Anti Nail Fungus Solutions

Toenail & Fingernail Fungus information & advice
for eliminating & preventing nail fungus.

What is nail fungus?
Onychomycosis (ON-I-ko-my-ko-sis), is the clinical term for the fungus that occurs most commonly on toenails but can also infect fingernails. Tinea Unguium are living organisms also know as dermatophytes made famous by the Lamisil TV commercials. Our nails provide excellent protection but once penetrated by fungus that same protection makes treatment difficult.
What causes nail fungus?
Exposure to the fungus and suitable conditions are sometimes enough to cause a case of nail fungus. However in most cases a weakened defense can be linked to the nail fungus. A split, cracked, or otherwise damaged nail exposed to fungus is much more likely to become infected than a healthy strong nail.
What are the symptoms of nail fungus?
Symptoms of nail fungus may include:
Thickening, brittleness, crumbling, raggedness, distorted shape, dull finish with no luster or shine, darker color, pain in toe or finger tips, slightly foul odor.

What are the risk factors of nail fungus?
Risk increases with age due to decreases in circulation, prolonged exposure to fungus, slower nail growth and thickening of nails. Nail fungus tends to affect more men than women. Family history can play a role in resistance to infection. Environmental factors include exposure to dampness, high humidity, and perspiration. Injuries to the nail can increase risk to infection. Diabetes, circulation problems or a weakened immune system can also increase the risk of being affected by fungal infections.
What are the complications that can occur with nail fungus?
Nail fungus can be uncomfortable, even painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. Nail fungus infection can also lead to more serious infections that can even spread beyond your feet or hands especially for those with a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other conditions. Fungal infections of the nail pose the most serious health risk for people with diabetes and for those with weakened immune systems.

Remedies treatments & cures

What works & what doesn't

Treatment of nail fungus is difficult and takes time. The same protection that your nails provide to prevent infection also act to protect the fungal infection. No matter which method you choose it is important to continue treatment for 6-12 months. With that in mind choosing a treatment method that is convenient and easy to incorporate into your daily routine is extremely important.

Unfortunately there are no known products or medications that can completely cure nail fungus in less than 6 months. However positive results and relief of symptoms are possible in a matter of weeks. It is highly recommended that you continue treatment for at least six months to insure complete elimination of nail fungus.

There are three basic approaches to treating nail fungus: Drugs, chemicals, or herbs.

Lamisil Tablets manufactured by Novartis Pharmaceuticals - is the newest and most effective drug for the treatment of nail fungus. However Lamisil is not for everyone and can have serious side-effects for the liver and skin. Like all treatments to be completely effective it must be used for about 6 months. Consult your physician before considering using Lamisil or any other drugs especially if you suffer from liver or kidney problems.

Chemical treatments have been shown to be effective but tend to be harsh with undesirable odors. Bleach and Vicks' Vaporub are the most commonly used home remedies which any people have claimed to have success treating nail fungus. When considering you will need to continue treatment for 6 months neither of these are an ideal choice.

Many herbs provide excellent results treating nail fungus without negative side effects or undesirable odors. In fact many herbs actually provide positive benefits for nails and skin.

Recommended Herbs for treating nail fungus:

Tea Tree Oil
from the leaves of the Australian Melaleuca tree
Almond Oil
almond oil is used topically to moisturize dry skin, soothe chapped lips, and relieve itching due to dryness
Jojoba Oil
Native Americans use Jojoba Oil to promote skin health
Vitamin E Oil
well-known antioxidant applied topically
Lemongrass Oil
a common ingredient in Asian food
Undecylenic Acid
organic fatty acid derived from natural castor oil
Clove Oil
a natural analgesic

How to prevent nail fungus.

Nail fungus thrives in a warm moist environment. It is highly recommended that you wash & dry your feet thoroughly. Wear cotton socks whenever possible to wick moisture away from your feet from sweating that can occur during your daily activities. If your socks or shoes become damp, take them off as soon as possible and dry your feet before putting on a fresh pair of clean dry socks. Avoid sharing towels, washcloths, shoes or any other personal items to avoid picking up nail fungus from other who may be infected. Keep fingernails and toenails clean and well manicured, avoid or limit use of nail polish. keep your toenails trimmed regularly in a straight line and keep the edges smooth with a nail file.

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