What is Onychomycosis?

One of the more common types of fungal infections that can damage the fingernails or toenails is called Onychomycosis. Nearly half of all nail disorders are caused by Onychomycosis and with the increase of diabetes and other health factors this number is on the rise.

Onychomycosis will cause the nails to discolor, thicken and if left untreated will split and become disfigured. Many people view Onychomycosis as a cosmetic concern and will avoid actual treatment for a method of covering the affliction instead.

Without proper treatment for this fungal infection that inflicts the toenail, the nail can thicken to the point of pressing and rubbing against the shoe causing pain and damage to the weakened nail.

Onychomycosis usually does not present with any other symptom than discoloration and thickening and often people who seek treatment or diagnosis do so for the cosmetic reasons only.

Onychomycosis does not cause pain; however, the resulting disfigurement will always result in pain. Once disfigurement occurs the Onychomycosis has set in so deeply it becomes difficult to treat and fully cure and the damage can be irreversible.

The appearance of Onychomycosis will often be a thickening of the nail with an opaque appearance that is either white or yellowish to brown in color. The nail bed under the nail will thicken and harden and often the nail will separate from the nail bed.

As the fungal infection continues the edges of the nail will erode and the nail can become powdery or begin to crumble and can cause discomfort.

Some cases of Onychomycosis does not go into the nail bed separating the nail from the nail bed and simply presents itself with a milky white discoloration, this is more often found in the fingernail.

Essentially there are three treatment options for Onychomycosis; topical treatments, oral treatments and surgery.

The sooner the infection is detected and treatment began the better the possible outcome. At the first signs of infection you can begin to treat with topical home remedies including apple-cider vinegar or Listerine soaks or by rubbing tea tree and lavender essential oils into the affected nails.

These treatments along with good hygiene practices such as keeping the nails clean, dry and trimmed are often very effective.

If you are not confident in home remedies, ZetaClear, Funginix and Healing Natural Oils are popular and effective natural topical treatments for fungal infections as well.

If the infection has been left untreated too long and has become serious seek the advice of your physician who will likely prescribe an oral fungicide.

The oral medications can have potentially harmful side effects and should be researched before taken. Lastly, surgically or chemically removing the nail along with the fungus is the last resort but often the only course of action for a deep set fungal infection that is spreading.

Treating the fungal infection early will often take care of your condition without the harsh side effects, expensive prescription treatments and without the pain and possible permanent damage of the surgical or chemical treatment options.

Recommended treatments for nail fungus: ZetaClear : Funginix : Healing Natural Oils