How to prevent and treat nail fungus Wear flip flops or swim sandals when walking in hot and humid areas, such as gyms, changing rooms, spas, public showers, and swimming pools. If you go somewhere with wet floors, such as swimming pools and gym changing rooms, keep your feet in place.
A pair of flip flops or lightweight slides may be just the barrier you need against toenail fungus.
All of these measures can help you avoid toenail fungus. But if you do end up with an infection, don't hesitate to call Vittori's foot and ankle specialist or schedule an appointment online today. We can provide you with the treatment you need to get rid of the fungus as quickly as possible.Flip-flops and water shoes can play an important role in protecting feet against fungus. If you use a public shower, you're standing in an area full of dirty hair, urine, and sweat. All of these things are known to breed different types of bacteria and fungi. More specifically, athlete's foot, toenail fungus, and ringworm can be contracted in a warm, humid environment, such as a public shower.
If you get toenail fungus, you may unfortunately start to lose your nails of the feet. This condition is also difficult to treat because oral antifungal medications aren't always effective. In severe cases, toenail fungus can cause nail removal. While toenail fungus is a common problem, it's estimated that around 10% of people are affected by this condition, and up to 50% of older people have fungi that aren't very comforting when you have thickened and discolored nails.
Having diabetes, circulation problems, or a weakened immune system greatly increases the risk of foot and toenail fungus. Onychomycosis is the clinical name for toenail fungus and develops when fungi become trapped between the toenail and the nail bed, the tissue underneath the nail. Deliberate and specific treatments are needed to successfully eliminate toenail fungus, so the answer to the question posed in the title of this article is a resounding “no”. Over-the-counter products Sometimes, you can treat a mild case of toenail fungus with over-the-counter antifungal creams, ointments, or nail polish. However, more clinical tests are needed to determine if any of these (or other) home remedies actually treat nail fungus from toenails.
Toenail fungus thickens the nails, giving them a white or yellow color and causing the nails to break into pieces, crumble and separate from the nail bed. Call the Premier Foot & Ankle office that's most convenient for you and schedule a consultation for toenail fungus today, or request an appointment online at any time. In addition, diabetics who suffer from decreased foot sensitivity are more likely to suffer from trauma to their toenails that damage the nail and create entry portals for toenail fungus. Fungal toenail infections usually stem from athlete's foot that has spread to the nail, explains Dina Strachan, M.It's important to get tested and treated for toenail fungus, as it can spread to other parts of the body or to other people if you don't.
A very small study showed that applying a pea-sized amount of Vicks VapoRub to the nail once a day helped treat (or at least improve) toenail fungus. Foot and toenail fungus thrives in the warm, humid, and dark environments of conventional footwear, but sandals and other open-toed shoes expose foot fungus and toenails to lethal ultraviolet rays. While sandal season may be coming to an end, there isn't a good time of year to combat toenail fungus.