OUR GUIDE FOR MYCOSIS SLICED NAILS

 OUR GUIDE FOR MYCOSIS SLICED NAILS

Onychomycosis infection is a common problem and is more likely to occur as we age or as a result of a nail injury. An onychomycosis infection can cause pain and discomfort and also be frustrating because it leaves the nail damaged and highlights how unattractive your feet are.

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WHAT IS NAIL MYCOSIS?
 Nail fungus is a common problem that can affect any nail, hands or feet.

The toenails are the part of the body most affected by mycosis because the warm, humid and dark environment of the shoes is suitable for the reproduction and growth of fungi on the toenails.

Infection occurs due to the growth of a fungus under the nail surface . The fungus spores make their way between the toenail and the skin under the nail bed by feeding on the skin or keratin of the nail. While it is not a serious condition, it is also unpleasant because the nails become discolored, thickened and distorted.

The correct medical definition is Distal Subungual Onychomycosis (DSO) and it is the most common type of fungal nail infection. DSO infects the skin under the nail bed and the nail itself which often turns yellow or brown and becomes weak, flaking and can even peel off the skin.

Another type of fungal nail infection is White Superficial Onychomycosis which can be observed on the top layer of the nail. Initially, white spots form on the surface of the nail and, after some time, the surface of the nail may become covered with a white, crumbly, chalk-like powder. The nail does not thicken and does not separate from the skin.

HOW TO RECOGNIZE THE MYCOSIS OF THE NAIL
Healthy nails are smooth, pinkish and feature a thin white stripe at the tip.

To recognize the mycosis of the nail , quite evident signs can be observed , such as:

• Nails start to look dull and change in appearance.
• There is discoloration around the edge of the nail.
• Some white or yellowish spots appear on the nail.
• The nail thickens or becomes brittle.
• The nail crumbles and breaks, or even separates from the skin.
• There is discomfort when wearing shoes, walking or standing for some time.
• It is important to act quickly if you notice any of these symptoms. If the infection is not treated,

it can get worse and spread to other nails.

You can try a  nail fungus treatment that helps prevent the spread of infection and recurrence of fungal nails.


WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF NAIL MYCOSIS?
Even if you take care of your feet regularly, you could still get a yeast infection. The fungi that cause the infection are highly contagious . They grow and spread

in hot-humid environments to which our feet are exposed every day, such as swimming pools, showers or gyms where it can happen to walk barefoot.

Other frequent causes are:

• Not cleaning your feet properly and not drying your toes properly
• Wear shoes that cause your feet to overheat and sweat.
•  Athlete's foot can also easily spread to the toenail and cause mycosis.

The risk of infection can also be increased if you have a damaged toenail.

HOW CAN YOU PREVENT NAIL MYCOSIS?
Unfortunately , the risk of developing a yeast infection cannot be eliminated , but there are simple things that can be done to reduce the risk of becoming infected .

• It is necessary to try to keep the feet dry , wearing footwear that favors the perspiration of the foot thus avoiding that the fungi can reproduce.
• Throw away your old shoes and change your socks regularly .
• Avoid walking barefoot in public swimming pools, showers and changing rooms.
• Wear protective footwear , check your nails regularly and trim them carefully using.
• Use a disinfected nail clipper.
• Avoid sharing towels and socks with other people and wash your towels regularly.
• If you have athlete's foot, treat it as soon as possible to prevent the infection from spreading to your nails.
• Regularly disinfect shoes with a spray or powder antifungal product.

HOW TO TREAT MYCOSIS INFECTIONS
Mild mycosis infection can be treated with specific nail fungus treatment products  . Usually such products come with antifungal nail polish and disposable files which are used to gently remove the top layer of the infected nail. The enamel formulation thus penetrates the nail to treat mycosis, preventing the fungus from multiplying.

These treatments can take a few months to work , because toenails need time to grow back, growing only 1-2mm per month. You will notice a visible improvement in the infection only after the damaged nail has grown back.

It is recommended that you start treating the infection as soon as possible , as soon as you notice the first signs.

