subject: How To Cure Your Fungal Toenail [print this page] How To Cure Your Fungal Toenail How To Cure Your Fungal Toenail
Toenail fungus, also known as onychomycosis, is a common condition that usually affects the toenails causing them to be distorted and discolored. Toenail fungus is usually caused by group of fungi known as dermatophytes. Toenail fungus is not a life-threatening condition, but still it can make the patient feel miserable and bad.
Early treatment is required to cure the toenail fungus to stop the further damage to the affected nail. If early treatment is not provided to the nail, then it will surely become disfigured, stinking and may fall off. Meanwhile, nail fungus is transmissible and can easily make your other nails infected and may also spread to other members in your family.
Toenail fungus can be difficult, irritating and embarrassing condition if not cured early. But, with efficient treatments you will be able to get rid of toenail fungus. Let us have an idea about the causes and symptoms of toenail fungus.
Toes are greatly affected by fungus since they are usually covered in shoe, which is the perfect breeding ground of fungi. As the fungus develops on the nail, it feeds on the protein keratin of the nail that makes up the hard surface of the toenail.
Symptoms of Toe Nail Fungus
It is not easy to detect the early symptoms. The discoloration on your nail plate indicate that fungus has already taken hold and its byproduct are feeding on the keratin of your nail.
The first common symptom of toenail fungus is the appearance of yellow or white spot commonly seen under the tip of the affected nail. If proper measures are not taken, the fungus will eventually spread on the rest of the nails making them discolored.
Moreover, the nail becomes thick and brittle with time. The nail may be painful and cause problems on wearing shoes. You may observe a smell emitting from your nail due to the accumulation of foul debris under the nail. The nail may have crumbling edge, and it may ultimately fall off.
Causes of Toe Nail Fungus
Toenail fungus is a communicable disease and can easily spread from one person to another.
Fungus usually lives in moist and warm places. One can easily get toenail fungus by walking bare foot in places like shower stalls, swimming pools and gyms.
Tight-fitting shoes worn by athletes make them prone to have a toenail fungus since their toenails easily gets squashed at the end of the shoe. Wearing socks and shoes for a very long time creates a warm and moist condition, which are suitable for the fungus to breed.
One who have a weaker immune system or have diseases like HIV or diabetes are more susceptible to have a toenail fungus. This makes their body weak and they are not capable enough to fight infections like dermatophytes or other kind of fungus.
Treatment of Toenail Fungus
Your doctor may prescribe an oral anti-fungal prescription medication for your nail fungus that will usually take 12 weeks to show desired results. However, prescription drugs have some very serious side-effects and may not be suitable for some individuals.
Most of the topical treatments required in the treatment of toenail fungus, are ineffective since they are not able to pass through the thick layers of the toenail.
