Nail Fungus - What You Need to Know About

Signs and symptoms of a nail fungus infection.

A nail fungus can be seen, smelled, or even felt once it takes hold. Here is a list of some of the most common signs and symptoms of nail fungus:

- The nail fungus may affect the appearance of the nails. They might look greenish, yellowish, or even darker colors. Some may have little white patches on them.
- Nails may get flaky, brittle and chipped.
- Debris might collect under your nails causing them to smell bad.
- Sometimes nail fungus causes the nails to split.
- Sometimes toenails get so thick that even wearing shoes or walking will be painful.

If you think that you have a nail fungus go to your healthcare provider and he or she will perform a test. This is the only way to know for sure if you have a nail fungus.

How to prevent a nail fungus from affecting your toenails?

Well-fitting shoes is always a good defense against a nail fungus. Shoes are well-fitting where there is space (about the width of a thumb) between the end of the shoe and the tip of the longest toe, preventing the toe from being damaged upon impact. Another way to prevent the nail fungus from appearing is to change socks whenever they become damp.

What to do when you have a nail fungal infection?

The nail fungus is hard to eliminate and needs treatment with proper medications, once it establishes in your nail bed. Unfortunately, in most cases, anti-fungal creams applied to the nail are useless because they do not penetrate the nail bed killing the fungus at its sourse.

However, there are strong oral medications that must be taken for months in order to be effective. But, be careful as most medications have side effects to other body organs like the liver or the skin, etc. Ask your physician to monitor side effects during treatment. This consists in periodic blood tests, usually monthly. Any of the following symptoms suggests organ damage and should be reported immediately to your physician: nausea, unusual fatigue, severe loss of appetite, skin rashes, yellow eyes, dark urine, bleeding.

Keep in mind that this list is far from being complete. If you are treating yourself for nail-fungal infection using oral medications, ask your physician for a complete list.

Article provided by http://www.nail-fungus.org , a resource dedicated to providing information on the symptoms, treatment options, and cause of nail fungus.

Top Five FAQs About Nail Fungus

What is nail fungus?

Nail fungus, also known as Onychomycosis, is an organism which digests the keratin found in your fingernails and toenails. The fingernail and toenail are naturally built to be strong barriers, and resistant to fungi and other infections. However, because of how strong this barrier is, once the infection is present, it is sometimes very difficult to eliminate.

How can I prevent nail fungus?

One of the most important steps in preventing nail infections is to keep nails well trimmed, but not over trimming them. Cutting the nail too short can cause small cuts and tears, which could allow fungal organisms to penetrate your nail bed. To prevent toenail fungal infections, keep your feet as dry and clean as possible at all times. Change socks and shoes frequently. If you have athlete's foot, treat it regularly. Athlete's foot is a fungus which can spread to your toenails. Do not share nail clippers with anyone else, as it is possible to transmit the fungus.

How common is nail fungus?

No one knows for sure, but experts estimate that 30-35 million Americans are affected by this condition.

What are the symptoms?

Because nail fungus can affect the toenails' appearance, they are rather unsightly for an untrained eye. Usually people first discover the infection because of the nail discoloration. Nails may turn green or yellow, but in some cases they turn into an even darken color. Other rather common nail fungus symptoms may be: nails may get flaky, and chipped, bits of "gunk" or debris may collect under your nails, your nails may smell bad, toenails may get so thick that wearing shoes causes pain, discomfort from the infection may make it hard to walk, or do other activities.

How can I cure my nail infection?

There are two primary methods of treating nail fungus. Topical treatments (liquids, creams) are commonly used for to treat less severe cases. These treatments are usually acid-based liquids or anti-fungal creams. Oral treatments are powerful anti-fungal medications, such as Lamisil or Sporanox. Prescription oral medications are usually used in more severe or difficult cases. Nail infections can be difficult to cure, but can usually be treated effectively. See the nail fungus treatments section at http://www.nail-fungus.org for more information.

If you suspect that you have a fungal nail infection, you should see your doctor or dermatologist. Your doctor will do a test to tell if you do have a fungal nail infection, and if you do, make a recommendation on treatment options. The earlier that an infection is detected, the easier it will be to treat.