Nail fungus

 Nail fungus

Nail fungus or mycosis (or onychomycosis ) is the infection of one or more nails due to the presence of particular fungi. This nail infection may initially manifest as a small white or yellow spot (but it can also be brown or green) affecting a small portion of the nail. If the mycosis is not treated, the fungus tends to spread and involve a larger portion of the nail - the affected nail becomes thicker and can crumble or fall off, causing pain and discomfort - and can even affect the other nails.

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What is nail fungus?
The toenails are more frequently affected than those of the hands because the hot and humid environment present in the shoes is the best condition to allow the fungi to grow and spread. In addition, the toenails are often damaged by external trauma or by wearing tight shoes or for sporting activities. On already damaged nails it is easier for a fungus to take root.

What are the causes of nail fungus?
Fungal nail infections are usually caused by several different fungi , including Candida albicans, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton. Molds and yeasts (such as Aspergillus) can also cause or enhance damage. One of the main risk factors is constituted by the frequentation of hot-humid and common environments , such as the changing rooms of gyms and swimming pools.

What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
Symptoms of nail fungus , in general, include:

• an increase in the fragility and friability of the affected nail ;
• deformation of the nail ;
• the matte foil and with different colors inside
• an inflammation of the tissues near the nail
• Infected nails can also lift and detach from the nail bed ( onychosis ), cause pain, emit bad odor.

How can nail fungus be prevented?
To prevent the development of nail fungus and reduce the risk of recurrent infections, it is good to practice good hand and foot hygiene :

• keep your feet dry and clean as much as possible , avoiding very hot and humid places, especially if frequented by several people (such as gym changing rooms and swimming pools);
• keep nails short, dry and clean ;
• wear socks that allow your feet to perspire and change them often , especially if your feet tend to sweat excessively:
• whenever possible, alternate closed shoes with open shoes ;
• wear rubber gloves to protect hands from overexposure to water ;
• do not cut the skin around the nails (so as not to facilitate the access of germs);
• do not walk barefoot in the changing rooms and showers of gyms and swimming pools ;
• at the pool remember to wear slippers ;
• do not hide the fungal infections of the nails under a coat of nail polish : the presence of the nail polish helps to trap moisture and worsen the infection;
• wash your hands thoroughly after touching an infected nail .

Diagnosis
To diagnose nail fungus, it will be necessary to have the affected nail (s) be observed by a dermatologist . To confirm the diagnosis, a fragment of a nail is taken and placed under the microscope where it is possible to see the typical elements of fungi: hyphae and spores .

Treatments
To treat nail fungus, there are several options to choose from, from time to time, based on the severity of the infection:

• Antifungal ointments to be applied on the area affected by the fungus (they can also be used in combination with oral therapy).
• Cream based on colloidal sulfur and salicylic acid .
• Antifungal enamels to be applied on the infected nail (a remedy that is usually taken into consideration in the case of moderate only superficial infections).
• To facilitate the penetration of the antifungal products, a milling of the foil is carried out , to be repeated every 15 days.

Nail fungus: how to cure them with natural remedies

 Nail fungus: how to cure them with natural remedies

There are several ways to treat nail fungus naturally. This annoying problem that affects many people can thus be solved quickly.

The nail fungus affects many individuals. Often it is not easy to solve this pathology that affects the toenails more than those of the hands.

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Also called mycosis , fungal infection can be countered with a series of precautions.

In the first place, it is very important to keep the affected area dry . In fact, humidity favors the proliferation of fungi.

The warm and humid environments favor the ideal conditions for the onset of infections. It is therefore very important to avoid walking barefoot in places such as swimming pools, showers and gymnasiums.

In addition, in these cases the nails may weaken, lose color and peel. It is also very important to take care of hygiene and in particular for the feet to wash with water only, adding coarse salt. And remaining on the subject of feet, another fundamental aspect is that concerning shoes . Banish shoes that are too tight which could hinder proper ventilation of the feet.

Often specific medications are prescribed to treat nails affected by these infections . Their goal is precisely to eradicate mycosis. To speed up healing, various natural and home remedies can be associated with all this .

Natural and home remedies to cure nail fungus
Natural remedies can be used to cure nail fungus . These include the application of essential oils , such as tea tree oil and lavender, which have healing properties.

There are also home remedies to eradicate nail fungus. Among these there is a specific treatment with immediate results.

