Despite being a common health problem, toenail fungus is frequently overlooked by people with this nail concern. Of those who realize they suffer the condition, many do not seek medical help. However, toenail fungus can grow much worse over time and cause serious problems when not treated. Through nail repair, you can restore the health of your toenails and stop feeling embarrassed by how they look.
About Nail Fungus
Toenail fungus often causes no pain, even after years of growth. But you can see the fungus because of the telltale nail color changes it causes. Many people with this condition just let it continue to destroy their nails, ignoring its signs. The fungus can also cause secondary yeast or bacterial infections in the nail plate or surrounding areas.
Dermophytes are the fungi that first attack the nail. These dermophytes subsist on the nail’s protein, called keratin. Development of fungus causes yellowing of the nail. It also causes the nail to thicken, emit a foul odor and collect debris under the nail plate. The infection easily spreads to other nails and surrounding skin.
Fungal infection occurs more easily if you experience injury to your nail bed. It is a common affliction for people with chronic ailments like diabetes, immune deficiency or circulatory problems. Heavy perspiration and Athlete’s foot also make the fungal growth easier.
Preventing Toenail Fungus
By taking several precautions, you can prevent toenail fungus. These precautions include:
- Maintaining good hygiene
- Regularly inspecting your toes and feet
- Keeping feet dry and clean
- Not going barefoot in public facilities
- Keeping your nails trimmed straight across each toe and not extending beyond the toe tip
- Applying quality talcum foot powder
- Wearing properly fitting shoes made with breathable material
- Avoiding wear of excessively tight hosiery or socks
4 Clear Signs of Toenail Fungus
There are four clear signs of toenail fungus that occur as your nail infection goes untreated. The growth of the fungus is a slow process. In fact, that slowness can enable you to overlook the infection until it is advanced.
Caught early, you can successfully treat your fungal infection with nail repair methods, such as antifungal ointments and creams. But eradication of the infection does not occur quickly. For most people, the treatments look like they are working well, but the condition comes back and even worsens. This is typically because the underlying infection was not successfully treated.
Four signs of advanced toenail fungus infection include:
- An obvious nail color change, ranging from white and yellow to brown and gray
- Foul odor, with this offensive smell caused by the spreading fungus
- Nail thickening, making cutting the nails difficult and painful
- Scaling of the skin around the nail
Treatment of Toenail Fungus
Treatment of toenail fungus usually takes some persistence. You should always disinfect your home pedicure tools between uses to prevent reinfection and spread of the condition from one foot to the other. Never apply nail polish to infected nails. It is important to begin treatment and nail repair as early after recognizing a fungal infection, as possible.
Some nail fungus does not respond well to over-the-counter antifungal liquid and can recur after treatment. Oral or topical medication works better when prescribed by your doctor. It is also best to have the diseased toenail material and its debris removed through debridement.
Toenail removal is sometimes required to stop the fungus. By permanently removing a troublesome nail not responding to treatment, the infection can be cured. Removal also prevents the nail from regrowing and causing other problems, such as when it is deformed from the infection.