Article provided by http://www.nail-fungus.org, a resource dedicated to providing information on the symptoms, treatment options, and cause of nail fungus.

How to Get Rid of Toe & Finger Nail Fungus

A fungal infection of the toe or finger nails often results from a chronic athlete's foot infection in our youthful years. This is also known as Onychomycosis. The toenail infection is not so easily eliminated and often continues as a seemingly perpetual problem. Nail fungus is made up of tiny organisms which is also known as Tinea Unguium or Onychomycosis. This infects fingernails and toenails. The fungus lives under the nail. The nail provides a safe place for the fungus growth as fungus likes dark and wet places.

A fungal infection in nail is one of the most difficult nail conditions to cure. Its symptoms are thickening and discoloration of the nail. Some times, the nail may crumble. The first sign of a fungal infection of the nail is a change in colour. The nail often becomes yellow then brown. It gets thicker and develops a bad odor. Debris may collect beneath the nail and white marks frequently appear on the nail. The infection can spread to other nails. Toenails are affected more frequently than finger nails.

We should keep cutting the nail back and clean the dead tissue from under the nail thoroughly. There may be little nail left. When the new nail grows, let it grow. We must continue the treatment until the nail is completely re-grown. Since toenails grow so slowly, the complete process will take a year or more. Lactobacilli taken internally is a beneficial bacteria needed to inhibit bad bacteria and fungus. The lack of sufficient friendly bacteria in the body can result in the growth of fungus under and around nails.

The appearance of the nails can be improved by brushing with undecylenic acid. Removal of the nail will not solve the problem of onychomycosis. When the new nail grows in, it almost always becomes reinfected. AntifungalSupplement is also used against toe nail fungus.2 capsules per day for 3 months. The Ingredients arePau D Arco (aerial), Garlic (bulb), Echinacea (aerial), and Goldenseal (root) .Anti fungal formula must be used for some time. It is recommended that Acidophilus and immune builders can be used in the treatment to get rid of nail fungus.

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) is good at fighting finger nail fungus. One draw back is if you stop taking the medicine the fungus will be back within a week. The fastest way to get rid of fingernail is vinegar mixed with a 3% hydrogen peroxide. The mixture is fifty fifty. We should be adding it with a dropper. Some people will feel as slight pinch after awhile.This should be followed by getting the hands soaked in Clorox bleach. For mild infection use one cap for half glass of water and leave your finger with fungus for about a minute. If you have severe fungus then try one cup Clorox to four caps water and again leave for about a minute.

Visit Toe Nail Fungus Cure or Finger Nail Fungus Cure for more information on how to cure toe & finger nail fungus quickly & easily.

How To Medically Treat Nail Fungus

Warning: This article is for information only and can not be used to supplement your doctor's advice. You should contact your doctor for nail fungus treatment.

Treatment Of Toe Nail Fungus

Medical Care:

Several years ago the medical management of OM was limited to topical therapy and 2 unreliable systemic drugs: griseofulvin and ketoconazole. Topical therapy is beneficial only for mild cases involving the very distal nail plate. The use of griseofulvin and ketoconazole is plagued by high relapse rates (70-85%), prolonged treatment regimens (10-18 mo for toenails), constant laboratory monitoring, and numerous adverse effects. The introduction of newer oral agents has revolutionized the medical treatment of OM and reduced potential adverse effects and drug interactions. As the rate of recurrence remains high, even with newer agents, the decision to treat should be made with a clear understanding of the cost and risks involved as well as the risk of recurrence..

Topical antifungals

The use of topical agents should be limited to cases involving less than half of the distal nail plate or for patients unable to tolerate systemic treatment. Agents include amorolfine (approved in other countries), ciclopirox olamine 8% nail lacquer solution, sodium pyrithione, bifonazole/urea (available outside the United States), propylene glycol-urea-lactic acid, the imidazoles, and the allylamines.

Topical treatments alone are generally unable to cure OM because of insufficient nail plate penetration. Ciclopirox solution has been reported to penetrate through all nail layers but has low efficacy when used as monotherapy. It may be useful as adjunctive therapy in combination with oral therapy or as prophylaxis to prevent recurrence in patients cured with systemic agents.