The ingredients to create it are: hydrogen peroxide, ethyl alcohol at 90 ° and white vinegar.

We proceed by mixing the hydrogen peroxide and alcohol in two equal parts inside a glass container. A small amount of white vinegar is then added to prevent evaporation of the alcohol.

After having washed the area affected by mycosis well and once it has dried well, you can proceed to apply the solution . You will have to soak a cotton ball in the remedy and then apply it on the nails. The application must be repeated twice a day. This will promote and accelerate the healing of the mycosis.

How is nail fungus treated?

 How is nail fungus treated?

Because a fungal infection of the nail can be very deep in the nail, it is often necessary to tackle the fungus from the inside as well as from the outside.

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INTERNAL REMEDIES
There are a number of antifungal agents that can combat the fungus in the nail. You should use these resources during a treatment period. A course of treatment lasts at least 3 months. In stubborn cases, a treatment can take up to 6 months before a satisfactory result is achieved. Examples include Trisporal (itraconazole), Lamisil (terbinafine), and Diflucan (fluconazole).

EXTERNAL REMEDIES
Until now there is no external remedy that can cure the fungal nail. Because a fungal nail often occurs together with an athlete's foot, the latter is treated at the same time with a cream (eg Daktarin or Nizoral). In addition, it is important to treat all your shoes and socks with a fungicide (strewn powder). The spores of the fungus remain in it, even after repeated washing. If you do not erase these traces, you would re-infect yourself again and again and no treatment can beat that.

LASER TREATMENT
Laser treatment against fungal nails is based on selective heating of the nail plate, which kills fungi. All ten (finger or toenails) are treated at the same time during the same session, even though not all nails are visibly affected. Because nails grow slowly, we only see the effect of the treatment after 3 to 6 months. Usually 1 to 3 laser treatments are needed to heal the nail plate. Despite the heat generated by the laser beams, the treatment is well tolerated. The type of laser that is used here is a Nd:YAG laser, eg the Pin-Pointe laser.

What can you do against fungal nails yourself?
It is a misconception to think that fungal infections are caused by a lack of hygiene. Fungal infections are caused by a combination of several factors. Below are a number of measures to help prevent fungal nails:

• Always dry your feet carefully. Any traces especially find the spaces between the toes a pleasant place to stay.
• Preferably do not wear nylons, plastic socks and shoes. This creates a sweltering climate around your feet, which is very conducive to fungal growth.
• Avoid excessive perspiration. When it is warm, wear preferably airy, open, footwear. Thin cotton socks and stockings are also recommended.
• Do not use too much soap when you wash and rinse off the soap residue well. Soap with disinfectant ingredients is not effective against fungi.
• Always wear slippers in public washing and bathing facilities (swimming pool, sports hall, sauna).

What is the prognosis for nail fungus?
Unfortunately, the result of a treatment for a fungal nail is not immediately clear. The fungi may have been eradicated, but the abnormalities in the nail may still be visible for months. It takes a lot of time for the affected parts of the nail to grow out and shed completely. The toenails in particular only grow a few millimeters per month. So it's a matter of patience, patience and more patience.





What is a fungal nail?

A fungal nail is a fungal infection of one or more nails of the feet and/or hands. It is also known as "fungal nails". It is a disfiguring condition, which is sometimes a bit painful, but can actually be lived with. The medical term for a fungal nail is “onychomycosis” (onycho = nail; mycosis = fungus). Although the fungal nail problem only really took off when mankind switched to wearing footwear, fungal nails are a problem of all times and of all peoples. To this day, however, few people know that these fungal nails are almost always the result of a fungal infection. Lime nails are therefore often fungal nails. Often the toenails are the problem, but fungi also know how to find the nails of the hands.

How often and in whom do fungal nails occur?
In the Netherlands, an estimated 2 to 13% of the population suffers from fungal nail(s). Men and women have about an equal risk of getting fungal nails. The risk of infection increases with age. It still occurs quite rarely in children, but 15-20% of people between 40 and 60 years suffer from a fungal infection of the nail(s).

