See Your Nails

It is very important to check your nails from time to time to find out any abnormality or change. Any type of fungal infection affecting the nails usually starts with a yellow or white patch or spot that develops under the tops of toenail or fingernail. When the infection starts spreading, it will gradually get deeper into the nail. At such point, it may start causing the nail to become thicker, with visible signs of discoloration and breaking edges. The nail will gradually lose its shine or luster, and debris start building up within the nails. Infected nails tend to be separated from nail beds. A foul odor may be detected.

Make an Appointment

Once you notice any of these signs, you should not waste any further time. Make an appointment with the doctor at the earliest, preferably a podiatrist. At the appointment, your nails will be examined for fungus infection. In order to confirm nail fungus diagnosis, your doctor may even scrape some part of your nail and collect debris for an analysis. This debris will be taken to the lab for an examination under microscope or a culture will be done to identify the cause of infection. It is imperative to know the cause of infection so that the best treatment can be given at the earliest.

Starting the Treatment

After diagnosis, it is time to start the treatment for nail fungus infection. Depending on the condition, your doctor will prescribe the necessary medications. Nail fungus is often very difficult to treat, and may lead to repeated or recurrent infections in the future. There are different options for medications that help in treating the condition and allow the nails to grow freely by gradually replacing the chapped and infected potion of the nail. Such medications will usually take 6 to 12 weeks to show results. However, it will take more than 4 to 6 months to eliminate the infection completely.

Because these fungal infections are stubborn, there are times when aggressive treatments have to be given. In some cases, a surgery may be needed.

THE WINNING TOENAIL FUNGUS TREATMENT

Tip #1: Get Rid of Acrylic Nails

The initial phase you have to do is eliminate the acrylic nails or artificial nails. If you are going to use acrylic nails to conceal the infectivity, you can exacerbate the situation. Request a respectable nail salon to eliminate the nails.

Tip #2: Cut the Artificial Nails

Once you had eliminated the artificial nails, cut your natural nails short and in a straight line. Leave behind nail polish so as to let the nails restore to health appropriately.

Tip #3: Utilize Anti-fungal Nail Lacquer

If you have nail fungus, you must visit your physician concerning medication. He/she might prescribe Penlac, a nail polish that remedies fungus once painted on contaminated nails and adjacent skin.

Tip #4: Obtain a Prescription for an Oral Antifungal Medicine

Even though medicines might not at all times clear up nail fungus immediately, they can aid avoid the infectivity from proliferating and exacerbating. Your physician might recommend that you ingest Diflucan for six weeks or more.

Tip #5: Eliminate Fingernails

Ask concerning fingernail elimination. If the nail fungus is serious, your physician might recommend eliminating your genuine nail and waiting for the new one to develop once again.

Tip #6: Know the Link between Water and Synthetic Nails

Synthetic nails and water do not blend. Women washing plenty of dishes or require washing their hands all the time due to their line of work might desire considering the treatment of synthetic nails. Water will sooner or later instigate the glue that fastens the synthetic nails to disconnect from the real nail, instigating air pockets. Fungus discovers these air pockets extremely appealing.

Tip #7: Learn about Air Pockets

If synthetic nails are not put on cautiously, air pocket can develop amid the artificial nail and the real nail. As stated at the Online Pharmacy News, the opening can turn out to be a propagating base for fungus, particularly if moisture or food is ensnared in between. Thus, it is necessary that once synthetic nails are put on, no air pockets should be present. If synthetic nail starts raising it must be right away dried and rearrange with nail glue, or totally eliminated.

If the synthetic nails are left on the fingernails in spite of the existence of fungus, additional problems might consequence. NHS Warwickshire shows that not treated situations of fungus can turn out to be a resource of intense soreness and uneasiness. The fungus can also proliferate to the skin that encircles the fingernail ensuing in further situation identified as cellulites, which is indicated by puffiness of the skin. Osteomyelitis can also start to hatch, bringing about irritation of the bone marrow and the bone itself.

THE WINNING TOENAIL FUNGUS TREATMENT

• You nails should be kept trimmed at all times.  When you trim them, make sure that you file them straight across.  Keep your nails clean and dry and remember to always dry your hands and feet completely after you bath, shower, or wash your hands.  You should dry between your toes extremely well after they have been wet.