Oral therapy

The newer generation of oral antifungal agents (itraconazole and terbinafine) has replaced older therapies in the treatment of nail fungus. They offer shorter treatment regimens, higher cure rates, and fewer adverse effects. Fluconazole (not approved by the Food and Drug Administration [FDA] for treatment of nail fungus) offers an alternative to itraconazole and terbinafine. Derivatives of fluconazole may also be available soon. The efficacy of the newer antifungal agents lies in their ability to penetrate the nail plate within days of starting therapy. Recent evidence shows better efficacy with terbinafine than other oral agents.

To decrease the adverse effects and duration of oral therapy, topical and surgical treatments may be combined with oral antifungal management.

Surgical Care:

Surgical approaches to nail fungus treatment include surgical nail avulsion and matrixectomy by chemical or mechanical means. Chemical removal by using a 40-50% urea compound should be reserved for patients with very thick nails or for those who may not tolerate mechanical avulsion.

Removal of the nail plate should be considered an adjunctive treatment in patients undergoing oral therapy.

A combination of oral, topical, and surgical therapy can increase efficacy and reduce cost.

Activity: Activity does not need to be limited during treatment, but patients should be educated about avoiding direct contact with high-risk areas in public places.

Gregory Mburu is a medical professional and a marketer part time. He post info about nail fungus on his blog at http://nail-fungus-cure.blogspot.com
 

Powerful Essential Oils Kill Nail Fungus

Fungal infection of the nails is the one of the most difficult of all disorders to cure. Both fingernails and toenails may be affected, although toenail fungal infection is the most common type. There are a number of oral medications that have been promoted as effective cures, and, indeed, many of these medications eradicate nail fungus.  However, all of these medications have the potential of causing significant toxicity, including liver damage. Oil of oregano aids in the cure primarily through topical application, although internal consumption may be necessary however, this must be under the direction of a professional health care provider. The oil has a deep penetrating power, which aids in the destruction of nail fungus, since this fungus infects the root of the nail bed as well as the surface. Regarding essential oils, oil of oregano's ability to destroy nail fungus is unmatched. Rub oil of oregano liberally into involved nails as often as possible. Be sure to reduce sugar intake.

FUNGAL INFECTION OF SKIN AND NAILS

Fungal infection of the skin & nails is one of the most difficult of all disorders to cure. Tea Tree and Oregano essential oils aids in eradicating primarily through topical application. These oils have a deep penetrating power, which aids in the destruction of nail fungus, since this fungus infects the root of the nail bed as well as the surface.  These oils are included in our Healthy Nail Blend along with 5 other powerful essential oils.

FOOT AND TOENAIL FUNGUS

In the book, "The Cure is in the Cupboard: How to Use Oregano for Better Health" Dr. Cass Ingram, says:  "The feet harbor a variety of microbes. In fact, they are one of the most commonly infected external sites on the body.  Circulation in this area is poor, and this leads to sluggish local immunity.  A variety of microbes may find residence in the skin of the feet, particularly between the toes, where moisture is retained.  Foul odor is a dependable sign of poor health of the feet, as is the development of scaling or athlete's foot.

Problem toenails may readily become infected, particularly by fungi, although bacteria, such as Pseudomonas, may also infect them.  Toenail infections are difficult to eradicate, because the infection beings deep within the nail bed, and the delivery of medicine to this region is difficult.

It is a little known fact that poor health of the feet affects the health of the entire body.  Thus, for optimal health the feet must be kept clean and free of infection.  Wash the feet often and be sure to keep the toenails well manicured.  Clean any debris that might accumulate about the toenails or between the toes.  Rub oil of oregano once or twice daily over the nail beds, the soles and between the toes.  Don't neglect the health of the feet; your body will pay a price as a result."

