Nail Fungus Treatment Info

Hygiene Tips for Preventing Nail Fungus

tony.page — Wed, 16 May 2007 00:23:52 +0000

Nail fungus is a common condition that usually presents in mid-life or later years, a nasty little problem that can be embarrassing, unsightly, and even painful. Fungal infections develop slowly over time and can be a difficult condition to treat, often causing permanent damage to the nails and possibly nail loss. Once a fungal infection has invaded your nails, it can be quite a battle to get ride of it. Fungus thrives in warm, moist and dark environments, so it comes as no surprise that nail fungal infections often develop in your toes.

But there are steps you can take to avoid the onset of nail fungal infections. Here are eight simple and effective tips (especially for women) for outsmarting nail fungus. Don’t forget, it’s a lot easier to prevent nail fungus getting a toehold (sorry!) in the first place than to have to fight it off for years

Tips For Keeping Your Nails Healthy

tony.page — Tue, 15 May 2007 00:23:22 +0000

Healthy looking nails are often the sign of good overall health. Fungal infections tend to appear in individuals with compromised immune systems, so it’s important to treat nail fungus swiftly to avoid complications, especially in diabetics and immunosuppressed people. Luckily, keeping your nails free from fungal infections is relatively simple when you take the right precautions. It works the other way too. If you suffer from brittle, fungus infected nails this may signal your immune system is not up to par. So you could say that taking good care of your nails might have an indirect effect on your whole health. Here are a few simple ways to make sure your nails stay healthy and free from nail fungus.

Nail Fungus Home Remedies

tony.page — Mon, 14 May 2007 00:22:53 +0000

Nail fungus is a condition that affects many millions worldwide and can be difficult to treat. Prescription oral medications like terbinafine, fluconazole, and itraconazole can have harsh and serious side effects, and over the counter products tend to be ineffective except in the mildest cases. Fortunately, because so many people suffer from nail fungal infections, over the centuries resourceful nail fungal sufferers have concocted dozens of home remedies that are safe, often effective and have been used to treat nail fungus for many years. Of course, as with most home remedies, not every treatment will work for everyone, and there is certainly no one universal cure for nail fungal infections. However, many people swear by them, and these traditional remedies are often inexpensive and easy to produce at home. Here are some of the most common home remedies for nail fungal infections:

Antifungal Agents to Treat Nail Fungus

tony.page — Sun, 13 May 2007 00:22:23 +0000

Nail fungal infections were once dismissed as purely cosmetic, but now doctors are beginning to realize that these infections can cause serious health complications. Nail fungus is especially common in people with compromised immune systems, diabetes or circulation problems, and these individuals may be especially at risk of developing serious health complications. Fortunately, doctors are beginning to treat fungal nail infections with a greater degree of seriousness.

Today, we have a wider variety of medications to treat nail fungus. Pharmaceutical companies have developed new and powerful antifungal agents to treat these often-stubborn infections. There are three oral antifungal agents in particular, terbinafine, fluconazole, and itraconazole, which are the common oral medications prescribed to treat nail fungus. These three agents are easy to absorb and have what is known as a “reservoir effect.” This means that the antifungal agents move to the nail plate and remain stored there for many months. This allows the fungal infection that lives behind nail plate to be treated, even as the nail begins to grow out.

The Progressive Nature of Nail Fungus

tony.page — Sat, 12 May 2007 00:21:30 +0000

Nail fungus infections can be characterized as a progressive and recurring condition that develops rather slowly and can be difficult to eliminate. The medical term for nail fungus is “onychomycosis” (on-ih-ko-my-KO-sis), and symptoms generally include thickened discoloured nails, often ridged and flecked by white dots. The disease usually begins when debris enters the nail plate and causes it to become discoloured. The types of nail fungus differ in their pattern of growth.

Of the two types of nail fungus, toenail fungus infections occur more frequently than fingernail infections and are often harder to treat. In fact, it is estimated that toenail infections are roughly four to five times more common than fingernail infections. One reason for this is because thanks to our shoes and socks, toenails are more exposed to the moist, dark and warm environment on which fungus thrives. If you are older you are also more likely to develop nail fungal infections because your nails tend to grow thicker. By the time you reach the age of 70, you’ll probably have suffered from some kind of nail infection.

Nail Fungus and Fungal Infections

tony.page — Fri, 11 May 2007 00:20:41 +0000

Nail fungus infections are one of the most common types of fungal infections, affecting almost 30 million Americans. Although most people tend to put fungal and bacterial infections into the same category, fungi are actually much more like plants than bacteria, covering a huge range of very different looking varieties. Many people – probably you included – frequently eat and enjoy fungi! Simply think of the mushroom toppings on your pizza, or that tasty grilled Porcini mushroom that you had with dinner. Yep, all these delicious mushrooms represent different types of fungi. But although most of the time fungi are harmless, they can sometimes result in a nail fungus infection that can be frustratingly hard to eliminate.

