subject: Are You Suffering From Embarrassing Nail Fungus? [print this page] Nail fungus can be very embarrassing and many people often hide their feet or hands because of it. While the general population may think that it is caused by poor hygiene, the fact is, it has nothing to do with hygiene. It is simply caused by a variety of environmental and hereditary factors, and it can be contagious.
While you are going to find a lot of home remedies for nail fungus, the best thing you can do is visit a podiatrist. Home remedies do not work and they can actually make the problem worse because the fungus spreads so quickly.
Some of the most common home remedies for treating this problem include soaking the nails in vinegar, clorox or mouthwash. Generally, they may slow down the fungi, but will not eliminate it resulting in a return of the symptoms.
A podiatrist can actually prescribe an anti-fungal medicine or perform a laser treatment that can clear up the problem much quicker than the home remedies. While it can still take approximately three to four months for you to actually see the results until the new nail grows in, the medication will help prevent it from spreading to your other nails.
Left untreated, this problem can cause more serious issues. Infections are actually quite common among those diagnosed with this problem. These infections can cause a lot of issues, especially to those who also have diabetes. In fact, fungal infections can be devastating in diabetic patients leading to bacterial infection and even amputation.
If you believe you have nail fungus, do not be embarrassed. Instead, seek out treatment from a specialist who can help you to get rid of it. Keep your feet and toes dry and be sure you take precautions to keep it from spreading until you can get in to see your podiatrist.