CHILDREN SKIN AND NAIL FUNGUS

Children usually fail to attend to good hygiene and their hand washing technique is usually poor, if they wash at all.  The fingernails are one of the dirtiest regions of children, microbially.  The underside of the nails often contain a reservoir of microbes, especially if the nails are long.  It is well known that parasitic infections in children are spread by poor hygiene; and entire day care center can become infected from one carrier.  The hands are the main mode of transmission, but it is the underside of the fingernails that house the parasitic cysts and eggs.  In particular, parasites tend to reside under the nails, and from there they readily reintroduced into the body.  The fingernails must be kept neatly trimmed.  Wash the edges of the nail beds with a soap and oil of oregano solution.  If this is done regularly, the incidence of infectious disease in children will be curbed dramatically.

Be sure to educate children regarding the importance of hand washing.  Oil of oregano and/or Tea Tree essential oil helps reduce the risk for contracting microbial infections.  they can be used both on the body and on inanimate objects.  It may be added to soaps and body washes.  They are a universal antiseptic, and there is no limit to the versatility of its uses.  Infections spread like wildfires in public establishments, especially schools.  Instruct children to use the oils during hand washing to prevent the transmission of infection from child to child and also to prevent it from arriving at home.

Fortunately, we can lower the risk of infection by paying scrupulous attention to personal hygiene. Infection is often caused by the foreign bodies (germs) which enter our body through the mouth, nose, eyes, and fingernails, as well as through cuts in our skin. Good hygiene won't prevent cuts, but it can eliminate many of the germs that are lurking around our eyes, mouth, nose, and fingernails.

 
Judy Tovey has been involved in essential oil education for 5 years and is an Essential Secrets Consultant.

For more information about Healthy Nail Blend go to http://antiagingchoices.com/Aromatherapy/healthy_nail.htm

Onychomycosis - One Of The Many Nail Fungus Out There

Many natural changes in fingers and toenails come with age. Fine ridges, for example, may start developing from the cuticle of the nail tip. This and other similar changes are common, but they are not signs of poor health.

However,there are some nail conditions to watch out for such as small separations of the nail from the nail bed, yellow/brown color, or hardening ,crumbling or thickenings of the nail at the top edge.All these conditions are symptoms of a common fungal infection called Onychomycosis,which infects the nail bed under the surface of the nail causing thickening, roughness, discoloration and splitting of the nail.

It can be caused by a somewhat large variety of fungi and it's typically painless for several years after initial infection. But, if left untreated, the condition will worsen and it'll be unbearable to even wear shoes or walk.

Because fungi thrive in darkness,moist areas such as the inside of your shoes, Onychomycosis appears on toenails more often that fingernails. Like mold or mildew, these parasitic organisms live on dead things, which in this case is the dead nail tissue. Once the fungus is established on dead tissue, it excretes toxins into adjacent living tissue causing its death.

As this tissue dies, it provides new ground for the fungus to expand.

The risk of fungus infection of toenails is decreased using the same methods to decrease the risk of fungus infection of the skin on the feet. Here are some tips to maintain your feat dry and healthy:

1. Indoors, avoid wearing shoes and consider wearing open footwear.

2. Change shoes daily. Try alternating between at least 3 pairs of shoes allowing them time to dry out.

3. Change socks whenever they become damp.

4. Wear high top boots only when needed for work or other activities.

5. Treat every foot fungus promptly. Some fungus require daily application of anti-fungal creams to keep them away.

If the fungus still appears go to your dermatologist to prescribe you both oral and topical treatments for Onychomycosis. Newer, safer and more effective medications are currently available due to nail fungus treatment advancing significantly over the past years. These medications are generally taken for three months. During that time, the medicine incorporates into the nail tissue preventing the fungus to expand. As the nail grows out normally, The diseased nail is displaced and removed.

Article provided by http://www.nail-fungus.org, a resource dedicated to providing information on the symptoms, treatment options, and cause of nail fungus.

Toe Nail Fungus Remedies That Works!

Do you suffer from an embarrassing toenail fungus worry about fungus ridden body nail fungus?

It is so easy to get toe nail fungus, and so very difficult to get rid of them! Almost everyone who has every contacted this fungus will tell you the same thing. What is toenail fungus? Well, in short, it is basically a fungi that grows right under your nail plate. The fungus prefers an environment that is moist, dark and warm, which is why it affects the toenails much more often than fingernails. Despite the commonly used term "fungal toenails", onychomycosis describes both fungus and yeast infections in the nail.

