Fingernail fungus infection occurs when fungi infect your fingernails. A fungal infection of the fingernail can start as a spot – white or yellow.
As the fingernail fungus spreads deeper, it can cause discoloring of the nail. It may also thicken and to develop crumbling edges. This may become potentially painful problem.
When a person finds that suffers from fingernail fungus, quite reasonable he/she is trying to find a quick solution that can immediately rectify the problem.
However this is impossible – the fingernail fungus is a condition which need urgent measures, but the treatment can take long time.
Many try to hide the fungal infection with a special nail polish, without ever knowing that this is serious disease that should be treated – permanent and continuous.
The bad nails are only a small part of what could fungus cause. The skin of the feet also suffers – it becomes rough and irregular, and the cracks easily pass through various infections.
The feet can be struck by athlete’s foot, which can make corns and warts to appear. Then the walking becomes inconvenient.
But most annoying is that the fungus of the feet can be conveyed on the hands and even internal organs. Blood and lymph can help them spread throughout the body.
Is the fingernail fungus contagious?
Although fungi can come from everywhere, they are not highly contagious. Fingernail fungus is so widespread, that almost everyone suffers from it somehow.
They can be transmitted from person to person, but only in constant contact between individuals.
Fingernail fungus treatment
The effectiveness of oral anti-fungal therapy is between 50% and 75%. Actual results only become apparent 9-12 months after the beginning of the treatment. This is the time of the full development of a nail. Even when treatment is successful, there is a 20-50% chance that the fingernail fungus can be activated again.
Creams and other topical medications are usually ineffective against fungal infections of nails. This is due to the fact that the nails are too hard to allow medicinal to break direct into them.
Uses of innovative medications against fingernail fungus do not cause liver problems in patients without symptoms of liver disease.
Fingernail fungus is responsible for 50-60% of cases of abnormalities of the nails. Sometimes even experts find it difficult to distinguish between different reasons for the emergence of abnormalities of the nails. These are some of the reasons why people with fingernail fungus should start a treatment:
- Diabetes
- Previous infection of the feet (celulitis)
- Pain or discomfort in your nails
- Cosmetic reasons
Prevention methods that will help you avoid nail fungus infection:
- Regularly trim your nails
- Keep your feet clean and dry them well after a bath
- Wear dry socks and shoes free
- Often changed their sport shoes
- Do not hold your hands in water too long and do not use strong detergents to clean