Toenail fungus doesn't usually spread to inside your body, like the stomach. The fungi require keratin, found in your hair, skin and nails. They survive best on the skin.
A severe case of nail fungus can be painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. And it may lead to other serious infections that spread beyond your feet if you have a suppressed immune system due to medication, diabetes or other conditions.
If toenail fungus is left untreated, it can spread to the surrounding skin on the foot, causing another condition known as athlete's foot. An athlete's foot is a condition resulting in itchy, red, and cracked skin, which can become very uncomfortable.
Oral antifungal drugs.
These drugs are often the first choice. One option is itraconazole (Sporanox). These drugs help a new nail grow free of infection, slowly replacing the infected part. You typically take this type of drug daily for 6 to 12 weeks.
The best pill for toenail fungus is terbinafine. Evidence suggests it works better than the alternatives with the fewest side effects. Terbinafine results in resolution of toenail fungus 76% of the time.
Vitamin E: Vitamin E is considered a topical therapy that can help in the treatment of toenail fungus.
If your nail gets brittle and breaks easily, it's a sign the fungal infection is changing the composition of the nail. If it becomes soft and chalky and starts to crumble away, the infection is starting to become severe.
This is caused by a specific enzyme (LTA4 hydrolase) being switched off by the mycotoxin. "This interrupts communication between the immune cells and destroys the defence mechanism. As a result, it is easy for spores -- in this case the fungus -- that enter the organism to infiltrate tissues or organs," says Werz.
It has been used topically as an antiseptic and to treat a variety of skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema and acne. Not surprisingly, it has antifungal activity, which might account for why it could be useful against nail fungus.
Nail fungus is not a health risk to most people. But anyone with a compromised immune system, such as a diabetic who contracts nail fungus, is at risk of developing serious complications like foot ulcers.
a permanent loss of the affected nail. discoloration of the infected nail. the spread of infection to other areas of the body and possibly the bloodstream. the development of a bacterial skin infection called cellulitis.
With treatment, many people can get rid of nail fungus. Even when the fungus clears, your nail(s) may look unhealthy until the infected nail grows out. A fingernail grows out in 4 to 6 months and a toenail in 12 to 18 months.
You can develop foot fungus with a healthy immune system, but your odds go up, especially of getting chronic or severe foot fungal infections, if your immune system is weaker. This is because your body has a more difficult time fighting off fungal spores and preventing them from developing into an infection.
This may cause cellulitis, a condition that produces swollen, red, tender skin and must be treated with antibiotics, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. In severe cases of cellulitis, the infection can enter the bloodstream and be deadly.
See your doctor ASAP if your nail has turned brown or black, if it suddenly hurts, or if it pulls away from the nail bed. If you have diabetes and you notice that the look of your toenails has changed even a little, see your doctor right away to keep the problem from getting worse.
The fastest way to eliminate the infection is through toenail laser treatment. Laser nail therapy specifically targets the microorganisms under your nail while leaving the keratin intact. In just a few treatments, the infection can be entirely eliminated.
This can be true and false. Oral fungal medication does put your liver at an increase risk of damage, but when used properly the risk is minimal. For this reason, activities like consuming alcohol are prohibited while taking the medication because it intensifies the risk of liver damage.
Apart from onychomycosis, the other nail problems that were prevalent in people suffering from liver diseases were longitudinal striations, brittle nails, clubbing of fingers, dystrophic nails, leukonychia and longitudinal melanonychia (types of fungal infections).
What causes nail fungus? Tiny, microscopic organisms called fungi (the plural of fungus) cause a fungal nail infection. Many people pick up the fungi when they have skin-to-skin contact with someone who has a fungal infection such as athlete's foot or ringworm on their hands.
Despite its rather rancid scent, vinegar can prove to be quite useful in a wide variety of situations. The best type of vinegar to treat toenail fungus is apple cider vinegar, a very acidic and strong solution that destroys toenail fungus at the source.
Additionally, biotin deficiency can increase the risk of fungal nail infections and subsequent nail plate discoloration.
Some of the foods that may help to keep the body healthy can include fresh vegetables, chicken, and fish. Eating these types of foods may be instrumental in improving the immune system and are often considered when beginning treatment for toenail fungus.