HOW TO TREAT NAIL FUNGUS?

 HOW TO TREAT NAIL FUNGUS?

WHAT TO DO IN CASE OF NAIL FUNGUS?
In the case of nail fungus , it is necessary to confirm the diagnosis with a sample. Antifungal treatment can be started without waiting for the result. There are suitable local treatments in the form of a film-forming solution (a liquid which dries to form a solid film after application) or in the form of an ointment. In the case of a material breach of the nail, drugs antifungal by way oral are required. Sometimes you have to have the nail removed surgically.

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MEDICATED NAIL POLISH
The film-forming solutions are used as a nail polish, once or twice a week for products containing amorolfine or once a day for products containing ciclopirox . Before each application, it is necessary to plan to remove the varnish with a solvent. The treatment should be applied until healthy nail regrowth, which may take several months (three months for fingernails, six months for toenails). Some products can be purchased without a prescription; they are intended to be used on the advice of the pharmacist, when the infection does not affect more than two nails.

AN OINTMENT COMBINING AN ANTIFUNGAL AND UREA
An ointment containing an antifungal agent and urea can also be used to treat nail fungus and toenail. The ointment is applied to the diseased nail and covered with a bandage. The applications are renewed every day. Before each renewal, you should bathe the nail in hot water for about 10 minutes, then remove the softened part with the scraper. The treatment lasts on average 2 to 4 weeks the time of the complete elimination of the infected part.

Nail fungus: causes and treatment of onychomycosis

 Nail fungus: causes and treatment of onychomycosis

Onychomycosis, or nail fungus, is an infection usually caused by a parasitic fungus of the nail. Damaged, yellowed, peeled off, the nail affected by onychomycosis requires specific treatment, followed rigorously for several months.

About 10% of the population has onychomycosis , most often on the nail of the big toe. Update on the causes of onychomycosis, its symptoms and the treatments for this nail fungus, too often neglected.

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Nail fungus: the causes
Onychomycosis is most often caused by dermatophyte fungi , more rarely by yeasts or molds . Germs which have in common to like hot and humid places.

• A fungal nail infections caused by dermatophytes usually follows a fungus feet (known as the athlete's foot) , incurred on public land infected by fragments of skin filed by patients. This is particularly the case in swimming pools, saunas, steam rooms, sports locker rooms, medical offices, dance halls ... After several months, untreated athlete's foot spreads to the skin. nail and causes onychomycosis.
• Yeasts can also be the cause of onychomycosis in the fingernails. These fungi proliferate under the fingernails of people too often in contact with water.
• Mold contamination can occur from contact with contaminated soil.
• Risk factors for nail fungus
• Rare in children, onychomycosis is however very common in adults, reaching approximately 1 in 10 adults. Its prevalence increases with age, reaching 30% in those over 70 years of age.

Onychomycosis affects three times more men than women. If it is due to contamination by certain germs, different factors can however favor this infection:

• Certain diseases ( diabetes , HIV infection, AIDS , circulation disorders, skin diseases, etc.) and treatments ( immunosuppressive treatments , chemotherapy , cortisone, etc.);
• Toes that overlap or stand up, blows or bruises caused by sports activities or poorly fitted shoes;
• Wearing poorly ventilated shoes, occupations and / or activities requiring frequent contact with water;
• Aging ;

Symptoms of onychomycosis
A onychomycosis caused by fungus preferentially manifest to foot, and specifically at the corner of the big toenail . The symptoms are:

• Nail thickened, protruding and yellowish;
• A whitish, contagious powder appears when scratching under the nail;
• Appearance of white spots on the nail surface;
• Appearance, much more rarely, of black spots (which require the opinion of a specialist).

When caused by yeasts, onychomycosis mostly affects the fingernails . The symptoms are then more or less the same, namely:

• a detachment of the nail in which a yellowish-white coating forms;
• swollen, red, painful skin around the nail;
• superinfection with bacteria can lead to the appearance of a green pigment giving a musty appearance to the nail.
• These same symptoms characterize onychomycosis caused by molds .

Diagnosis of nail fungus
The diagnosis of onychomycosis is based on a mycological examination, a prerequisite to rule out other nail diseases. Unpleasant without being painful, the mycological sample requires cutting the detached nail as far as possible and scraping the powdery debris.

If the symptoms of onychomycosis are the white spots on the surface of the nail, the doctor will scrape the nail off for analysis. Few laboratories are specialized in the collection and analysis of nails, so the results are relatively slow to obtain (around 1 month).

Treatments for nail fungus
The treatment of onychomycosis can combine local treatments to general treatments depending on the severity and extent of the infection.

