Toenail Fungus Remedy

According to statistics, 12% of the whole American population has nail fungus. This condition results in thickened, discolored, brittle and malformed nails.
The toenails are more commonly affected than the fingernails. The dermatophytes or the kind of fungi that causes the nail abnormalities breed ideally in warm and moist places. The foot is subjected to such environment when one wears shoes everyday.
Nail fungus is contagious. That is why, extra precaution must be taken. It doesn’t instantaneously affect other persons upon contact, but may do so if the other persons have weak immune systems or have other conditions that make them prone to infections.
If you have acquired nail fungus, it may be best to avoid sharing towels, nail clippers, shoes, slippers and other things which are considered for personal hygiene purposes. There are reported cases of all members of one household getting nail fungus because of sharing of a nail clipper.Treatment for Nail Fungus
Topical ointments are not very effective when it comes to treating nail fungus. They cannot penetrate the thickened nails and cannot eliminate the fungi underneath the nails. Experts have experimented on nail lacquers that are designed to effectively combat nail fungus.
Oral medications are more ideal for the treatment nail fungus. The common medications used are Fluconazole, Itraconazole and Terbinafine.Fluconazole- This drug is marketed as Diflucan. Individuals infected by nail fungus may take this once a week for several months. There have been reports of side effects involving the kidney. Said side affects can be resolved by lowering the dosage of the drug.Itraconazole – This medicine can be taken in conjunction with other drugs including antibiotics and antihistamines. Itraconazole is taken once a week for two to three months. The drug is branded in the market as Sporanox.Terbinafine – This drug is taken daily for eight weeks to treat fingernail fungus and 12 weeks to treat toenail fungus. There are only few documented side effects of this pill, compared to the other drugs. Lamisil is the brand name of Terbinafine in the market.
Patients are reminded to avoid alcohol intake while under using antifungal drugs. Intake of alcohol may increase the amount of toxins in the body and may affect the functions of the liver.
The ultimate treatment for nail fungus infection that is in its chronic stage, is permanent removal of the toenail. Podiatrists or doctors who specialize in the treatment of foot diseases, should be consulted for this procedure.
Unlike oral or topical treatment, which doesn’t prevent recurrence of the nail fungus, matrixectomy or the removal of the infected nail will ensure permanent remedy for your problem.
Prevention is still the best medicine. This can be done by practicing simple habits like regular trimming of your nails, wearing of appropriate footwear and socks, avoiding use of nail polish, washing of hands and feet and careful cleaning of the nails to avoid skin breakage. Doing these things can be equated to blocking the entry of fungi that may attack your nails.
Read about proper nail care, nail fungus and available medicines for nail fungus online.

Infections related to toenail fungus are fairly common conditions that affect approximately 10% of the American population. The fungus that invades your nail is a living organism that thrives in dark, damp conditions. While the fungus has the potential to occur in the fingernail, it is far more common in the toes because of the desirable environment of the foot. This fungus can live along side the nail, or under the nail; however, this may depend on many factors such as the progression or severity of the condition.

 Many doctors have noted that in the beginning stages of this condition it is common for the fungus to live along side the toenail, and if left untreated slowly progress inward, or under the nail. Some symptoms at the beginning of this fungal infection include a white or yellowish spot on the nail; it is not a common occurrence to have pain at this stage of the infection. It is this lack of pain that often causes this symptom to be overlooked, therefore allowing the infection to progress.

 The next stage of the infection is a bit more noticeable, although it can occur rather slowly. At first you may notice a dullness followed by a yellowing, and your toenail may actually change shape. This change in the shape of your toenail may actually be caused by the thickening and/or crumbling of the edges that occurs. This thick yellowing of the nail is often the trademark of the condition. At this stage of the infection most people experience some degree of discomfort, this may be associated to the fact that the toenail can actually separate from the nail bed.

 When the condition progresses enough to result in a separation of the nail and the skin, exposing the nail bed, this can result in a serious infection. If you notice a foul odor, or pus oozing from the toe, it is imperative that you seek medical intervention to prevent a serious infection.

 A common misconception is that the micro-organism that causes this infection is rare and only found in dirty places. This micro organism is not bias, if there is a warm damp environment to be found, than you can bet that there are spores there waiting to be picked up on some ones hands or feet. This interaction between you and the fungus usually takes place on a daily basis, the problem occurs when you give the fungus a desirable environment to live in.

 The fungus that usually causes these infections is known in the medical community as dermatophytes. There are other causes of fungal nail infections such as yeast and mold however, dermatophytes are the most common cause. Certain factors may make an individual more susceptible to toenail fungus. These factors include:

 A malfunctioning immune system

 Fungal infections of the nails are not life threatening or debilitating. However, these infections can become painful and affect self esteem, due to the appearance of the nail. Because toenail fungus can be difficult to treat, prevention is of the utmost importance. If you have concerns that you may have a toenail fungus contact your doctor, he or she can examine your toes and run some tests to give you a definite diagnosis.