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Toenail fungus (onychomycosis), a contagious disease, is also a disturbing condition in terms of health. Nail fungus usually starts in a single nail but can spread to other nails and cause serious problems if treatment is delayed. Additionally, pain and odor can negatively affect patients’ quality of life. Although nail fungus treatment can be done naturally by patients, a specialist doctor should perform a check-up for a definitive solution. A treatment plan for the disease needs to be created. Also, individuals should be informed about preventive measures to avoid nail fungus.
Nail fungus commonly occurs on both hands and feet in society. However, fungal infections appear more frequently when feet are kept in airless conditions. If people start treatment late, the process can be prolonged, sometimes lasting up to a year. Therefore, taking precautions is always a much more effective method. So, what causes nail fungus, and what methods do people apply during the treatment process?
What is Nail Fungus?
Nail fungus, known as onychomycosis or tinea unguium in medical literature, is a common fungal infection. This infection starts as a yellow or white spot at the tip or under the nail. Additionally, the nail thickens over time, becomes more pronounced, and the infection can spread rapidly. Besides being an aesthetic problem, treatment is necessary as it is an infectious disease. When the disease is at the initial stage, people take simple precautions and thus stop its progression.
If people do not treat nail fungus, the infection can spread to other nails and make the healing process more difficult. Diabetics must take extra precautions to prevent nail fungus as their immune systems are weak. People who pay attention to hygiene rules prevent nail fungus by performing regular care. Also, specialist doctors or nail care centers provide professional support and apply the correct treatment methods to patients. So, how do doctors diagnose nail fungus, and what methods do they use in treating big toenail fungus?
What Causes Nail Fungus?
If everyone at risk of nail fungus knows the answer to the question “what causes nail fungus?”, it becomes easier to take the necessary precautions. Nail fungus (onychomycosis) is caused by various fungal organisms, primarily dermatophytes. Although it’s a disease that can develop at any age, it’s more common in old age due to nails becoming dry and brittle. Additionally, a weak immune system and reduced blood circulation in the feet are among the risk factors. Other answers to the question “what causes foot and hand nail fungus?” are as follows:
- Impacts taken to the nails,
- Manicure and pedicure procedures performed without paying attention to hygiene rules,
- Pools, locker rooms, or commonly used areas,
- Feet remaining airless in socks or shoes for long periods,
- Leaving feet moist after washing.
Toenail fungus generally prefers moist environments. It’s much easier for it to multiply and spread in such environments. So, paying attention to the above points will also be beneficial in terms of preventing fungal infections. So, what are the symptoms of toenail fungus, and are they similar to fingernail fungus symptoms?
Symptoms
Both fingernail fungus and toenail fungus show similar symptoms. The common symptoms of nail fungus are as follows:
- Thickening of the nail tissue,
- Nails becoming pale in color,
- Nails breaking apart with touch or contact,
- Nail shape starting to deteriorate,
- The nail growing curved upwards or downwards from its bed instead of normally,
- The nail starting to separate from the flesh,
- Mild to moderate pain,
- Odor formation due to inflammation and discharge.
Nail fungus causes the natural color of the nails to disappear. Indeed, the nails may turn yellow or brown. Additionally, the nails lose their shine and gain a completely matte appearance. It’s possible to see only one of these symptoms, or several of them together. The earlier the nail fungus treatment starts, the higher the treatment success will be.
Types
Dermatophytes are the primary type of fungi that cause nail fungus. Additionally, yeast and mold fungi can cause nail infections. Therefore, types of nail fungus should be examined in detail.
- The type of fungus also called dermatophytes causes infection that leads to the digestion of keratin in the skin and nails. The most common symptoms of fungal infections caused by dermatophytes are yellowing and thickening of the nails.
- Yeast fungi, which develop in moist environments and cause infections under the nails, manifest themselves with symptoms such as itching or pain.
- Mold fungi that cause infection under or around the nails lead to the formation of greenish or black spots. As it has a more challenging treatment process compared to other types of nail fungus, early intervention is important.
Determining which type of fungus is causing the nail fungus on your hand or foot is important for planning the correct toenail fungus treatment. So, how does nail fungus go away, and does the treatment process cause side effects?
How Does It Go Away?