• For the beginning forms of onychomycosis , the application of an antifungal cream or a treatment varnish for two to six months is enough to overcome the onychomycosis.
• Sometimes the diseased nail has to be removed with the help of a paste applied every day and covered with a bandage. The nail thus treated disintegrates at the end of the treatment which lasts between two and four weeks; if it is not completely destroyed, the doctor will have to cut it out with special pliers.  An antifungal cream or a treating varnish complete this treatment.
• In the event of failure, or for moldy onychomycosis , surgical removal of the nail is essential.
• The advanced forms , in turn, require the taking of a general treatment . Lasting from two to six months, it is taken orally and can cause side effects which are generally mild ( digestive disorders , redness), but sometimes more serious (hypersensitivity, skin rash, blood abnormalities, etc.).

How to prevent recurrence of onychomycosis?
Like any yeast infection, onychomycosis is an infection that recurs frequently.

Tips for preventing dermatophyte onychomycosis:

• Strict foot hygiene is essential, especially in people who sweat a lot in the extremities.
• Sports shoes should be reserved for sports activities and ventilated regularly. The rest of the time, it is better to prefer shoes with a leather insole.
• Cotton socks should also be preferred over synthetic socks, which do not absorb sweat well.
• In case of excessive sweating, there are antiperspirants in powder or spray form.

For all types of nail fungus, dermatologists also recommend:

• to have their nails cut short;
• to dry your feet well when you come out of the bath or shower, emphasizing the interdigital spaces;
• not to lend or borrow bathroom linen;
• to decontaminate his shoes and slippers using powders or antifungal lotions.
• The appearance of a crack or cut between the toes, a characteristic symptom of athlete's foot, is a warning signal for onychomycosis.

Yeast onychomycosis can be prevented:

• by wearing rubber gloves during activities requiring hand contact with water;
• by less frequent hand washing.

How to treat nail fungus?

 How to treat nail fungus?

A cracked, yellowed toenail… A whitish, crumbling fingernail… What if it was a nail fungus? Rest assured, onychomycosis, by its scientific name, is very common and not at all dangerous. But it is contagious. And for aesthetic reasons and everyday discomfort, it is better to take care of it. Here is our medical advice to learn all about nail fungus.

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What is nail fungus?
A yeast infection is the involvement of the skin by microscopic fungi . In the case of onychomycosis, fungi develop on the nails: we also speak of nail fungus. The fungi concerned are generally dermatophytes; these are the same ones that are at the origin of the fungal infections of the foot called “athlete's foot”. In hand nail fungus , the culprits are often yeasts, Candida.

How do you know if you have nail fungus?
Nail fungus has easy to recognize symptoms :

• At first, it is the periphery of the nail that is affected and which sometimes becomes red and swollen , sometimes oozing. When it comes to the hand, it can be painful.
• Then the fungus attacks the nail itself: it thickens, cracks, crumbles . The nail becomes whitish as the fungus spreads under the nail (often on the hand) or a yellowish spot appears and gradually enlarges. Unlike other yeast infections, it is not painful.
• Ultimately, if nothing is done, the nail damaged by the fungus does not fall out but tends to peel away from the skin . And the other nails are gradually affected. Usually, nail fungus does not cause pain.

What areas are affected by onychomycosis?
Most often, it is the toes that are affected by nail fungus. Fungi on the fingernails are less often caught. On the feet, nail fungus often affects the big toe before gradually contaminating the nails of other fingers. Indeed, like all mycoses, onychomycosis is contagious .

Our advice: Do not wait to treat it if you see that one of your nails is changing. The earlier you start, the faster and more effective the treatment for nail fungus will be.

Is a black nail a symptom of yeast infection?
Sometimes you may have a black toenail or one with a black spot and think of a yeast infection. It is in fact the consequence of a trauma: shock, foot crushed by an object… Sometimes, it is about repeated micro-traumas, in the event of sport with narrow shoes for example. A hematoma forms under the nail and gives it this black or dark color ...

Our advice: Maintain impeccable hygiene in the event of a black nail: it is weakened which can facilitate the development of a fungus.

How do you get nail fungus?
Yeast infection often affects the nail after growing on the foot.

• You can catch them in all public places where you walk barefoot : swimming pools, gymnasiums, saunas ...
• They also like heat and humidity .
• It only takes a little tight shoes , wet socks, excessive sweating, for them to develop.
• On the hands, they can appear if you wear gloves often.
• Rest assured, onychomycosis is very common, it affects nearly 10% of the population. They are common in the elderly , and develop more in men than in women. On the other hand, fungal infections of the toenail or the hand are very rare in babies and children.

