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Toenail Rot: Nail Fungus and How to Treat It
You can see why people call it "toenail rot," even though that is not the correct
medical term for the condition. Nail fungus can make your toe nails and even your fingernails
look like they are rotting away when the nails turn an unsightly yellow and become unnaturally thick.
An infection of the nails by fungi (called onychomycosis in medical terminology) is not
simply a cosmetic problem; it is not inherited; and it is contagious. A nail fungus
infection must be taken seriously. Recent studies show that certain natural nail fungus treatments can be highly effective. but if nail fungus is ignored or simply covered up, it can do substantial damage that may be
permanent.
Fungal infections can occur in both the fingernails and in the toenails, but toe
infections are more common. A fungal infection of the nails is usually easy to recognize
by thickened, brittle nails that lose their luster and become discolored - yellow, brown,
black or even green. "Toe nail rot" is not an accurate description, even though that is what
it may appear as to the toe nail fungus patient.
The fungi that cause the infection invade the skin through small cuts or separations
between the nail and the nail bed. Infections usually take hold after repeated exposure
to warm, moist environments. Sources of infection can include public showers and swimming
pools, old shoes with closed toes, or even home showers that are not cleaned often enough
and that are used by other people with fungal infections.
athlete's foot is caused by the
same types of fungi from the same sources as the fungi that infect the nails, but
athlete's foot infections are limited to just the skin of the feet.
Fungal infections of the nails can spread from one nail to all of the nails,
and the longer the infection grows, the harder it is to cure. IF YOU
NOTICE A NAIL FUNGUS PROBLEM EARLY ENOUGH, YOU MIGHT BE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY
TREAT IT WITH A NATURAL REMEDY. HOWEVER, because of the
damage that can result from long-term infection, it is very important to
seek medical help and to obtain access to prescription drugs rather than
just relying on home remedies, IF YOU ARE NOT QUICKLY SUCCESSFUL WITH A
NATURAL REMEDY.
A doctor can prescribe one of several medicines you can take in pill form. These include
itraconazole, fluconazole and terbinafine. Remember that it takes many weeks of daily
treatment to cure a nail fungus infection with oral medication, so do not stop taking the
prescribed medicine early just because your nails start to look better and you think your "nail rot" is cured.
The appearance of the nail can improve even though the infection is still present. For a permanent
"toenail rot" cure, the medicine must be taken long enough to kill all of the fungus. Other medical
treatments that your doctor might recommend include daily use of an antifungal nail
lacquer (ciclopirox), or a topical cream with an active ingredient such as econazole
nitrate.
In severe "toenail rot" cases, the infected nail may have to be surgically removed to get rid of the
infection. So, remember that early nail fungus treatment is always best, followed by care to prevent
re-infection by avoiding repeated exposure to the sources of infection.
Peruse our site and look through our articles to see if we can help you with your health
questions. Remember, though, that only your healthcare professional can diagnose and recommend specific
treatments for your health issues. We are here to give you a knowledge base that you can use to better
understand your doctor's orders and to help you know what questions to ask.
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