Unfortunately toenail fungus is difficult to treat because your feet are warm, in a dark environment and moist. If you work in a hot, humid and dirty environment, toenail fungus will be a common problem.

Remedies
There are many highly successful non-surgical treatments for fungus toenails that give long term relief by treating the abnormal infection. To treat toenail fungus apply tea tree oil to all areas of the toenail and toe that are affected by the fungus. Garlic has also been shown over the years to be a great way to fight even the most persistent cases of toenail fungus. Griseofulvin too has been shown to eliminate toenail fungus after continued use for one year. This safe non-toxic all natural formula helps eliminate toenail fungus or fingernal fungus while the nail grows. You can also try soaking your nails in band-aid in oregano oil.

Potassium iodide (SSKI) in combination with DMSO is quite effective in getting rid of toenail fungus. Saprox has not been proven to eliminate toenail fungus but if mixed with DMSO, it just may.

A pedicurist is not a doctor and toenail fungus is a medical condition, so don't even consider that. Some people consider toenail fungus just a cosmetic problem and don't bother seeking treatment. To determine if you have a fungus infection of your toenails you should see a podiatrist who can take a culture of the nails.

A nail fungus can affect the appearance of toenails, making them unsightly. Come find out more about Toenail Fungus at http://ToenailFungus.eabout.info

Ideal Treatment For Nail Fungus

Do you have brittle nails? It could be your toenails or your fingernails that are bothering you, but if they are brittle, and break easily, and perhaps turning a yellowish color, you may have a nail fungus.

This fungus is spread by contact with other people who have it, and is very hard to get rid of using normal measures. In order to cure nail fungus, it is necessary to penetrate the nail plate to reach the infection. Until recently, the best available solution included three systemic prescription anti-fungal medications and one prescription topical therapy. Currently, the most successful nail fungus remedy is terbinafine, known as Lamisil.

The reason Lamisil is the superior treatment for nail fungus is that it remains in the nail bed. Because the medicine remains in the nail bed, it significantly reduces the duration of the therapy. The time it takes to eradicate a fungal infection, as compared to the standard prescription, is shortened by up to 75%.

It is common for doctors to prescribe the medication, griseofulvin for nail fungus. This can take up to 2 years to entirely eliminate the problem. However, when using Lamisil to treat fungal infections, infected toenails require only up to three months of treatment and affected fingernails require merely six to eight weeks to be entirely healed. It is easy to see the enormous difference in the treatment time.

Another Lamisil benefit, if you have other prescriptions, is its low incidence of drug interactions with other medications. Taking Lamisil is also not taxing on your body and has only a slight risk of systematic effects, such as liver problems. The only noted side effect is diarrhea. However, this is extremely rare as Lamisil has generally been a very-well tolerated prescription medication choice for sufferers of nail fungus. Ask your doctor if she or he would recommend you use this product for your nails. You may be a candidate, and in a few months, your nail nightmare may finally be over!

Lisa Davis contributes to several popular online magazines, including http://byvak.com and http://ruvek.com

Do you have Toe Nail Fungus? 5 Most Common Treatments

Any sufferer from nail fungus will have a different story to tell as to how they cured or treated their nail fungus. There are two distinct routes for treatment: pharmaceutically produced anti fungal drugs and the other is the home remedy fungus treatment or natural course of action. The thing to remember when attempting to treat a fungal nail infection is that there is not a perfect solution, one treatment may work for one sufferer but not another. In the list below are the 5 most common ways to treat the fungus with the highest success rate, in no particular order and based on feedback, research and via personal experience. A word of warning though, it is strongly advised not administer two different types of treatment in conjunction with one another other.

1. Vinegar Cure for Nail Fungus. This can be either used as a foot soak or applied directly to the base of the nail. The acidity of the vinegar can reduce the itching caused by the fungus and more importantly restore the PH balance to kill the fungus. This treatment is completely free of any side affects and has a good success rate if used regularly ? twice a day for six months is the suggested.

