Nail Fungus Treatments | Cures | Remedies

Prevention of ringworm of the nails

Ringworm is the name of a skin infection that is caused by a fungus. Unlike its name, it is commonly thought that the infection is caused by a worm. In fact, some people think that ringworm is actually a type of worm.

Far from misconception, ringworm is an infection that affects the fingernails and toenails, skin on the body, scalp, groin area (more commonly known as jock itch) and feet (more commonly known as athlete?s foot).

Ringworm of the nails is also known as tinea unguium, dermatophytosis unguium or onychomycosis.

The fungi that causes this infection feeds on the keratin which is the main protein found in our nails, the outer layers of our skin and our hair.

One may get ringworm of the nails directly on the nail itself or from an existing untreated infection from the foot that spread to the nail.

Symptoms of ringworm of the nails include the thickening of the nails and the nail-bed. The nails first start to become whitish before slowly discolouring. The nails eventually become yellow if they are continued to be left untreated and finally, the nails break and are destroyed.

People who are most at risk of contracting ringworm of the nails are those who frequently wear sport shoes or trainers.

This includes athletes who spend a great deal of time in their sports footwear. This is because trainers are usually close-fitting and allows for the breeding of fungi, especially with the presence of bacteria and fungi from sweat and dirt.

People who live in areas with a warm and humid climate have increased chances of getting the infection too.

By just looking at your nails, a doctor would be able to make a diagnosis. He or she might want to identify the fungi causing the infection, so a scrape or a smear might be taken from the nail to be inspected under the microscope for further analysis.

The treatment for ringworms could take months. The doctor will prescribe antifungal tablets or local fungisides such as Lamisil tablets, Loceryl nail lacquer and Trosyl nail solutions. Being completely cured of ringworms is difficult as they may return after the treatment has ended.

It is possible to take precaution after knowing the ways that one is more prone to ringworm of the nails.

For starters, avoid wearing shoes that are made from artificial materials.

The footwear should be made of breathable materials such as cotton or leather. Socks made of cotton and wool should be used and changed daily; feet must be kept dry if possible and this can b done by sprinkling talcum powder on the feet as well as inside the shoes.

Effective Products To Combat Ringworm

Onychatrophia ? a disease that can make your nails fall off

Onychatrophia is often confused with anonychia, which is another nail disease that is caused by congenital disorders.

In this case, the nail does not grow to its full length. Onychatrophia is considered to be one of the more severe, yet common, cases of nail infections because the nail eventually falls off from the finger or the toe.

You will know that you have the disease if your nails grow slowly. The edge of the nails cannot be seen clearly; it seems as though the end of the nail has grown into the flesh of the finger or the toe.

The nail, which is fully grown, first loses its shiny look and then shrinks before dropping off. Occasionally, the nail loses its shape too and pus can even grow beneath it. The condition when the nail deteriorates is also known as atrophy.

While most cases of onychatrophia are attributed to the nail matrix being damaged, onychatrophia can also be caused by injury and internal diseases.

Psoriasis is one of the diseases that lead to onychatrophia. Psoriasis is an autoimmune disease where red patches appear on the skin as a result of a faulty immune system. Psoriasis is actually a major cause of various nail infections.

Besides psoriasis, onychatrophia is also caused by lichen planus. Lichen planus is a chronic disease that affects the oral mucosa and the skin. There will be lesions, papules and rashes on the skin of people who have lichen planus.

Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica is another ailment that leads to onychatrophia. People with this disorder are frequently referred to as ?butterfly children? due to the fragile nature of their skin.

Other leading causes of onychatrophia are bacterial and fungal nail infections. As noticed, skin disorders commonly lead to nail infections just like in this case of onychatrophia.

The causes of onychatrophia must be first determined to ascertain the treatment that would be effective and suitable for you. If the cause of onychatrophia is an internal disease, the disease must first be cured in order for subsequent treatment of onychatrophia.

The physician or dermatologist will take a culture swab from the nail or conduct other tests to detect the problem. Getting earlier treatment will allow the nail to quickly recover and grow back again.

Best Treatments For Nail Conditions

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How do I know I have Nail Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a chronic skin condition that is pretty common. It usually affects the skin at the scalp, knees, elbows and trunk.

Psoriasis can also affect toenails and fingernails, resulting in the nails becoming thicker and have pits and irregular contours.

Most people who have psoriasis of the nails also have psoriasis of the skin. Only a small percentage of 5% of people who have psoriasis of the nails do not have psoriasis of the skin.

The cause of psoriasis of the nails is not clearly known, although genetic factors, immunology and environmental factors are thought to be the contributing factors that lead to the development of psoriasis of the nails.

While the disease is not contagious, it seems to be heredity. If a parent or a sibling has psoriasis, the chances of you getting the condition are between 16% to 25%. This percentage increases to 75% of both your parents have it.

Both males and females are equally susceptible to the condition and psoriasis can affect people of all ethnicities and locations.

So how would I know if I have psoriasis of the nails? There will be a clear spot on the nail that is yellowish red in colour.

It might look like a drop of oil or blood under the nail plate. This is the first sign of psoriasis that doctors will use to make a diagnosis.

The second symptom is when the surface of the nails starts to lose cells and pits start to develop. This is called the pitting of the nail matrix. You will also start to notice that there are lines that go across one side of the nail to the other.

Doctors may refer to these as Beau lines of the nail. These are actually signs that the nail has become inflamed as the reaction of cells to psoriasis.

Psoriasis is one condition that has many tell-tale signs, thus it isn’t difficult to ascertain if you have it.

The nail plate becomes white (midmatrix or leukonychia disease) and there will be thickening of the skin under the nails (subungual hyperkeratosis) which eventually leads to the loosening of the nails (nail bed onycholysis).

A while area will start to develop on the nail where it starts to get detached from the skin beneath the nail. Finally, the nails start to crumble as they weaken, fine black lines appear from the tip to the cuticle and red patches will appear at the bottom of the nail.

With all these clearly visible and distinctive symptoms, it is vital to get treatment as soon as possible as psoriasis can lead to social and functional problems if left untreated.

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