Do I have a nail fungal infection
While you might not have heard of the word onychomycosis, nail fungus might sound more familiar to you.
It is not something that one would encounter on a regular basis, so you would be forgiven too if you have never heard of it. A nail fungal infection occurs when one or more of your nails, either fingernails or toenails, are infected by fungi.
These parasites attack the keratin, which is the dominant protein in our nails, and feed on them. This eventually lead to unhealthy nails that are yellow in colour and break easily.
So how do I know if I have a nail fungal infection?? The start of the infection is marked by whitish or yellowish spots in the nail and as the nail fungal infection advances, the nail will change colour, becomes thicker and the sides start to break and crumble.
This is when the infection causes pain and discomfort, not to mention a less than pretty sight especially when girls pay a lot of attention to their nails by having manicures and pedicures. The nails are even known to detach completely from the finger or toe in some severe cases!
Unfortunately, our body is not able to fight off this infection on its own, and we certainly do not want to leave behind our fingernails or toenails behind us.
If left untreated, the infection can lead to nail damage that is permanent or even more serious skin disorders and secondary infections, which are more threatening. Those who already have diabetes or a weak immune system are more prone to these secondary problems.
Some over-the-counter creams and ointment are not as effective as oral treatment because these creams and ointment only tackle the problem at its surface. Once the external treatment is stopped, the fungi return as the root infection is not treated.
Oral treatments, although more effective, come with side effects. Not only these medications burn a bigger hole in your pocket but they can also potentially cause liver damage and rashes that are painful.
The chemicals contained in these medications can also aggravate any existing heart condition that the patient might already have. There, it is best to speak to your physician and let him/her know of any existing ailments so that a non-invasive nail fungal infection can be prescribed.
There are however some over the counter fungal nail infection treatments that are proven to very effective
Most Effective Nail Fungus Treatments
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