2. Tree Tree Oil Fungus Cure Another home remedy that is natural and free of any side effects ? Tee Tree oil has a powerful deep penetrating action than can reach down into the nail bed. Application can either directly applied or by using a spray.

3. Lamisil Anti Fungal Medicine Lamisil is a commercially produced drug that is widely available and taken as tablet form. There are known side effects ? potentially harmful to the liver, but it is worth noting that the side effects are mild and temporary. Before administering this particular anti fungal treatment you read up and be fully aware of the products consequences both good and bad.

4. Acidophilis Beer Soak This treatment involves soaking your feet in a container at least twice a day with idea of creating and acidic environment that in theory should not be welcomed by anything fungal. This antifungal treatment has a good success rate if you prepared to soak for 20 minutes each day.

5. Listerine Mouthwash Strange as it may seem this is a popular nail fungus treatment. Both cost effective and easy to apply. Some suffers use a combination of Listerine, vinegar and tea tree oil to create a super fungal remedy. Using two or three substances like these are fine but it as strongly advised not mix anything pharmaceutically produced.

Tony Jay is the editor of Cure Nail Fungus For more information visit http://www.cure-nailfungus.com

Nail Fungus & Toe Nail Fungus Can Be Bummer -   Help Is Here!

Of all the beauty products that are available to everyone on the market I would have to say that a treatment to eliminate toenail fungus and nail fungus would be last on my list but that is only because I don't have a nail fungus problem.

For those that suffer the list of ailments can go a mile long.

The toenail or nail can be black or yellow it can rot and it can become thickened and milky white.

So you say go to the doctor and get it fixed but the problem with that approach is that most doctors prescribe an anti fungal that can be very harmful to your liver. It can be so harmful that they monitor your blood work religiously to make sure that there are no adverse side effects and they also limit your intake of the toenail fungus pill. There is also something called penlac but the results are very varied. But hang tight as we have found something to help you out.

But first how do people get the nail fungus or toenail fungal problems and the answer is that it really varies.

Some people believe that it is a fungus that is transferred from person to person in baths and steamy places like showers while others believe that it is the result of a candida infection in the body that causes this.

While we do not know the cause and cannot dispute that women catch this infection in a nail salon we certainly can help with the problem by telling you about the ingredients that work best to get rid of toenail and fingernail fungus in both women and men.

The first ingredient that you should learn about is tea tree oil as it does an amazingly good job when dealing with the fungus. The best way to get tea tree into the nail and around the nail is by putting it in a cream base and tea tree oil by itself will not be enough to handle fingernail or toenail fungus. It works best when combined with carrier oils that work to get around and underneath if not through the nail and the best carrier oil is emu oil. It penetrates through just about anything and even mimics the skin to get through the skin. We are not sure whether it is getting through the nail or around the nail but it works great as a carrier oil.

The final and most important ingredient is the anti fungal itself which is called tolfanate and it works extremely well to kill the outstanding fungus and when combined with tea tree oil and emu oil as the carrier this combination is lethal to the fungus and results are seen usually in about 30 to 45 days. The results lag as the nail starts to grow out healthier and this works as the nail grows out in the 45 day cycle.

For products that work on nail fungus and toe fungus make sure to check for the ingredients listed above in the same combination as they work really well to get to the heart of the fungus. For those that think that they received the fungus from your nail salon you may want to make sure that you tell the salon that you possibly received the fungus from them. They should do a better job of sterilizing their equipment. Most of the women that I talk to that have fingernail fungus believe that they did receive it from the nail salons and were very glad to find a product combination that works well to get the fungus gone. It takes the same length of time to get rid of fingernail fungus as it does to get rid of toenail fungus. Both are not fun to have but both also can be helped so check out the best in anti fungals by combining natural treatments and chemicals treatments that are safe because they are topically applied and not ingested. None of the ingredients listed above are ever ingested instead they are topically applied in a cream base.

It is critical that you get proper at the first sign of trouble. Toe Nail Fungus can easily be taken care of without impacting your everyday life. http://www.skinenergizer.com/nails.htm