For many people toenail fungal infection is not something that should cause panic. The disease, after all, is not at all that serious. In fact, the only thing that it damages is the appearance of the nails. Of course, it may affect how your feet look, discouraging you from wearing sandals or any other footwear that displays your toes. However, to consider nail fungus as relatively harmless is to underestimate the germs' capability to wreak havoc on your feet. In fact, if you just let the fungal growth continue without intervention, you will soon be encountering diseases that are more serious in nature. That is why it is very important to learn about nail fungus and its treatment.
Onychomycosis is how doctors call this. This disease becomes possible if your feet are always damp and deprived of air and the proper amount of heat to kill the fungi. Many people living in countries with cold weather are susceptible to catching this because they frequently wear closed footwear for long hours. Therefore, if you live in a place with such conditions, you should spend certain hours of the day when you can take off your socks and shoes. You can then expose your feet to dry air. This will rid them of dampness, especially those parts between the toes. While at home, it will be good if you just wear flip-flops.
Nail fungus can be hazardous for people with diabetes or other diseases that weakens their immune systems. The fungus may have grown on the nails but these certainly are not limited there. These may also infect other parts of the body, particularly the skin. In fact, the fungi's characteristic is nearly similar to those that trigger athlete's foot, eczema, and ringworm. Therefore, if you do not treat this as early as possible, you render yourself vulnerable to skin diseases and disorders too. For the person afflicted with diabetes, any wound in the toenail area, such as one caused by an ingrown nail, can worsen once the fungi infects it.
There is an impression that the discoloration and damage of the nails are merely signs of aging. This is certainly an absolutely false notion. The truth is that this is nail fungus and it can affect anyone regardless of age. Therefore, as soon as white spots are seen on the nails, immediate remedies must be taken. At its initial stage, most remedies can be performed at home, such as the application of vinegar. The earlier the attention is given to it, the better the chances of cure. However, if you do nothing, despite of the early symptoms, you certainly put your entire feet at the risk of infection.
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