The Thing About Nail Fungus

So, imagine, you and your friends decide to meet at the beach, it’s been a while since you saw yourselves, so the plan is simply to have fun, and maybe show how much you have changed in the passing years.

You manage to make out time off your busy schedule and meet your friends. You decide to change into you beach wear, and are about to take off your footwear, then you remember that there’s that discoloration on your toenails accompanied with a brittleness which makes it break irregularly, and maybe the most annoying part is the not so noticeable, but definitely present foul smell which you recently noticed oozing from the toenails too.

You realize your fun has been cut short.

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Yep, nail fungus, also called Onychomycosis (on-ih-koh-my-KOH-sis), is powerful enough to steal and kill your fun by making your nails ugly and not presentable. You will be learning a bit about nail fungus, the symptoms, and those who are at risk. Most importantly, you will learn how to avoid it and home remedies for this malady so your nails can retain and return to the beauty and health they should have.

Read on.

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What It Is

Nail fungus is a malady caused by fungi infection. It sometimes comes painless and sometimes it comes with pain. Some come with foul smell, and some without. The pain and smell in most cases is a sign of pending complications, No matter its form or appearance, nail fungus can lead to ugly nails. Nail fungus affects the fingernails too, but it is more common as toenail fungus.

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Symptoms

Nail fungus usually starts as a yellowish or whitish spot under the nail. As the condition worsens, the nail discolors further, and then the nail gets harder and brittle, breaking off at the tip in a ragged form which just spells ugliness. As said earlier, there is sometimes accompanying pain or/and foul odor which will definitely cause more discomfort.

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Those At Risk

Nail fungus usually come about when the nail is a comfortable breeding ground for fungi; think moist and warm, low immunity to diseases, and low blood circulation to nail. So those who spend a lot of time in wet areas without protecting their nails, especially the toenails, are at risk. Those with diabetes too are at risk, and those whose body immunity may be low due to other reasons other than diabetes are also at risk. Also, if one has a history of foot fungus, like athlete’s foot there is a likelihood that the infection can spread to the nails.

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How To Avoid It

To avoid nail fungus, wash hands and feet regularly with soap and water. Dry and moisturize after washing. Trim your nails neatly across the edges, and file evenly. Change socks through the day, and wear those which absorb sweat. Invest in shoes which allow your feet breathe, like original leather. When in communal wet areas, like pool areas, use footwear as much as possible. Finally, practice general hygiene, and know your nails well enough to notice a change in appearance and feel and visit your doctor to confirm the suspicion if you notice some symptoms.

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Home Remedies

So you have confirmed that the unsightly development you noticed on your nails was caused by nail fungus, and you wonder what you can do to get rid of it, without doing yourself more harm. Well you are in luck, because this write up is all about your nails getting back their beauty. The remedies mentioned below can be done using everyday products, which are easy to get if they don’t already stay with you at home. (There’s also a disclaimer)

• Garlic
  Yes, oh yes, garlic is almost as hideous as nail fungus. Almost. Despite its strong smell, garlic is a plant with antifungal and antimicrobial properties, and will definitely have a positive effect on the infection. Placing crushed or chopped cloves of garlic on the infected area daily, for thirty minutes daily will show some improvement, especially if it is accompanied by the oral use; some of the chopped cloves can be swallowed with water to treat the infection from inside out.

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• Vicks VapoRub
  This popular ointment contains camphor and eucalyptus oil which are in turn known for their antifungal properties. Applying a dap of the rub, with a cotton swab, to the affected area once a day, brings improvement, and may even get rid of the infection totally. As an added advantage, the rub can help reduce the smell of garlic.

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• Listerine, Vinegar and Water
  This trio works in different ways when it comes to getting rid of nail fungus. By mixing one part vinegar and two parts warm water, and then soaking the foot or hand into the mixture for twenty minutes daily, there is bound be seen. Also, mixing the amber-colored Listerine with warm water and soaking the foot or hand for about thirty minutes daily does wonders for the infected area. Alternatively, mixing white vinegar and Listerine in equal parts and soaking the hands or toes in the solution for forty-five to sixty minutes will lead to great improvement.
  Listerine contains thymol and menthol and eucalyptus, all of which have antifungal and antibacterial properties. Vinegar is acidic, and will make an unfavorable environment for the annoying fungi brood.

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• Eat for health
  As always, the link between what you eat, your health, and your beauty is shown again here. The healthier your meals, the easier it is for your body to fight off diseases and infections, nail fungus included.
  For nail fungus, it is best to improve your diet to foods rich in protein, iron, essential fatty acids, and calcium and vitamin D, and then throw in some pro-biotic yoghurt.

Wondering how this diet change or improvement would make a difference?

Protein, being the building blocks of life, helps grow back the eaten nails.
Iron will keep the nails from going brittle again.
The fatty acids will aid the growth of stronger, split-proof nails.
Calcium and Vitamin D work together in the sense that Vitamin is needed for the absorption of Calcium which in turn is required for a healthy nail.
Then the pro-biotic yoghurt, apart from being something sourly delicious, will help fight the infection. There are good bacteria which fight fungal infections, and the pro-biotic yoghurt helps in the culturing. It can also be applied on the infected area, overnight, for added measure.

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Nail fungus is best avoided by hygienic practices, but if it gets to you, you can use the above measure to get rid of it at the mild to medium cases. However, if the immune system is weakened and there is diabetes in the picture, there is a complication associated with the infection, or it is already at the severe level, it is advised and indeed best to strictly follow the doctor’s orders.

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Oh, and ladies, resist the temptation to simply hide the infection under beautiful nail polish, you'd only be making it worse.

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References

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/nail-fungus/symptoms-causes/syc-20353294

https://www.healthline.com/health/home-remedies-for-toenail-fungus#modal-close

https://www.prevention.com/health/6-natural-ways-to-deal-with-nail-fungus/slide/6

http://www.cleartoesclinic.com/blog/2013/09/02/blog20130902how-to-naturally-cure-toenail-fungus-with-yogurt/

https://www.wellandgood.com/good-advice/the-3-surprising-beauty-benefits-of-omega-3s/

http://www.fergon.com/connection-between-iron-deficiency-and-nail-brittleness/