On the other hand, babies are more often affected by oral yeast infection which can cause a whitish deposit on the tongue , but it can also affect adults.

Find all of our tips for getting rid of yeast infection in the armpits and avoiding vaginal yeast infection .

How can you be sure that it is a yeast infection?
The diagnosis of yeast infection is usually easy to make because the appearance of a nail with yeast infection is easy to recognize. The doctor will rule out the possibility of psoriasis, which can give symptoms quite similar to those of yeast infection. He will eventually refer you to a dermatologist.

To find out which fungus is responsible for the yeast infection , the doctor may choose to take a sample of a small part of the nail, to send to the laboratory for analysis. But as the results take a long time to obtain, he will not wait to offer a treatment for your nail fungus.

How to treat nail fungus?
Nail fungus is not always easy to get rid of. If you see that one of your nails is starting to deform, you must react immediately. The sooner you start it, the more effective the treatment for nail fungus will be . We advise you to consult a doctor to obtain a treatment adapted to your specific case.

Antifungal varnish treatment
The fungal infections are treated first line with antifungal treatments . For onychomycosis, it will be a varnish to be applied to the nails . Depending on the drug chosen, you will need to renew it every day, or two to three times a week. This is quite restrictive and there is no treatment that is both fast and effective for fungal infections of the toenail or the hand: you have to wait for the healthy nail to grow back. It takes three months for the fingernails, and six months for the toenails. Be patient !

Antifungal ointment treatment
Sometimes the doctor will suggest an ointment that mixes an antifungal and urea instead . Here too, the processing is binding:

• It should be applied daily to the affected nails and covered with a bandage.
• Each time, you must first bathe the nail for 10 minutes in hot water and scrape the softened parts.
• This treatment of nail fungus is a little faster: it takes 2 to 4 weeks of treatment.

Oral antifungal treatment
Unfortunately, local treatment is not always 100% effective. There are also oral nail fungus treatments available, but their side effects can be significant. They are therefore used especially in people for whom nail fungus can be dangerous: people with diabetes or those with blood circulation problems in particular. Treatment with tablets is often of the order of 6 months.

The doctor will discuss with you the interest of using them in your specific case.

Laser and natural nail fungus treatments
Many miracle natural remedies are circulating on the internet: treatment of nail fungus with betadine, baking soda for nail fungus, treatment of nail fungus with Dakin… None have shown any medical value . The pharmacist may possibly advise you on an essential oil to help treat a fungal infection of your nails. And above all, we strongly advise against using bleach to treat nail fungus, it is very dangerous!

Beauty centers, some podiatrists also offer laser treatment of nail fungus or hand nail fungus. There is not yet enough medical hindsight to know the effectiveness and safety of this type of treatment.

Hygiene measures to adopt
The best natural treatment for nail fungus is good personal hygiene:

• Change socks every day;
• Choose socks made of cotton or other natural material;
• Dry your feet carefully after showering, including between your toes: humidity promotes yeast infection;
• Change your towels very often and do not share them with other members of your family:
• Cut your fingernails short, to prevent yeast infection from developing;
• Wear slides in the swimming pool and in public places where there is the presence of water;
• Choose shoes that are not too tight, where your foot is not compressed.

And rest assured: nail fungus is never serious. With patience and good medical advice, you'll get the hang of it.

TIPS: HOW TO TREAT NAIL FUNGUS?

 TIPS: HOW TO TREAT NAIL FUNGUS?

The treatment of nail fungus is often long and tedious. But the onset of summer and the urge to wear sandals prompts you to take matters into your own hands and deal with those unsightly nails tucked away in socks during the winter months.

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Nail fungus is caused by infection with a dermatophyte, a small fungus that will lodge in the nail. This type of attack can affect all the nails but is more frequently encountered on the feet, due to the more intense maceration at this level.

How to treat yourself?
Two molecules are mainly used to treat nail fungus : amorolfine and ciclopirox which stop mycotic progression. They come in the form of film-forming solutions or nail varnish to be applied once or twice a week (refer to the instructions for each product).

Step 1 :
Before the various stages which constitute the treatment of the nail, it is advisable to prepare the nail by removing any layer of varnish (using a solvent) and to file the surface of the nail with a file.

2nd step :
With a wipe, clean the surface of the nail and remove the residue left by the file. Wipes are generally provided in the packages.

Step 3:
Immerse the spatula in the bottle without wiping it on the edges. Then apply the varnish to the entire surface of the nail and let it dry for 3 minutes.

Caution: Files used for the affected nail must not be used for healthy nails. Contagious risks exist.

Wait until the varnish is completely dry before washing your feet or hands (depending on the location).

Do not use false nails during the entire treatment.