• Wear socks that keep moisture off of your feet.  Synthetic socks are much better for your feet than are cotton or wool socks.  If your feet sweat a lot or if you work in a place that keeps you feet wet, take a few pair of extra socks so that you can change throughout the day.  You should take off your shoes during the day if it is possible and particularly after you have exercised.  If possible wear open toed shoes and swap them out with closed toe shoes.

• Use a powder or spray on your feet to prevent them from sweating as much.  You should apply it your feet before putting your socks on and put it inside your shoes or boots for added protection.

• Wearing rubber gloves will keep your hands from getting too wet.  When you are finished with them, turn them inside out so that they can dry out before using them the next time.

• Do not scratch at the cuticles or skin that surrounds your nails.  Doing this can cause small cuts or sores that will allow bacteria to get into the skin and possibly underneath the nail.

• If you have to be exposed to somewhere that has public showers, public restrooms or public locker rooms, do not walk around barefoot.  Invest in some shower shoes or flip flops to protect your feet from the germs and bacteria that are prone to grow in these places.

• Make sure that the salon you visit for manicures and pedicures sterilize their utensils properly.  This is a breeding ground for nail fungus bacteria to grow.  If possible, you can invest in your own set of utensils and take them with you when you go to get a manicure or pedicure.  If they do not allow you to do, you should find someplace that will.  If they have a good reputation, they will not really care.

• Do not wear polish on your nails and do not invest in acrylic nails.  If you already have a nail fungus, the polish can irritate it and make it worse and if you do not already have one, extended use of polish can cause the nail to become brittle and easy to break.  This can allow bacteria to get under the nail.  Using acrylic nails allows bacteria to grow in between the layers of the real nail and the acrylic nail.

• If you do touch a nail that is infected make sure to wash your hands thoroughly with warm water and soap because nail fungus can be spread to other nails.

THE WINNING TOENAIL FUNGUS TREATMENT

They feed on the protein in the nails, the keratin, and cause symptoms such as discoloring, thickness, brittleness, crumbling, weakening, debris under the nail, lifting, miss-shaped and can even be painful. The chances of developing a fungal infection in the nails increase as you age. There are other factors though that can cause it to happen, and knowing those is the key to preventing toenail fungus.

Preventing toenail fungus as much as possible

1. The main culprit of fungi responsible for toenail fungus are Dermatophytes and these can be picked up from public areas like pools, locker rooms, hotel floors and so on. So it is very important to wear sandals in any public area rather than walking around barefoot. The fungi can live in such places for many months waiting for a human host to hop onto.
2. Avoid wearing shoes or footwear that are too tight. This encourages the moist conditions and can cause injury which then makes you more prone to infection.
3. Try to avoid injury or causing damage to the nail, wear appropriate footwear according to the situation you are in.
4. Cut your nails correctly, straight across in the case of toenails, and do not cut them too short. Ideally, toenails should be just slightly longer than where the flesh of the toe ends.
5. Clean your feet and toes every day, and wear new socks and hosiery each day. If possible have shoes you can rotate through so they have a chance to dry from being worn the previous day.
6. Dry your feet properly after washing them and consider using a foot powder.
7. Avoid using layers of nail polish, take the last layer off before applying a new one.
8. If you have very sweaty feet, use a foot antiperspirant spray, keep powder on you, wear shoes made from a breathable material that allows air to circulate, wear open shoes if possible.
9. Do not sleep with socks on, use that time to air them out!
10. There are anti-fungal sprays or powders you can use in your shoes that may help in preventing toenail fungus if you are prone.
11. Store your shoes in a place that lets them air out, not somewhere they will accumulate moisture.
12. Make sure you clean your bath and shower thoroughly each week.
13. Do not share socks, shoes, towels and so on.
14. Disinfect pedicure items, and if you use a nail salon make sure they have hygienic practices in place for preventing toenail fungus or other health issues.
15. Attack nail fungus internally with the proper diet

THE WINNING TOENAIL FUNGUS TREATMENT