How does a fungal nail develop?
Someone with healthy skin and healthy nails usually has a good defense against fungi. Fungal infections mainly occur in poorly growing nails, in damp nails and in damaged nails. Under these conditions, the “spores” of fungi take their chance to spread further. The spores of fungi are everywhere in our environment and we therefore easily come into contact with them. Especially common showers of changing rooms, swimming pools, sports halls and saunas are notorious. When you walk around there barefoot, you almost inevitably come into contact with fungal spores. If you then dry your feet insufficiently, slip into plastic socks and tight shoes, and also perspire excessively, the seeds for a fungal infection have been laid. Then you yourself are a source for new infections.

What does nail fungus look like?
If one nail turns white or yellow, this is usually an alarm signal. It is likely that a fungus is active. If the infection gets worse and thus penetrates deeper into the nail, the color changes to yellow-brown. The nail is thickened, bumpy and friable and sometimes comes off completely or partially. A fungal infection can occur on the nails of the feet as well as those of the hands. However, the condition on the feet almost always starts with the big toe. If not treated, the fungus continues its adventure and the other toenails become yellow and affected as well. Often at the same time there is also talk of "swimmer's eczema" : another term that actually suggests the wrong thing. There is also a fungus in swimmer's eczema,

How is nail fungus diagnosed?
Usually the abnormalities in a fungal nail are so characteristic that the diagnosis can be suspected with the naked eye. These abnormalities are sometimes misleading for the diagnosis. The nail abnormalities can also fit in the context of various chronic non-infectious skin diseases, such as psoriasis , lichen ruber planus or eczema. The "crown" of the diagnosis "nail fungus" is the demonstration of the fungus through a culture. To do this, your doctor cuts off a small amount of nail material and then sends it to the lab. However, the results of a nail culture are only known after a few weeks.
At least 2 weeks before you start a nail culture, it is important to stop using all internal and external anti-fungal agents. If you do not do this, there is an increased chance that the culture will give a false negative result.

How do you treat fungal nails?

 How do you treat fungal nails?

Fungi are a common ailment in humans. Skin fungi are constantly on the body and grow in the skin, nails or hair of people or animals. Skin fungi are everywhere on the skin, but it is only when the fungus invades the skin or nail that a fungal infection can develop.

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What is nail fungus?
Fungal nails are a common condition in humans. The infection starts as a white or yellow spot under the edge of the nail. As the fungal infection progresses, the nail may begin to discolor, thicken and crumble at the edge. A fungal infection can spread to all nails, but it usually doesn't.

The symptoms of nail fungus

• Fungal nail, or onychomycosis, can be recognized by the following symptoms:
• A thickened nail, especially at the beginning of the nail
• A brittle, crumbly or frayed nail
• The nail shows strange shapes
• The nail is dull and shows no shine
• A dark yellow color

In most cases, the infected nails detach from the nail bed after a while. This causes pain in the toes or fingers and can release an unpleasant odor.

How does this fungal infection develop?
A fungal infection on the nails can develop when the fungus invades the skin or nail and multiplies. This causes an infection. Fungi like to settle in moist and warm places. In addition, damaged nails also increase the risk of infection.

A yeast infection can be contagious. Fungi pass from person to person through the skin flakes. You can also get a fungal infection from animals. Whether the fungus can actually penetrate the skin depends on the person's immune system.

• Some people are at greater risk of a yeast infection than others. This can be done by:
• Poor foot hygiene
• damaged nails
• Chemotherapy increases the risk of fungal nails
• Poor body resistance
• People with AIDS are more likely to have a fungal infection

The treatment of fungal nails

• With a fungal infection, there are a number of things you can do yourself to prevent the expansion:
• Wash the feet and make sure that no soap residue is left behind
• When drying, make sure that the feet are dry. Also make sure that no water remains between the toes
• Change your socks regularly (daily). Make sure to wear cotton or wool socks. These provide better ventilation of the feet

In most cases, the infection will go away on its own. However, for some people this is not the case. These people can take medicine to treat the yeast infection. These antifungal pills can help, but they don't work in about 25% of patients. A course of these pills generally lasts three months. Some examples of these pills are terbinafine and itraconazole.

People who start taking antifungal pills and have complaints of nausea, jaundice, itching or dark brown urine should contact their doctor as soon as possible. These negative side effects may indicate an allergic reaction or other problems.