How to recognize a nail fungus?
It is estimated that 20% of over 40s and 30% of over 70s have toenail fungus.
It may happen that after removing colored nail polish that has been present for some time, the nail appears a little yellow. The color is therefore not the only criterion which makes it possible to affirm the presence of a fungal infection of the nail (especially when this one dissipates thereafter). Do not count it, a mycosis does not go away on its own, alas.

An onychomycosis (its medical name) is characterized by a set of manifestations:

• - The nail bed is damaged
• - The nail thickens
• - The color changes and becomes discolored from the tip of the nail and takes sometimes a yellow, white, ocher or brown color
• - The nail crumbles or peels off the skin
• - White and yellow dots appear in the middle of the nail

To improve the appearance of the nail, products can be applied:

When to consult a doctor ?

• - If the yeast infection is very widespread and the nail has come off
• - If the yeast infection has reached the fingernails
• - If you have diabetes or an immunity disease
• - if you have started treatment for 3 months which has lasted proves ineffective

Advice in addition
N ° 1: Patience
The treatment is long, you have to prepare for it. It takes an average of 6 months for the hands and 9 to 12 months for the feet. Indeed, healing will be obtained once the nail has completely regrown healthy. Thus, the treatment will be all the faster the earlier the care is taken.

N ° 2: Rigor
You must therefore go through the treatment to be able to breathe and enjoy your healthy nails. The application must be done properly and on a regular basis .

N ° 3: Prevention

• - Avoid humid conditions which favor maceration in the shoes.
• - Dry your feet well after the toilet with a personal towel
• - Disinfect your shoes regularly
• - Cut your toenails regularly to avoid too much pressure and breaks that can injure the foot and constitute an ideal entry point for them. mushrooms.
• - Pamper your feet, look at them more often to keep them beautiful!

Nail fungus: natural remedies to overcome it

 Nail fungus: natural remedies to overcome it

Some products buried deep in our cupboards can prevent and fight against the first signs of onychomycosis (nail fungus). How to use them?

Some types of fungi can infect fingernails and especially of the feet , causing what is called onychomycosis . This infection is manifested by stinging, irritation, peeling of the skin, and redness. The nail becomes darker, thicker and it weakens.

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In question, a deregulation of the pH of the skin that must be treated as quickly as possible, at the risk of complicating the situation. If the symptoms are at the initial stage and the nail is not too damaged, you can try to treat yourself with some natural ingredients. But if the nail begins to come off or it hurts, consult a specialist .

Essential oils to fight against onychomycosis?
The antiseptic and disinfectant properties of lavender essential oil and tea tree essential oil make them excellent remedies for nail fungus.

Thoroughly clean the area to be treated , apply the essential oil of your choice, pure, let sit for 10 to 20 minutes, rinse and dry.

Repeat several times a day.

Precautions for use:  Before using essential oils, remember to do a  test beforehand  by placing a few drops in the crook of your elbow to  check the absence of allergy . Especially avoid contact with the eyes.

Baking soda for nail fungus
The advantage of baking soda is that it can dry excess moisture on the toes .

Make a paste with baking soda and water, then apply to the nail. Let it dry for ten minutes and then rinse and pat dry.

You can also dilute it in a basin of lukewarm water and soak your feet in it.

Vinegar to fight against onychomycosis?
The acidity of apple cider vinegarand white vinegar helps rebalance the skin's pH while eliminating fungi and bacteria.

Mix the same dose of vinegar and water in a basin, and soak the area to be treated for half an hour each day. Dry your feet properly to limit moisture.

The Reader's digest site offers a variation to make this foot bath even more powerful: use mouthwash instead of water.

Garlic to get rid of nail fungus
The antifungal compounds in garlic help treat toenail fungus .

Mix a crushed garlic clove with white vinegar and apply the mixture to the infected area, then cover it with a bandage for a few hours. Repeat daily until the infection is gone.

Coconut oil to overcome onychomycosis naturally?
To prevent the progression of a nail fungus (but also that of a fungus of the skin, mouth or genitals), coconut oil can also be an interesting alternative.

Mix 30 ml of coconut oil with 30 drops of essential oil of tea tree, lemongrass and Ceylon cinnamon. Apply the mixture twice a day until improvement.

How to cure toenail fungus

 How to cure toenail fungus

Toenail fungus is a common condition that begins as a white or yellow spot under the tip of the nail. As the fungal infection deepens, the fungus can cause the nail to discolor, thicken, and crumble at the edges. It can affect several nails. It is important to treat it promptly.