If you have a strong and healthy immune system, you can usually fight and control fungal infections without much difficulty. However, diabetics and people with compromised immune systems may have a much harder time in combating fungal infections on a long term basis. In actual fact, most fungal infections are quite slow in developing. It may take several months or even years before the symptoms of for example, nail fungus become serious enough to be brought to medical attention and to receive treatment. Unfortunately, this often extremely slow onset of the fungal infection is matched by the treatment, which also can take an excruciatingly long time to do its work.

Nail Fungus: an overview

tony.page — Thu, 10 May 2007 00:20:17 +0000

All of us have had a nail fungal infection at one time or another. Let’s face it, nail fungal infections are very common, and when they strike, the physical signs are hard to miss. The most obvious symptoms of nail fungus are brittle nail texture and a yellow discoloration. If your nails are hit with fungal infections they will break easily and appear brittle and crumbling; the nails may also begin to grow irregularly.

As previously noted, nail fungal infections are widespread, and becoming more so in the USA, where it affects almost 30 million Americans. Many people do not realize that nail fungus is a live infection that lives in the area where the skin and nail meet, often referred to as the nail bed. Like most fungal infections, nail fungal infections develop gradually. Fortunately, nail fungal infections do not spread to other parts of the body or internal organs. But there are many conditions that can result in nail discolouration, so it’s difficult to make a positive diagnosis of nail fungal infection just by examining the nail alone. In many cases, the doctor may need to clip off a piece of the nail and send it to a pathology lab to officially confirm the presence of a nail fungal infection.

Types of Nail Fungus

tony.page — Tue, 08 May 2007 10:00:00 +0000

Fungal infections are very common, affecting almost 30 million Americans. Nail fungus is made up of tiny organisms (Tinea Unguium) that can infect fingernails and toenails. The types of nail fungus differ in their pattern of growth. Of the two types of nail fungus, toenail fungus infections occur more frequently and are often harder to treat. How do you know if you have a nail infection? Because nail fungal infections tend to develop gradually over time, the truth is it can be difficult at first to determine the whether the problem is nail fungus or something else. However, once the infection has become well established, it is hard to miss the telltale signs. Individuals with nail fungal infections usually suffer from thick, yellowish nails that grow irregularly, often with ridges or white spots. Sometimes the nails may also go brown or black in colour. Here is a brief overview of the most common types of nail fungus.

Nail Fungus Risk Factors and Complications

tony.page — Tue, 12 Dec 2006 07:50:17 +0000

Nail fungus is a persistent and troublesome problem that is a progressive and recurring condition. It is also a common problem, affecting almost 30 million Americans in some form or another. Once you’ve got it, getting rid of this irritating and unsightly nuisance can be tough. Nail fungus is actually made up of tiny organisms (Tinea Unguium) that can infect fingernails and toenails. Who is most at risk of suffering a nail fungal infection? Well, here are a few risk factors that affect your chances of developing nail fungus. After reading them, if you think you may be at a greater risk of nail infections, make sure you take extra precautions to minimize your exposure to these unpleasant fungi.

Nail fungus is a common condition that usually presents in mid-life or later years, so if you are an older adult you may be at a greater risk of developing an infection. This is because nails tend to grow thicker and more slowly with age. Thick nails are more susceptible to becoming infected because they provide a more effective protective barrier for the invading fungi. If you have a family history of nail infections, you may also be more susceptible to developing infection. There appears to be a strong hereditary factor for this condition. Also, men appear to be contract fungal infections at higher rates than women. Nail fungus is most commonly seen on the toenails of men and the fingernails of women.

What other risk factors are there for nail fungal infections?
Read more about Nail Fungus Risk Factors and Complications here

What is Nail Fungus?

tony.page — Sun, 10 Dec 2006 04:46:39 +0000

Nail fungus is made up of tiny organisms (Tinea Unguium) that can infect fingernails and toenails. The medical term for nail fungus is “onychomycosis” (on-ih-ko-my-KO-sis). Most of the time, our toenails and fingernails operate as very effective barriers. As a rule, they keep dirt, bacteria and fungi out. But while our nails are generally good at keeping superficial infections from entering and taking hold, sometimes they are overwhelmed, and once fungi break the barrier, they tend to settle in for long-term residence. Unfortunately, the barrier that usually protects us from getting infected also makes it difficult to treat infections that have penetrated it. Nail fungal infections develop rather slowly, and can be difficult to cure. The nail fungus is hard to eliminate and needs treatment with proper medications, once it establishes itself in your nail bed. Once it has made it behind the barrier protection, it can be difficult to reach.

Almost 30 million individuals are affected by nail fungal infections in the United States. The nail fungus thrives in the warm dark and protected environment behind the nail, attracted to keratin which is a substance in your nails and skin. Women who wear nail polish and acrylic nails are more likely to develop nail fungal infection, because plastic or acrylic nails can trap moisture and creating a moist and dark environment where fungus can thrive.
Read more about Nail Fungus, its treatment and prevention here