Signs and Symptoms of Toe Nail Fungus Infection

Toenail fungus is certainly not “pretty”, however it affects millions of people. Generally, people contract toenail fungus because they have gotten the infection from damp, wet areas, such as the gym locker room or a spa. As you age, you are also more susceptible to contracting this infection, which can infect either your toenails or your fingernails. Nail fungus is easy to spot. Here is what to look for if you think you may have this unsightly infection. Fungal infections are a common occurrence in both toenails and fingernails. Toenail fungus infection is medically known as onychomycosis and it is caused by a group of fungi known as dermatophytes. These harmful fungi feed on Keratin which forms the surface of the toenail and most often the big toe and small toe get affected by this condition. These toes are also more at risk to other infections which affect the soft tissue around the toenail. The first step in knowing how to cure toenail fungus is to identify the signs and symptoms of this condition. The most noticeable sign of toenail fungus is the discoloration and disfiguration of the nail.

First of all, your nail (or sometimes nails) will begin to turn colors. It may start out as small white to yellow patches on or underneath the nail. As the infection progresses, the nail may turn brown or even black. It may look like you have a bruise on your toenail. If your nail looks like this, but it does not get better, then you are probably facing toenail fungus. In some cases toenail fungus may even be hereditary and is highly contagious. The infected nails become brown or yellow in color and start getting thicker. This causes pain and even makes it difficult for the affected person to wear shoes. Another one of the toenail fungus infection symptoms is foul odor from the infected nail. Very often the infected nails crumble and eventually fall off. In some cases spots or streaks are visible on the side of the toenails. On the other hand, even though black or thick toenails are not necessarily the typical signs of toenail fungus, they could indicate toenail fungus infections or paronychia.

The next important question to address would be what causes toenail fungus. Usually when microscopic fungi enter a toenail, the result is a toenail fungus infection. Such infections must be treated promptly and if left neglected they increase the risk of ingrown toenail infection and other infections like onycholysis, onychomycosis and paronychia. Ingrown toenails should also be treated in good time otherwise they may become more serious concerns and may even require surgery. Lack of personal hygiene such as wearing shoes and socks for very long periods can also cause fungal growth. Sharing footwear, not drying your feet properly or walking around bare foot in public places also increases the risk of toenail fungus infections. Treating toenail fungus is very important and if neglected for a long time, it may become more serious and would require serious medical assistance. The next important question many people ask is how to treat toenail fungus? Despite the presence of a number of easy home remedies, many people still do not know how to cure toenail fungus naturally.

Next, you may notice that your nails may lose strength. The nail will seem thinner than usual and may flake off. Chipped and brittle nails are classic symptoms of toenail fungus infection. In fact, parts of the nail may fall off all together, or the whole nail may come off. You should also know that while some people experience thinning nails, others may find that their nails thicken, so that it is difficult to trim the nails.

Another signs and symptoms of toenail fungus infection is that you will notice that debris and dirt seem to collect under your nail. That is actually a product of the fungus and is not dirt. No amount of cleaning will cause this to go away until the fungus is treated. Your nails may also put off a bad odor. Pain and discomfort will also accompany toenail fungus.

Knowing how to treat toenail fungus with tea tree oil is something that most people are unaware of. Tea tree oil is a natural fungicide and antiseptic and is one of the best toenail fungus treatments. Tea tree oil mixed with olive oil can be applied to the infected toenail everyday to cure this condition. The oil should cover the entire nail and also be allowed to get underneath the nail so that the infection can be cleared completely. Scrubbing the nail with a toothbrush helps in getting rid of the topmost layer of the nail which contains most of the fungus. Using mouthwash of some kind for toenail fungus infections is another good home remedy. Most mouthwashes are known to be strong antiseptics and soaking your toes in mouthwash is one of the best remedies for toenail fungus treatment. There are different amounts of alcohols and many other compounds present in mouthwash which in combination make an effective treatment for toenail fungus infection. This mouthwash can even be combined with lemon juice or apple cider vinegar whose acidic properties retard fungal growth and stop the infection from spreading. A person suffering from toenail infections should soak his feet in this mixture for at least 20 minutes a day. It generally takes about a week for the toenails to get cured completely with the help of this toenail fungus removal remedy.

Knowing how to treat toenail fungus at home can be very useful and also less expensive as compared to other commercial treatments. Another good cure for toenail fungus is apple cider vinegar mixed with warm water. Soaking your toes in this mixture daily for about 15-20 minutes can stop the toenail fungus infection from spreading. When you know how to cure toenail fungus with vinegar, it can be very helpful as a complimentary treatment. You can also make an exfoliating scrub by mixing apple cider vinegar with ground rice flour to treat fungal infections on the toenail. It is also helpful to know how to cure toenail fungus with using bleach. You could also use ointments containing eucalyptus, camphor and menthol which can arrest fungal growth. Application of such ointments to the infected toenails can help get rid of fungal infections. Bleach on the other hand is another of the remedies for toenail fungus infections. Soaking your feet in bleach mixed with water not only helps remove fungal infections but also helps in removing stains and spots which may have been a negative result of the infection.