The fight against fungal nails

 The fight against fungal nails

A fungal nail, also popularly called fungal nail, develops slowly and starts with rather discrete symptoms.

A fungal nail never heals spontaneously, in some cases it can be painful. The infected nail can come off if left untreated.

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Cause

an infection of the fingernails or toenails by a microscopic fungus that causes a thickening or spot on the nail.

Visible Symptoms

• discrete, slow development
• streaks on the nail that becomes more fragile
• a color change of the nail: whitish discoloration that may turn yellow or brown.
• the thickness of the nail increases (hyperkeratosis).
• a brittle appearance and/or loosening of the nail (onycholysis).

Risk Factors

• damaged nails
• regular exposure to heat, moisture, sweating
• chronic use of antibiotics
• immunosuppressants (cortisone treatments)
• diabetics
• artificial nails

How is such a fungus transmitted?

• by sharing nail scissors or accessories
• wearing shoes that are too tight or promote sweating
• by walking barefoot in a locker room or at the edge of a swimming pool.
• from one person to another within the family
• from one toenail to the other
• more often on feet than hands (warmer and moister environment, less blood flow, making the immune system fight harder against a fungus)

When to consult a doctor?

• an onychomycosis never heals spontaneously
• appearance of the nail lasts longer than two weeks (brittle nails, which crumble, flake or thicken…)
• treatment of a mycosis becomes more and more difficult with time
• nail fungus can lead to other skin infections and permanently damage the infected nail and lead to paronychia (the inflammation of the folds around the nails).
• the infected nail can come off if left untreated.

Local treatments

reserved for incipient fungal infections without affecting the matrix or as a supplement to oral treatment.

Products containing urea or keratin emollients increase the hydration of the nail, smooth the outer layers of the nail plate without being aggressive. They change the microenvironment of the nail and improve the integrity of the surface, preventing the growth of mycoses

Nail polishes are indicated in the classic forms of superficial onychomycosis. The development of film-forming solutions allows the diffusion of their active ingredient (amorolfine or ciclopirox) through the nail plate to the deep and persistent layers for at least 1 week and longer after their application.

How do you apply an anti-fungal varnish?

Before each application it is necessary that the affected part of the nail is perfectly filed and then thoroughly cleaned with alcohol wipe and dried.
It is best to use disposable files to limit the risk of infecting healthy nails.
Apply the polish over the entire surface of the nail. For each nail to be treated, dip the spatula in the polish but do not wipe the edge of the bottle to prevent further spreading.
After use, clean the spatula with some alcohol or solvent and let it dry for 1 to 2 minutes.
Close the bottle tightly.
6. Never apply the polish to the skin around the nail as this can cause redness or irritation

The oral treatment

If the damage is greater than the distal third, oral treatment should be initiated immediately.
There are two options, always on prescription (terbinafine or imidazole derivatives) with different treatment regimens.
Compliance with the dosage and dosing methods prescribed by the doctor is very important. In addition, drug interactions are very common with some orally ingested antifungal derivatives.

The duration of the treatment

should be continued uninterrupted until the appearance of the affected nail returns to normal due to the regrowth, clipped and eventually replaced with a healthy nail.
varies depending on the degree of infection and the location.
the treatment takes a long time and perseverance is necessary!
6 months for fingernails
9-12 to 18 months for toenails, because those nails grow even more slowly.

Prevention and hygiene advice

important to prevent recurrence and to treat all fungal sources of recontamination.

• Do not exchange shoes, gloves or toiletries with other persons.
• Wash the feet daily and after all sports even best with an anti-fungal soap. Dry the feet sufficiently with a separate towel, or even with a hair dryer between the toes to avoid the risk of fermentation.
• Use a mild, disinfecting soap
• Use antiperspirant products when sweating profusely
• Use an anti-fungal product in the shoes
• Cut the nails short, take good care of the skin around the nail: treat
• microtraumas, cracks,… use a nourishing cream for dry skin. Ensure healthy nails not to use the same material (file, scissors, brush…) as
• for contaminated nails, and disinfect the reusable material with alcohol.  
• A dietary supplement is useful. Some minerals are necessary for healthy nails: zinc, iron, sulfur, silicon.

