Home / What is toenail fungus and simple methods to get rid of it

What is toenail fungus and simple methods to get rid of it

Nail fungus is the fungal infestation in one or more nails of a person. It may be the toe or finger nails. It starts with a white or yellow spot under the nail, which can spread deep into the nail. The nail may discolor and thicken to develop a potentially painful problem.
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There are different classifications of nail fungus depending on the type of fungus and the expression, which leads to different signs and symptoms. The extensive symptoms of the condition include; thickened nails, brittle and crumbly nails, nails distorted in shape, dull and dark colored nails due to the build up of debris under the nail. Sometimes the infected nails may separate from the nail bed, which causes pain and also produces a slightly foul odor.

The infection, however, is caused by pathogens like dermatophytes, Candida and non dermatophytic molds. There are also several other risk factors that contribute to the condition, including; aging which is the main cause of the infection due to the diminished blood circulation, longer exposure to fungi and nails that grow slowly and thicken, increasing the inclination to infection, sweating heavily, psoriasis, going barefoot in damp places, athletes foot, and damaged nails.

There are various risk factors for nail fungus, some of them are aging, heavy perspiration, working in humid environments, skin diseases, wearing socks and shoes that do not absorb sweat, injury on the nail, diabetes, weakened immune system, and walking barefoot in damp public places. Nail fungus is an extremely agonizing condition and can also cause permanent damage to the nails. It may also lead to several solemn infections if people have a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other health conditions. Diabetic patients with nail fungus can experience impaired blood circulation and nerve supply. They also are susceptible to cellulitis, which is a potentially serious bacterial skin infection.

Alternatively, people may also opt for topical creams which can be applied directly to the area of less serious infections. The creams include; Lotrimin, Monistat, Nizoral, Tinactin and Lamisil. If the topical treatments fail, more potent medications can be taken. Oral antifungal medications are very effective in treating the condition, because they can successfully eliminate the infection. Oral antifungal medications may cause side effects such as; skin rashes and liver damage. Another effective treatment against the infestation is nail lacquer. The medicated nail polish is used to treat mild to moderate symptoms of the infection. Vicks vapo rub also helps to successfully treat the condition. It helps to get rid of the symptoms. Moreover, people struggling with brittleness, discoloration and other disruptive symptoms can opt for the nail to be removed. This completely removes the infection and allows the growth of a healthy nail.

Nail fungus can also be healed by home remedies. Two of the popular remedies purported to help the infection are vinegar and Vicks Vapo rub. Soaking the nail in vinegar helps to inhibit the growth of bacteria and also successfully eliminate fungi, while Vicks helps to reduce the painful symptoms of the infection.