Having a nail fungal infection is really annoying. Where did it come from? Well,
you probably wear your shoes too much or you were walking barefoot in a public
swimming pool or are being negligent in using communal comfort rooms. Maybe you
haven't heard of nail fungi and didn't care until you found them occupying 10
per cent of your feet. It nailed it! Now read this for your
awareness:
Nail fungi, onychomycosis (on-i-ko-mi-ko-sis) or tinea unguium
in scientific terms, commonly infects the feet because these minuscule fiends
love dark and humid spots of the human body. Since our feet spend most of their
waking time enfolded in leathers or rubbers and inefficient socks, the fungi
often breed in the toenails where there is enough warmth and
moisture.
Beware! This kind of fungus is naturally anaerobic. It means
that they indulge in environment with less supply of oxygen. It belongs to the
dermatophytes family, which also causes athlete's foot, ringworm, psoriasis, and
jock itch among others. Some of the sources of these fungi are yeasts and molds.
They thrive in soggy areas and can penetrate our nails through contact with an
infected nail or improper hygiene.
At first, the fungus is just a white
or yellowish spot under the nail. It then chomps through the keratin compound of
the nails and spreads. Soon, you will feel pain while your nail gets brittle and
thick with the ugly discoloration. In some cases, the infected area bleeds and
develops a gooey discharge.
If you are not diabetic, you're lucky. People
with diabetes could hardly treat nail fungi when infected due to weak immune
system and blood circulation conditions. A mild infection leads to greater
damage on the course. This is the case also for persons with
leukemia.
Normally, nail fungal infection is cured by proper hygiene and
medication. Topical and oral treatments are taken in or applied as prescribed by
doctors. Antifungal brands can be had over-the-counter such as Lamisil,
Tinactin, Penlac, and the like. The medication may take three months or more
until a new nail sprouts. However, this does not guarantee your nails to be
fungi-free forever. They sometimes recur if triggered.
To prevent nail
fungus, you must follow the basic rules in hand and foot hygiene. Keeping your
nails dry and clean saves you in the long run. And choose the right socks to
wear! Synthetic socks perform better in terms of dryness than cotton-made. Plus,
don't stock your feet too long inside your shoes. Give them short breaks during
daytime to keep it ventilated. Foot powder is highly recommended, too. The
fingernails rarely acquire nail fungi but to be sure, avoid overexposing it to
water or chemicals. If you have to, always
dry them thoroughly.
Nail
polish and artificial nails may be cute but don't fancy them too much. Use them
only occasionally. As a rule, be careful with the instruments of your favorite
salon. Make sure they are sterilized because Fungi are highly contagious.
Your nails deserve the right kind of pampering. Take good care of it
before it's too late.
没有评论:
发表评论