Burning, itching, foul smell and pain in the more severe cases are the dominant symptoms of this highly contagious infection. Another defining attribute of a fungal nail infection is the fact that it is extremely hard to treat, even with the modern prescription drugs and non-prescription treatments.
Nail Fungus Causes
Nail fungus infections are caused by one of various kinds of fungus - candida, various kinds of dermatophytes, and even molds. Fungus flourishes in moist and dark conditions, typically found under the nails, specifically on the foot. This is primarily because one's feet are often suffocated in shoes and socks and because feet are often sweaty.
Also, this type of fungus typically grows on the floors of structures connected to public places such as swimming pools, restrooms and gyms. This usually ends up causing a fungal nail infection on the feet , and is extremely contagious.
Symptoms Of A Nail Fungus
A noticeable odor, loss of the natural color of the nail, with burning, itching, and pain in severe cases are some common symptoms of suffering from nail fungus. After a while, the form and nature of the symptoms may change. For example, in some cases, the color and the odor may turn stronger. The nail may also dry out and show signs of crumbling. Rapid progress of these symptoms can be prevented through regular use of drugs and lotions. However, they cannot be reversed without fully treating the root nail fungus.
How To Treat A Nail Fungus
Treating a nail fungus is often extremely hard because the root fungus is difficult to reach under the nail for first-hand action against it. Even the modern prescription drugs and topical solutions require around a year for complete removal of all symptoms of fungal nail infections.
Studies undertaken to determine how effective various treatments are has shown that the current drugs are either extremely slow acting, or of dubious usefulness. Due to this, the current R & D for prescription drugs and medication is focused on discovering and applying anti fungal agents that are more potent that may help overcome nail fungus.
There are holistic home remedies for nail infections that have been reported to be extremely effective in treating nail fungus very quickly. Commonly used home remedies include green tea, its derivatives, and grape seed extract. It is noteworthy that there are no studies that indisputably proving these to be effective. In the same breath, one can make use of home remedies for nail fungus which are extremely effective and can treat nail fungus in under 3 weeks!
Fungal Nail Infection Pictures
"Be kind to your feet; they outnumber people two to one," so goes the slogan used by the popular Happy Feet sandals back in the '70s. Unfortunately, not everyone follows this simple advice. Despite their usefulness, feet often take the lowest priority when it comes to health. This makes them prone to a host of disorders like fungal nail infections that commonly affect the elderly.
Onychomycosis is the medical term for this serious malady that turns nails into monsters, making them dull, discolored, disfigured, distorted, and deformed. As the disease progresses, it can spread to your fingernails and make day to day activities like walking, typing, and writing painful and difficult.
To keep your nails happy and fungus free, here are some practical tips from the Mayo Clinic and WebMD:
1) Keep your hands and feet clean. Dry them thoroughly after washing or bathing and use a good foot powder.
2) Don't walk barefoot around public pools, showers, and locker rooms.
3) Choose your footwear carefully. Wear socks that absorb moisture and change them as often as necessary, especially if you have sweaty feet. Avoid tight, enclosed shoes.
4) Don't wear the same shoes daily. Have at least two pairs that you can wear alternately. Take your shoes off from time to time during the day. Disinfect your shoes with a good antifungal spray.
5) Use rubber gloves if you come in contact with water often. Dry the gloves afterwards.
6) Don't bite your nails and keep them short.
7) Choose a clean nail salon if you intend to get a manicure or pedicure. Bring your own instruments if possible and don't share them with others. Avoid harsh nail products, nail polish, and artificial nails.
8) Don't cut your nails too short to avoid injury.
9) Control chronic conditions like diabetes.
10) Stop smoking.
If you're a victim of onychomycosis, choose your medicine carefully. Most topical antifungal creams are ineffective and a waste of money while oral antifungal drugs are expensive and have many serious side effects. To protect your pocket and your health, switch to Somasin AFS, the practical herbal alternative that's safe to use. Somasin's unique dual action formula helps strengthen your immune system and penetrates the nail to eliminate fungal nail infections in just seven days. For more information, visit
Both Tom Valian & Janet Martin are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Tom Valian has sinced written about articles on various topics from Health, Medical Related and Build Muscle. An effective is difficult to locate. However, a full system that combines various attributes of multiple natural remedies is considere. Tom Valian's top article generates over 720 views. to your Favourites.
Janet Martin has sinced written about articles on various topics from Womens Health, Pregnancy Problems and Asthma. Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premier online news magazine
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