Causes, Symptoms and Preventive Measures of Nail Fungus
Nail fungus is an infection that gets in through cracks in your nails. Your nails may thicken, discolor and crumble at the edge when the nail fungus starts spreading. You can control the pain associated with the infection through self-care steps and medication. The disadvantage of nail fungus is that the infection may recur even after successful treatment. Thickened nails may be a sign of nail fungus. When your nails are discolored it might mean you have nail fungus. Foul smelling of feet and distorted nails may mean you have nail fungus.
You can get fungal nail infections from various fungal organisms. Yeast and mold also cause nail infections. Nails become brittle and dry as they age. The fungus enters through the cracks created after this. Nail fungus is caused by poor circulation of blood to the feet. People who have a weak immune system often suffer from nail fungus. The reason why nail fungus spreads fast is because it moves from one toe to another. Walking barefoot in damp communal areas is dangerous because it causes nail fungus. Minor skin injuries and nail injuries may lead to nail fungus.
Severe cases of nail fungus can be painful and may cause permanent damage to your nails. People who suffer from diabetes suffer from nail fungus because there is poor circulation of blood to the nails. This means they may suffer serious injuries from a minor injury to the feet. This is why it is advisable to see your doctor if you are suffering from nail fungus. There are different ways in which you can prevent nail fungus. One of the major preventive measures is through washing your hands and feet regularly. You should wash your hands every time you touch your infected nail. This helps in ensuring that you don’t spread the infection. After washing your nails ensure you moisturize them. You should also disinfect your nail cutter before cutting your nails. When trimming your nails trim straight across and then smoothen the edges with a file. All the thickened areas on your nails should also be filed down. After trimming disinfect your nail clipper. Another preventive measure is wearing sweat-absorbing socks. You may also change your socks throughout the day to prevent getting nail fungus. This is due to the fact that people whose legs sweat a lot are prone to nail fungus. Another way of preventing nail fungus is wearing footwear when walking in damp communal areas like swimming pools. When you buy shoes, ensure you choose those shoes with materials that breathe. You can avoid contracting nail fungus by giving up on nail polish and artificial nails.