A few of years back I came to notice my toenails looked quite different in texture to my fingernails. They had yellowish-white hues, they were slightly off shape and easily scratchable. At the time I had little interest on the issue. I thought to myself 'Why should I be bothered about something as tiny as a nail??'. It was alright for me. Years passed on until I broke one of my big toe nails by a careless household accident.
The nail cracked right across leaving just a tiny part on my toe. I was surprised to see how fragile the nail was. The next couple of months, I had to take care of my big toe until the new nail grows and it did grew back slowly and steadily.
The new nail looked much like my finger nails. The rest of the toe nails were a disaster when compared. Both nails had grown over time but still, the undamaged one had a bad texture. Now that nails on my feet looked different, I had some concern. Over a couple of weeks, I observed other peoples toe nails!. The issue was evident in most people; their toenails were quite different from what a typical fresh nail would look like. Most people had their big toe and pinky toe affected. None of them had the slightest concern. So I decided that its time to do some experimenting.
Here's what I learnt..
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| From Wikipedia |
Nail Fungus (Onychomycosis)
Several varieties of fungi(molds) can grow on nails given the perfect conditions. Usually, they grow inwards from the cut end of the nail. They don't get on to a healthy nail easily but once they do, its very difficult to get them off. That is because molds can form their favoured conditions within the nail. They form spores which are very resistant to a variety of conditions. These spores can regenerate the fungus when treatment is discontinued.
Environmental Factors
Hot and humid conditions are needed for these molds to grow. These conditions are easily met in tropics. Feet remain more prone to fungal nail infections because these conditions are easily met closer to the ground. Wearing socks and shoes that retain moisture inside helps the fungus to grow.
Nails are skin appendages which does not have a good blood supply. This makes it difficult for the immunity system to combat infections of the nail difficult.
Complications
Often, there is some pain associated with the nail infection.
Fungal growth damages the nail making it weaker, thicker, starchy, discoloured and deformed in shape.
Under these conditions nails easily absorb moisture and water and remain wet for a longer time alowing secondary infections to happen. Some bacteria can invade the weakened nail worsening the condition. This is sometimes characterised by dark hues.
Risks
If body's immunity system is weakened due to some cause, nail infections would be promoted and they may worsen health.
Infection of the bone (Osteomyelitis) is a possibility which is obviously a serious condition
So getting rid of this apparently harmless case should not be ignored.
Treatment
There are treatments available from various ointments to laser therapy. It is always a good idea to seek medical advice from a qualified personnel. Here I have mentioned a few household remedies that might help.
Though my first recovery was thanks to a nail fracture which removed the infected part off my toe, I suggest you not to try it at home unless you are in an experimental mood :D
Though my first recovery was thanks to a nail fracture which removed the infected part off my toe, I suggest you not to try it at home unless you are in an experimental mood :D
Various people have tried out many home remedies and posted them in many sites. By studying them you would see that there is no quick fix. Reaching the molds within the nail is no easy task. So, whatever the treatment, you have to put some regular effort.
1. Trim and remove most of the damaged nails and scrape the infected regions.
2. Keep the nails dry. Make sure that they dont expose to moisture for too long.
3. High temperatures can destroy the fungus. Expose your nails to sunlight for sometime.
4. Try exposing your nails to salt water. It might help to kill the molds. Its a good idea to take a bath in the sea if possible.
5. Vinegar can help as well. Soak the nails with vinegar regularly. It really does the work.
6. Any anti-fungal treatment should work for nail fungus as well.
Make sure to follow these steps regularly for a couple of months atleast. A point to note is that damaged nail can't be recovered. You must wait for the new nail to grow. So yeah, it takes time.
Vinegar Treatment
Vinegar makes conditions acidic for the the fungus and apparently this is not the best conditions for most fungi to grow. I made a good recovery after about a month's course. However, keep in mind that vinegar could weaken the structure of the nail making it more likely to get infected again.Anti-fungal Treatment
Miconazole, Clotrimazole, Ticonazole are available as cream, powder and tincture formulations for topical use. These have good fungicidal action but most of the time, does not destroy fungal spores sufficiently. So continuous prolonged exposure is needed. The difficult thing is to keep the ointment on the nail as long as possible. You can use a piece of wool and plaster. However, the best solution is to wrap with a piece of polythene to trap the medication. Apply it daily and continue medication as long as possible even when the symptoms are gone to prevent reemerging of the infection.Prevention
Combating nail molds is no easy deal. Staying free is far easier. Keeping your nails dry and trimming them regularly should be enough. If you happen to catch it once, you are more likely to get it again. So keep an open eye. Clean, dry and powder your footwear and socks regularly.
Conclusion
Nail Fungus Infection is the most common nail problem prevalent thoughout the globe. It is a benign condition that most people either don't care or don't realize that they are having it. But, given the opportunity, it can cause serious conditions. So stay aware, stay healthy. Good luck
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