach will do the trickjust make sure to completely dry any metal parts to avoid rusting. Also make sure all nail debris and matter is cleaned off.
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What To Do After Toenail Falls Off
After the nail falls off, your nail bed is going to be raw and vulnerable to infection. So, the first thing you want to do is keep that nail bed clean and wrapped in a fresh bandaid.
Use run-of-the-mill wound care like Neosporin and large bandaids. Keep the area dry and clean.
Once the skin of the nail bed has healed, you should begin using a topical antifungal treatment on your toenails .
Use this treatment until the nail has fully grown back. If new growth is looking healthy — great. But donât stop treatment unless your doctor recommends it.
Using this antifungal medication ensures that the new healthy nail wonât get infected by the fungus that still remains. Unfortunately, recurrence of toenail fungal infections is common, so be diligent about using the medication.
If you stick with it, you could have a perfectly healthy nail to show for it.â
Can I Do Anything To Take Care Of A Loose Toenail At Home
You should make an appointment to get your toenail checked out by a professional New Hampshire podiatrist if you notice any symptoms linked with your big toenail falling off, other toenail loss or experience any pain. However, you can also protect your toe by keeping it clean and bandaging it with sterile gauze or bandages.
If you have lost a toenail, are suffering from a fungal toenail infection, or have noticed that you have a loose toenail make an appointment with the talented and compassionate doctors and staff at Nagy Footcare. Dr. Nagy and his team will help you to preserve your toenails and general foot and ankle health.
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Can Diabetic People Cut Their Toenails
Myth: People with diabetes cant cut their own toenails Not true: the general advice on toenail cutting applies to everyone. If you have diabetes you should keep your nails healthy by cutting them to the shape of the end of your toes. Dont cut them straight across, curved down the sides, or too short.
Nail Fungus Can Cause Other Forms Of Body Infections
Other body infections are a huge risk when a nail fungal infection is ignored. As mentioned, nail fungal infections may contaminate the surrounding skin. When the skin becomes cracked and open, bacteria can easily enter and create a widespread infection all over your body.
A simple fungal nail infection can lead to cellulitis. This condition produces swollen, red, tender skin and demands immediate treatment with antibiotics. Severe cellulitis can also enter the bloodstream and become life-threatening.
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How Do You Treat Diabetic Toenails
Take Care of Your Toenails. Cut toenails after bathing, when they are soft. Trim them straight across, then smooth with a nail file. Be Careful When Exercising. Walk and work out in comfortable shoes. Dont exercise when you have open sores on your feet. Protect Your Feet With Shoes and Socks. Never go barefoot.
The Dangers Of Ignoring Toenail Fungal Infections
Even a minor discoloration can be a sign of toenail fungus and worthy of a doctor visit. Find out why and how to get help for symptoms of toenail fungus.
Cactus Creative Studio/Stocksy
With all the serious health dangers out there, like cancer and diabetes, having a yellowed nail from toenail fungus can seem pretty insignificant. Since toenail fungus usually isnt painful, many people put off seeking treatment, says Peter Joseph, DPM, a podiatrist with Allegheny Health Network in Pittsburgh. While many people are otherwise healthy and may just think of it as a cosmetic problem, ignoring a toenail infected with fungus could have health consequences beyond appearances. Potential complications of a toenail fungal infection:
Foot pain. Over time, a nail infected with fungus can become thick and misshapen, causing pain, Dr. Joseph says. It can even make it difficult to walk when wearing shoes, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association.
Treating Symptoms of Toenail Fungus
If you suspect you have a toenail fungal infection, see a doctor, Joseph says. Your doctor may take a small sample from your toenail and have it analyzed to confirm the presence of a fungus. If the test comes back positive, an oral or topical antifungal medication may be prescribed to help treat the fungus. Most medications are well tolerated with few side effects, Joseph says.
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Early Treatment Is Key
When it comes to treating toenail infections, early diagnosis and proper treatment is key to eradicating the fungus as quickly as possible. Once one toenail is impacted, the infection can spread to your other toenails, making treatment more challenging. Even worse, untreated nail fungus easily spreads to other people.
At Family Foot & Ankle Center of South Jersey, we often begin treatment by cutting back the infected nail to where it attaches to the toe. We may scrape the area to help get rid of some of the fungus and prescribe an oral antifungal medication. Taken over the course of 6-12 week, this medication allows a new, fungus-free nail to grow and replace the infected nail. Because of the slow growth of toenails, it can take up to four months for the infection to be truly eradicated.
For those with minor cases, an antifungal topical treatment may be enough to fight the infection. Depending on each individual case, antifungal nail polish or cream may be recommended. These topical treatment approaches are effective, but they work slower than oral antifungal medications and can take as long as 12-18 months to totally do away with your fungal infection.
Toenail fungal infections can be stubborn, but when you stick with your treatment method and use them exactly as your doctor recommends, youll be ready for summer and sandal season before you know it!
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Living With A Nail Fungal Infection
If you have a nail fungal infection, some things can help:
- Keep your nails cut short and file down any thick areas.
- Dont use the same nail trimmer and file on healthy nails and infected nails. If you have your nails professionally manicured, bring your own nail file and trimmer from home.
- Wear waterproof gloves for wet work . Wear 100% cotton gloves for dry work.
- Wear socks made of wicking material . This pulls moisture away from the skin. Change your socks when they are damp from sweat or if your feet get wet. Put on clean, dry socks every day. Put over-the-counter antifungal foot powder inside your socks to keep your feet dry.
- Wear shoes with good support and a wide toe area. Dont wear pointed shoes that press your toes together.
- Avoid walking barefoot in public areas, such as locker rooms.
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Minimizing Your Risk Of Toenail Wounds
Hurt nails are more probable to end up being unhygienic, specifically if you have diabetics issues. Clip your toe nails right throughout. Do not cut them also short or in a rounded style, or youll go to likelihood of an ingrown toe nail.
Before obtaining a pedicure, check that the hair salon complies with rigorous sanitation procedures. And also disinfect your very own nail clippers after each use.
Complications Arising From The Loss Of A Toe
Regardless of whether you had your toe severed in an accident or amputated in a hospital, life will be slightly different with your toe gone how different depends largely on which toe you have lost.
The loss of the fifth toe is generally of minimal consequence to ones gait . While you may experience some unsteadiness at first, most people learn rather quickly to adapt to the loss of the fifth toe, and are thereafter able to walk normally, and even run.
The loss of the halluxthe big toeis somewhat more serious, and may be more difficult to learn to compensate for.
The big toe is the last part of the foot to push off with every step we take, and while doing so it carries about 40 percent of the bodys weight.
Many people learn to walkand even to runfollowing the loss of this toe, but it usually takes longer than recovery from the loss of the little toe, and may be more painful.
Also, because they are not designed to carry as much weight as the big toe, the other toes are not as strong, and may begin to hurt after you have been walking for a while.
Another problem with the loss of a toe, especially the hallux, is that over time, the bones of the foot may begin to shift positions.
Heather L. Lawver describes on her web site, Notoes.com, how this happened to her after her own big toe was amputated.
Finally, while stubbing your toe can be an extremely painful experience, stubbing a toe stump can be much more painful.
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