Nail Fungus Hygiene

Why do nail fungus infections (onychomycosis) strike some people for no apparent reason? The answer's not entirely clear, but you can lessen your chances of getting onychomycosis with some common sense nail fungus hygiene. Good daily habits that support the health of skin and nails can go a long way towards keeping the fungi away - and if you do get an infection, there are things you can do to prevent it from spreading and to treat it before it becomes too severe.

Most cases of onychomycosis begin on the feet, so hygiene to avoid nail fungus begins with good foot care. Keep your feet clean and dry as much as possible. When you shower or bathe, wash between your toes and then dry these areas carefully - be sure to use a different part of the towel to dry between each toe, as fungi and other pathogens can be spread from one area to another with a towel or cloth. If you tend to have sweaty feet, it's good nail fungus hygiene to buy socks that will absorb rather than trap the moisture, and change them daily, or even more often if necessary. Wear shoes with as much ventilation as possible.

Hygiene to avoid nail fungus includes keeping your nails trimmed and clean. Dirt and organisms can get trapped under the nails, where it is warm and moist, and begin to grow - fungi that are able to live on keratin, the protein in nails and hair, can invade the nail and initiate an infection that is hard to get rid of. Nail fungus hygiene also means watching out for cuts and scratches: breaks in the skin can allow organisms to get past your immune defenses, so take care of even minor injuries near the nails, keeping them clean and covered if appropriate until they heal.

Footwear is an important part of nail fungus hygiene, but you need to strike a balance between protecting your feet from exposure to fungi, and trapping moisture and fungi inside shoes that don't have much ventilation. In a warm climate, it's easy to wear airy footwear, but this is also the type of climate where you are most likely to need good hygiene to avoid nail fungus - fungi thrive in warm damp environments. It's a good idea to wear shoes all the time while outside: even a pair of light sandals will minimize exposure to soil and contaminated surfaces. Be especially careful to wear shoes in moist public places such as swimming pool decks, locker rooms, saunas and showers.

If you do see the beginnings of what looks like nail fungus in spite of good nail fungus hygiene, you may be able to vanquish it quickly with one of the home or alternative remedies. The quicker you act the better, since advanced onychomycosis is particularly difficult to get rid of. Trim and file the affected nail as much as possible, continue to use hygiene to avoid nail fungus to lessen the chance that it will spread to other digits, and diligently apply the remedy that you have chosen. If the nail does not show signs of improvement within a couple of weeks, see your doctor to have the condition properly diagnosed.

Stop Nail Fungus

As we get older, many of us face the dilemma of how to stop nail fungus infections (onychomycosis). The risk of suffering from onychomycosis increases with age and the infection seems to be growing more common overall - as many as 13% of North Americans have a fungal nail infection at any one time. Fungal infections in healthy humans are generally restricted to the hair, skin, and nails; infected nails account for about one third of these infections. Because the fingernails and toenails are essentially dead tissue, fungal growth in them can be very difficult to eradicate. It's best to give your nails regular care and deal with any abnormality early, before it becomes too advanced.

Home remedies against nail fungus are usually more effective if you begin to use them early, before the fungal growth involves too much of the nail or spreads to the surrounding skin. To prevent onychomycosis, be good to your nails. Treat any small cuts and scrapes, as well as larger injuries promptly. Keep your feet clean and dry, try not to leave your hands immersed in water for long periods of time, and keep all nails clean and well trimmed. Wear gardening gloves when working with the soil, footwear when walking in public showers and swimming areas, and shoes and boots with as much air circulation as possible. Air out your footwear and make sure shoes and boots are thoroughly dry before wearing them. An occasional dusting of footwear with antifungal powder provides extra ammunition to stop nail fungus. Finally, don't borrow nail files, nail clippers, or other nail equipment from others, and don't wear second-hand or borrowed shoes and boots: fungi that cause nail infections spread from person to person.

If signs of onychomycosis appear and you want to nip it in the bud, you might try one of the home remedies against nail fungus. First, trim away as much of the affected nail as possible, then use the remedy according to any instructions you've been given. Home remedies include vinegar or dilute bleach soaks, application of Vick's Vaporub ointment, soaking in Listerine mouthwash, even beer soaks. Do some research or consult someone who has experience with the remedy so you'll know how to do it properly. Home remedies are not a hundred percent - some people are able to stop nail fungus with them and some are not, but the same is true for every nail fungus medication, even the prescription drugs. If you want to increase the odds of success, a natural remedy such as tea tree oil might be a worthwhile purchase.

If you are not able to stop nail fungus with these simple treatments, it may be that your nail infection is too far advanced, or that you have not used the remedy for long enough. It may also be that the problem is not onychomycosis, but some other nail abnormality that should be seen and treated by a medical professional. There are other nail problems that con look very like a fungal nail infection and only a specialist can give you a certain diagnosis. These less common ailments don't respond to home remedies against nail fungus! For chronic nail problems that haven't responded to your self-care attempts, the best option is to see your doctor.