Nail fungus infection is a common disease of the nails and constitutes about a half of all nail abnormalities.
The infection causes thickening and unsightly yellow or black nails which sometimes become painful.
Nail change shape and become flaky and brittle before it separates from the toe and falls off, BUT the fungus is still present and the new nail will grow deformed and discolored as well, unless you start treatment as soon as possible.
The parasite lives on keratin (protein) and yeast mold.
This condition may affect toenails or fingernails, but toenail infection is the most common, because exposure to warmth and sweat.
Oral and topical medication often works well to clear the infection, but you need to take medication for several weeks.
This disease has many names it could be called Onychomycosis or Dermatophytic Onychomycosis or Ringworm of the nail and Tinea Unguium which means nail fungal infection.
The prevalence of Onychomycosis is about 6-8% in the adult population.
It is more common in people over 55, and in younger people who share communal showers, such as swimmers or athletes.
These nail fungus infections usually develop on nails continually when exposed to warm, moist environments, such as sweaty shoes or shared shower floors.
You must remember that toenail fungus is not the same as an athlete foot, which primarily affects the skin of the feet, but at times the two may coexist and can be caused by the same type of fungus.
It may be difficult to know where or how you got a nail fungus infection.
The most probable area would be warm, wet places is a good place where fungus most likely thrive.
If you often wear heavy work boots that make your feet warm and sweaty, the fungus can grow around your toenails and you are more likely to contract toenail infection.
Sometimes several people in a family will get nail fungal infections in their nails at the same time.
This happens because their immune system is not able to fight off the infection or because the infection is being passed on when they use the same towels.
So let us remember to be safe and clean in the household and keep our own towels to avoid spreading diseases or infections around.
Here are some of the most common ways where people can get toenail fungus infections: This disease could spread from a fungal skin infection.
For example, athlete foot is a fungal skin infection of the toes.
This may spread to the toenails if the skin infection is not treated early or if you use the same towel/cotton to dry the unaffected areas.
Fingernail infection may occur after a toenail infection has become established.
The fungus may spread to a finger if you scratch your itchy toes and toenails.
If your hands are constantly in water, nail fungus infections are also more likely to occur.
Especially, if you wash your hands frequently, or have them in water a lot.
If you have other health conditions, for example: diabetes, psoriasis, poor circulation, poor immune system (if you have AIDS or are on chemotherapy) or general poor state of health.
Smoking also increases the risk of developing a nail infection.
To treat this problem you can either take pills, natural topical application or use antifungal nail lacquer to do the trick.
Antifungal tablets will often clear a fungal nail infection.
The natural topical application will also clear any associated fungal skin infection, such as athlete foot and it is quicker and more effective method than using nail lacquer.
Remember that the secret to healthy nails lie within us.
If we keep clean and keep ourselves healthy we could avoid any kind of health problems.