To properly treat nail fungus, it’s first necessary to ensure that the problem is indeed nail fungus. In fact, sometimes color changes like those in psoriasis can be confused with nail fungus, so correct diagnosis is important. Then, experts should identify the type of nail fungus and plan the treatment accordingly.
- Doctors may prescribe oral antifungal medications to clear the infection, remove it with professional equipment, and prevent fungus. The active ingredients in these medications are usually terbinafine and itraconazole.
- Additionally, doctors may prescribe antifungal nail polishes. Patients apply these medications to the nails and surrounding tissues once a day. To get effective results, patients should continue this treatment regularly for a year.
- Visit a foot care specialist regularly every month to thin the nails and clean the fungal area.
- Antifungal creams may be prescribed. Before applying these creams, people should thin their nails with a file as this process speeds up the treatment.
In cases where these methods don’t work, it may be necessary to remove the nail to prevent the spread of fungal infection. Because if nail fungus cannot be treated with medication, surgical intervention is a necessity. When the infection spreads and patients experience severe pain, the physician surgically removes the nail permanently. So, what is good for nail fungus, and can nail fungus be treated with natural methods?
What Is Good For It?
It’s possible to prevent conditions like nail fungus with some simple precautions in daily life. At the top of these precautions is performing your foot care regularly. If you pay attention to your foot health, you will largely prevent the formation of onychomycosis and infection. Some of the methods that can be applied to prevent and heal nail fungus infections are:
- People should wash their hands and feet thoroughly, then completely dry moist areas.
- Also, they should not leave a suitable ground for fungus formation by smoothing their nails with a file.
- Use breathable cotton socks and shoes; if you have a sweating problem on your feet, change your socks frequently,
- Cut and thin your nails to reduce pressure on them,
- Protect your nails from impacts,
- Avoid walking barefoot in shared areas or touching shared tools,
- Bring your own equipment to places like gyms or pools,
- Personalize your manicure and pedicure sets.
Adhering to all these important points protects you against the risk of nail fungus. If you couldn’t prevent infections despite all the precautions you’ve taken, you need to get treatment to prevent the infection from spreading. To recover from nail fungus as quickly as possible, people should seek professional support from nail specialists.
Nail Fungus Treatment Prices
If onychomycosis, which is a contagious disease, is not treated, the infection reaches other areas. Therefore, it’s necessary to first determine the level of the disease and plan the nail fungus treatment accordingly. Indeed, how much the disease has progressed is also determinative in terms of treatment prices. Therefore, it’s not possible to give a direct nail fungus treatment price. First, a podologist or nail care specialist should perform a comprehensive examination. They should plan the treatment process and determine the prices.
Frequently Asked Questions About Nail Fungus
In addition to all these, factors such as the general health condition of the patients, the reliability of the application center, and the experience of the specialist are also determinative in nail fungus treatment. If you want to get detailed information about nail fungus treatment and learn how to plan the treatment process, you can contact us right now.
Does Nail Fungus Go Away on Its Own?
Nail fungus is not a disease that goes away on its own. In fact, when left untreated, it spreads to other nails, making the process much more difficult. If treatment is not started in time, the infection can spread to the hands or feet. It leads to serious problems that negatively affect daily life. Similarly, it is not possible to treat nail fungus at home. However, care should be taken with the advice of a doctor or nail specialist.
Nail Polish on Fungal Nails
People should not apply nail polish to fungal nails because nail polishes contain different chemical substances. These substances accelerate the formation of infection. At the same time, it negatively affects the health of the nail by distorting its color, structure, and shape. Additionally, nail polish prevents the nail from breathing and creates a suitable environment for fungus growth. Some people choose to use nail polish to hide the damage to the nail; however, while this may improve the aesthetic appearance, it is not beneficial for health.
Herbal Treatment Methods for Nail Fungus
When nail fungus is in its early stages, some natural methods can prevent the infection from progressing. However, people should not apply these methods without the advice of a dermatologist or nail specialist. In particular, natural products such as garlic, apple cider vinegar, tea tree oil, thyme oil, lemon juice, and baking soda are said to help prevent infection in folk remedies.
In addition, it is stated that cures such as olive oil with garlic, vinegar with mouthwash, and calendula can also prevent the progression of nail fungus. However, consulting an expert will be the most correct method to get definitive results.
However, it is important to seek medical advice before applying these methods for nail fungus treatment.