Treating A Fungal Infection Of The Toenail
November 1, 2009 by admin
Filed under Home Remedies
A person has been infected with nail fungus when fungi have infected the toes of their legs. White or yellow spots will start appearing close to the tips of their nails. As the intensity of the color keeps increasing, the nails will also start becoming very thick and they could also become very painful. The toes on our feet usually get infected when they have been exposed to some kind of moist or warm environment. The treatment of an infected nail is not an easy process but there are many over the counter products, which are available in order to treat fungi.
Causes of a Fungal Infection in the Toenails :
Sunlight is not required by the fungi in order to thrive. There are many kinds of fungi, which are beneficial to the health of the person while there are many more which can also be dangerous for the health of a person. Yeast and mold are some of the reasons for the occurrence of a fungal infection. But the most dangerous fungi can be classified under the name of dermatophytes. These fungi will thrive in warm places like swimming pools, public rest rooms and also your own personal shower at home since there could be someone in your house who has been infected.
The fungi can enter the body through small cuts, which are present on your skin. The cut could also be present in between your toenails and the actual toes. Legs, which are continuously being exposed to wet and moist areas, have a very high probability of being infected easily. Sweat accumulates easily on your toes due to the footwear, which is being used, and this will easily create a breeding ground for the fungi by forming a moist and wet place.
Health Risks due to a Fungal Infection of the Toenail :
An infection which is present in the body and which has not been treated can cause some kind of permanent damage to the toenails. There is also the possibility of the infection spreading to all parts of the body and this can also reduce the strength of the immune system of the body to a large extent. Diabetics, people afflicted with leukemia and those who have had an organ transplant recently have a very weak immune system. When people like this have a nail infection, it can seriously curtail the blood circulation in their body. In case of a suspicious toe nail infection; it is always better to consult a doctor.
Natural Treatment of a Fungal infection of the Toenail :
The treatment of a fungal infection of the toenail can be done best in a natural manner. The most important advantage of these natural methods is that they do not have any kind of side effects. They are also very cost effective. All the ingredients for these methods of treatment can easily be found at the local grocery store. But not every kind of treatment will prove to be effective for every person who has an infected toenail.
- Vinegar and Apple Cider : Apple cider vinegar and tea tree oil are the most sought after ingredients for every method of curing an infected toenail. The feet should be soaked in a solution, which contains apple cider vinegar as well as tea tree oil. A lot of improvement can be seen within a time period of a few weeks.
- Natural Oils : Clove oil, lavender oil, red rosemary oil, lemongrass oil and Epsom salts have also proved to be very useful in treating fungal infections of the toenail.
- Household Items : Listerine, hydrogen peroxide and Vicks Vapor Rub should be mixed well with water and the feet should be soaked in this solution for at least thirty minutes in a day.
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