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Onychomycosis is what is commonly known as nail fungus in English. The fungus manifests itself as a white or yellow spot underneath the tip of your fingernail or toenail. As the nail fungus develops, it will cause discoloration, thickening and crumbly edges to your nail. It is far from being a pleasant sight and it can be very painful.
Fifty per cent of nail disorders is attributed to nail fungus. Fungi love warm and moist environments. Shower floors or wet shoes serve as their breeding grounds. Nail fungus is different from an athlete's foot. However, the fungi that cause them may be the same.
Treatment for nail fungus may be a bit complicated but medications to eliminate it are readily available.
How Do You Know That You Have Nail Fungus
Nail fungus is caused by microorganisms that are not dependent on light for their survival. A warm and moist environment is a perfect setup for the growth of fungi.
The kind of fungus that affects human nails often passes through skin cuts between the nail and the nail bed that are not visible to the naked eye.
The toenails are more prone to having nail fungus infections since they are often confined inside the shoes. Also, blood circulation is impeded in the toenails, making them susceptible to diseases.
An infected nail is thickened, brittle, crumbly, distorted and lacks luster. There is also build-up of debris under the nail.
Risk Factors
Older people are more prone to acquiring nail fungus. The slow growth and thickening of nail as someone ages, make a person more prone to infection. Men are more susceptible to the nail fungus compared to women. Family history is also a big factor.
Several factors may increase the chances of getting nail fungus:
- Smoking
- Heavy perspiration
- Frequent exposure to humid and warm environment
- Socks that are too tight, impeding blood flow
- Walking barefoot in public places like pools, shower rooms, gyms
- Presence of minor skin or nail injury or infection
- Diabetes
- Weak immune system
Treatment
A simple nail fungus infection can be very painful and affect someone's day to day activities. If not treated immediately, it may lead to other infections that may spread to other parts of the body. People with weak immune system or other medical conditions like diabetes, should not take nail fungus lightly since they may cause a serious health problem.
After the laboratory tests, your doctor may ask you to take oral antifungal medicines. These drugs will help in the re-growth of nails without infection. The medication should be taken for six to 12 weeks to ensure that the nail fungus will be eliminated.
Exposure to an environment that is considered breeding grounds of fungi, may cause the recurrence of the infection. It is best to avoid going to warm, moist environment frequently.
Another treatment option a doctor can give is an antifungal nail polish, which is ideal for mild to moderate infection. Topical treatment may also be suggested by your doctor to go with the oral medicine that you might be taking.
The Internet is also a good place to know more about nail fungus. You can find and purchase nail fungus medicines through some websites.
Onychomycosis appear in various forms. The most common involves the thickening and discoloration of the nail when fungus invades it. Oftentimes, your entire nail will be very thick with huge amounts of debris accumulating under it. Other superficial forms have minimal destruction except for some whitish discolorations appearing on the nail surface.
Before you treat your nail problem, let a doctor examine first the type of fungi that infected you. Some molds cause infections too, such as ringworm disease and athlete's foot. Other diseases, such as psoriasis of the nail for example, are also frequently mistaken as fungal infections. Some physicians will even snip a piece of nail and study it microscopically to be really sure of their diagnosis.
1. Treat Properly
First of all, you've got to treat nail fungus infection early. If you use a good solution on its initial stages, experts agree that your nail fungus will be best resolved. However, when you ignore the fungal infection, you will most likely end up with terribly discolored and brittle nails.
And even if you have the best solution to treat your nail fungus, you have to use it properly. If you don't, your infection may not be cured. It is advised to apply a generous amount of the solution on the nail surface to ensure that it penetrates the nail.
You should also focus on the frequency of application. For best results, simply follow the product instructions and the advice of your doctor.
2. Treat with Good Hygiene
You cannot expect your nail fungi solution to work alone. You should also do your part. One good tip would be to keep your nails very clean while on treatment. Also, you should trim, file off, and scrub the extra build-up under the nails.
Remember to always put on clean socks when you wear closed shoes. It's best to choose cotton socks or those that are made of absorbent materials. As much as possible, you have to limit moisture on your nails and feet to discourage the development and growth of fungi.
To speed up your recovery, try to wear open sandals during the treatment period. If you always expose your feet to air, it will lessen your nail's water retention. Therefore, you get less fungal growth. Yet even if you're wearing sandals and your feet gets sweaty and wet often, just wipe them dry as frequently as you can.
3. Treat with a Reputable Brand
Since there are hundreds of nail fungal products available in the market today, you've got to distinguish the real products among those scam ones. Therefore, you've got to find a brand that has good reputation and multiple record of effectiveness. Here we recommend ZetaClear treatment.
Compare different nail fungal product brands and check out product reviews to see if people really recommend the product you are considering. Remember that restoring the beauty of your nails involves using a good product, applying it properly, and practicing good nail hygiene.