What is a Fungus Nail?

A fungus nail is a unsightly condition which can
be difficult to treat.

Fungus nail usually begins towards the far end
of the nail. It may start with patches of white
or yellow discoloration. If fungus nail is left
untreated, it will proceed to the base of the
nail. It will attack the nail root (matrix) and
cause the nail to grow very thick and
deformed.

The big toe is usually the first nail to be affected with fungus nail. It can spread to adjacent toenails. In rare cases, fungus nail will also affect the skin surrounding the nails.

If fungus nail is not treated for along period of time, the nail will become very brittle.

What Causes Fungus Nail?

Fungus nail is caused by microscopic organisms called Dermatophytes. Dermatophytes thrive on warm, moist conditions. They grow in the nail bed, beneath the nail and live off keratin. Keratin is the protein in the nail.

What Does Fungus Nail Look Like?

In early stages, the nail may have white or yellow patches of color, and yellow horizontal streaks in the nail. In later stages, the nail will be thick, deformed, discolored and have a foul smell. In some cases, the nail splits and crumbles.

Symptoms of Fungus Nail

The most common symptoms of fungus nail are:

* Brittle nail
* Split nail
* Thick and deformed nail
* Yellow or white patches of color on the nail
* Yellow horizontal streaks in the nail
* Nail changes on one or more nails (usually toenails):

How to prevent Fungus Nail?

One of the best ways to prevent fungus nail is to keep your feet as clean and dry as possible. Cotton socks will help keep your feet dry because they absorb perspiration. If you have reoccurring fungus nail, an anti-fungal powder may help prevent it.

Other types of fungal infections are: athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm, and tinea capitis

Can Fungus Nail be Treated?

Yes. Your doctor will prescribe medication to treat the fungus. Common medications are Sporanox and Lamisil. Once the fungus is treated, it may take a year for a new healthy nail to grow.

One of your best resources for information pertaining to treating toenail fungus is available to you at Zetaclear in the following link .

Are Nail Shops Source For Nail Fungus?

Women have been known to use artificial
nails to cover up nail fungus infection. Unfortunately, this doesn’t cure nor solve the problem of nail fungus, most of the time it worsens it.

We will find a lot of woman who wear artificial nails these days and “artificial nail fungus” is a coined word for the results. However, this naturally
follows that they are used in covering their natural toes and to make them more beautiful.

It is understandable that when the nails look yellowed as a result of the infection, the natural inclination is to want to put it out of sight and hide because of the stares you get on the fingers or toenails.

Fungal nail infections are more common among the toe nails than among the finger nails.  Any finger nail that isn’t natural but attached to the real finger nail is a huge contributor to the spread of the fungal infection.

The favorable environment for nail fungus grows is where it is dark and there is a lot of moisture. When you apply artificial nails to the already infected nails, it creates this favorable environment where it is both dark and has a lot of moisture.

But know that when you hide the nails under artificial nails, you are creating a more enabling environment that will foster the faster growth and spread of the fungus.

While it is covered, no one else of course sees the nails while it keeps getting destroyed and the condition worsens. When this gets to the extreme, there will not be way to hide it any longer as the nail becomes so bad that it is impossible to even apply the artificial nails to it.

The beauty industry is one the main rezone that causes the spread of the fungus nail infection is more common among the women than men.

It is a common fact that women visit nail shops where professional nail experts help apply the artificial nails they want. It is very easy for women to get their pedicures and manicures done for them at these shops.

These same shops which are a source of satisfaction to women and can also be a source of sadness for them as their beautiful nails can become infected by the nail fungus.

This is possible because certain women who that also visit these shops may have the nail fungus growing in their fingernails and they are spreading them all over.

One of your best resources for information pertaining to treating toenail fungus is available to you at Zetaclear in the following link .