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The fungus to the toenails , also called onychomycosis, are very frequent and account for half of the anomalies of the nails in adults. Unfortunately, the damage caused by fungi can affect the growth, shape, size of the nail and, consequently, predispose the nail to future infections. And that's not all, because this ailment can affect any part of the nail, but it generally enters the free edge of the nail, in the furrows or in the damaged cuticles.

About 85-90% of cases are caused by dermatophytes (fungal organisms that require keratin for growth), such as Trichophyton rubrum and Trichophyton mentagrophtyes. Dermatophytes are highly resilient and can survive for long periods of time, especially in damp, dark environments, such as closed shoes, which may explain why toenails are more susceptible to onychomycosis than fingernails. How are they treated? There are drug treatments that are great or you could try some natural remedies.

Baking soda : Add a little baking soda to your socks and shoes to remove moisture. You can also apply a paste of baking soda and water directly to the affected nail and let it sit for at least 10 minutes before rinsing. Repeat this several times a day until the fungus clears up

Vinegar . Although there is no clinical evidence so far, it appears to be an effective tool for the treatment of toenail fungus. You can apply it directly to the affected nails by soaking your toes in a bowl of hot water mixed with vinegar.

Garlic . The extract has strong antifungal properties. Chop it up and apply it to the affected area for about 30 minutes. Be careful because raw garlic can sometimes cause chemical burns on the skin.

Onychomycosis

 Onychomycosis

L ' onychomycosis is an' infection in load of the nails , both hands and feet, caused by different types of pathogens such as dermatophytes, yeasts and molds (fungi). Onychomycosis is an infectious process that causes thickening and deformity of the nails as well as a certain change in the color of the nail.

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Among the various nail diseases, statistics indicate that mycoses occur with an incidence ranging from 30% to 50% and that males are more affected than women.

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 for allowing the fungi to develop. Furthermore, the toenails are often affected by external trauma from wearing tight shoes or following sports activity.

What are the causes of onychomycosis?
They are caused by several fungi , including Candida albicans, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton. One of the main risk factors is represented by the frequentation of hot-humid and common environments , such as the changing rooms of gyms and swimming pools, which represent an excellent ground for the proliferation of fungi.

The incorrect habit of wearing tight socks and shoes (which prevent perspiration), associated with excessive sweating and poor hygiene increase the chances of contracting nail fungus.

What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
This nail infection may initially manifest as a small white or yellow spot , affecting a small portion of the nail (usually the distal edge of the nail plate). In a less common variety of onychomycosis, called " superficial white onychomycosis ", the nail turns white instead of yellow or brown and the surface is smooth, dry and dusty. If left untreated, the fungus tends to spread, even involving the other nails.In general, symptoms include:

• increased fragility of the affected nail ;
• deformation of the nail;
• lamina opaque and raised distally;
• inflammation of the tissues near the nail;
• Infected nails can also lift and detach from the nail bed (onycholysis), as well as emit a foul odor .

The diagnosis
The suspicion of onychomycosis, which occurs during a dermatological examination , must be confirmed through direct microscopic observation and culture examination.. The latter is carried out after taking fragments of the nail. The sampling necessary for the culture can only be done if treatment based on antifungals has been suspended for at least two weeks. Through the cultural examination it is possible to identify exactly the fungus responsible for onychomycosis and consequently the most suitable type of therapy can be chosen. The exam is not annoying, but the response times are not particularly short (it takes about thirty days to communicate the result). The mycotic culture is not always positive (about 30% of false negative tests) and this represents an undoubted diagnostic problem.

In particular cases it may be necessary to resort to histological examination , an invasive method that can be quite annoying.

The Treatments
The choice of the type of treatment for onychomycosis basically depends on the form of the pathology, the seriousness of the clinical picture and the number of nails that have been affected by the infection.

Whenever possible, most of the infected nail should be removed . This can be done by cutting it with a nail clipper, filing it or dissolving it with products containing a high percentage of urea.

Depending on the type of onychomycosis, the therapy is based on the use of antifungals to be used locally (by applying nail polishes, lotions or creams) or systemically, ie using a drug to be taken orally.

In severe cases, when the fungi are resistant to treatment, the nail can be surgically removed .

It will take a certain period of time (in the order of months) for the nails affected by onychomycosis to return to their normal appearance. The relapse rate is quite high.

Prevention
To prevent the development of fungal nail requires a proper hygiene of the hands and feet :

• keep nails short, dry and clean;
• wearing socks that allow the feet to perspire, changing them often;
• do not walk barefoot in the changing rooms and showers of gyms and swimming pools;
• do not cut the skin around the nails because this facilitates the access of germs;
• do not hide nail fungus infections with nail polish: it contributes, in fact, to worsening the infection.