Treating fungal nails

 Treating fungal nails

A fungal nail is a fungal infection that is often deep in the nail. Treating the fungal nails yourself with ineffective means (from the supermarket or drugstore, for example) with the aim of curing them is therefore very difficult and often has no or a temporary effect.

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Effectively treating a fungal nail can be done in two ways. The first is a local fungal nail treatment, in which the fungus is combated in an external way. For example, by treating the fungal nails with products such as  FunghiClear . As a Provoet pedicurist, I myself have had very  good experiences with various customers.

FunghiClear is a highly effective antifungal spray based on manuka oil with purely natural ingredients and has been specially developed for the treatment of nail fungus (fungal nail) and athlete's foot (swimmer's eczema). This product has been registered as a Medical Device (class 1) since 1 March 2013 . FunghiClear comes in a 50ml spray bottle and is easy and quick to apply to both nails and shoes to prevent reinfection.

The second way to treat fungal nails is internally by taking medicines. This is certainly not my preference. Long-term treatment (several months) and the risk of the necessary side effects must be taken into account. It is only possible on the advice of the general practitioner (prescription) and is considered in severe cases.

Treatment at the pedicure

In both cases, it is best to first book a treatment with a professional chiropodist, where the fungal nail will be properly addressed. The pedicurist can mill the affected nail as far away as possible, so that the antifungal agent can do its job better. A repetition of this treatment with a frequency of around 4 weeks is recommended for best results.

It is crucial for all fungal treatments that you keep your feet and footwear dry and that you apply the antifungal agent consistently at least twice a day!! I recommend doing this with FunghiClear.

Preventing lime nails
There are enough effective means to treat and cure fungal nails to simplify. They do take up time and possibly money, which means that
prevention is better than cure.

Fungal nails are not always easy to prevent. We are constantly in contact with fungi that can cause fungal nails. To reduce the risk, there are a number of recommendations to prevent fungal growth and prevent fungal nails.

• Use as little soap as possible when washing your feet. Always rinse your feet well to remove soap residue.
• Always dry your feet thoroughly. Don't forget to dry between the toes. These narrow, often somewhat warmer spaces are an ideal breeding ground for fungi.
• Don't walk around for long with wet socks or shoes.
• Use clean socks, preferably made of cotton or wool, every day.
• Wear roomy, ventilating shoes.
• Wear flip flops when going into damp areas (gym/sauna/swimming pool).
• Ensure sufficient resistance through a healthy lifestyle.

What is a Fungal Nail?
A fungal nail or fungal nail is a fairly persistent fungal infection of the nail(s). This is caused by fungi that eventually enter the nail through the skin or otherwise, causing a white/yellowish effect. This explains why we call a fungal nail also fungal  nail  , while this actually has nothing to do with lime! Fungal nails occur in approximately 15% of the Dutch population and are in principle quite harmless. Treating fungal nails is not necessary, but it does not look fresh and unappetising and is therefore usually desirable.

Fungi are common to everyone and are constantly transmitted. This happens between people, but also between people and animals and people and the environment. The fungi that cause fungal nails belong in the vast majority of cases to a fungus from the group of dermatophytes. These fungi are mainly present in damp areas such as a sauna, swimming pool, gym and shower.

Of course, an infection does not always occur when one comes into contact with these fungi. However, a number of examples can be given where there is a higher risk of an infection:

• With a lowered resistance (due to old age or illness)
• Damaged nails by, for example, sports or wearing too tight shoes
• People with diabetes and AIDS
• During and after chemotherapy

Features fungal nails
At the beginning of an infection, fungal nails can be recognized by discoloration of the nail edges (yellowish, brown or green) and small spots on the nail. At a later stage, the nail can completely discolor from yellow-white to yellow-brown. The fungal nail is then often somewhat thicker and crumbly in structure. In some cases, the infection can spread all over the nail causing the nail to crumble or even peel off completely.

Although a fungal nail in most cases does not require treatment, many people would like to do something about it. They are bothered or ashamed of the nails because they don't look very nice and look a bit unappetising. An often mentioned reason is also that they want to prevent them from also giving people in their environment a fungal nail. Fungal nails are very contagious.