Can You Still Get a Pedicure With Toenail Fungus
For the near part, toenails don't go a whole lot of love. Certain, you trim them every now and again; maybe you fifty-fifty paint them a bright colour in the summer. But toenails are one of the more uninteresting parts of our beefcake, and it's safe to assume inappreciably fifty-fifty think near them—until there's a problem.
Other than the usual bumps and bruises (admit it, y'all've stubbed a toe on your coffee table before), ane of the near common bug people have with their toenails is fungal infection.
Like it or not, we spend our days living among a host of microorganisms, including fungi and yeast. Many of these organisms never brand themselves known to us, peacefully circumstantial in, on, and around our bodies. But some of them have a tendency to overgrow, causing infection and a whole agglomeration of symptoms, from painless itching to funky odors.
This is exactly what happens when you're dealing with a tour of toenail mucus. Here's what you lot need to know about the different types of fungal toenail infections, what causes them to occur, and what you lot can do to treat them.
What is toenail mucus?
Toenail fungus, also called onychomycosis, is the umbrella term for a handful of microorganisms that can infect one or more of your toenails, according to the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC). The infection is typically the result of a superficial cut, crack, or opening near your toenail; with this window of opportunity, the mucus is able to sneak in and spread, causing an infection.
Infections can range from balmy or barely noticeable to severe, affecting multiple toenails and causing pain or deformation of the nail.
Are there different types of toenail fungus?
At that place are three different types of toenail fungus, William Spielfogel, DPM, director of the Podiatric Medicine and Surgery Residency Program at Lenox Hill Hospital-Northwell Health, tells Health. They include: distal subungual onychomycosis, white superficial onychomycosis, and candida onychomycosis.
We're going to simplify that for you, though, past telling yous that molds and yeast are basically always to arraign.
One blazon of mold, known as dermatophytes, only grows in keratin-producing structures similar pilus follicles and nails, Ashley Jenkins, MD, a dermatologist at University of Missouri Health Care, tells Health. This is distal subungual onychomycosis, and Dr. Jenkins says it'south responsible for at least sixty% of toenail infections.
Another type of mold, white superficial onychomycosis, is a non-dermatophyte—that means it starts by infecting the top layer of the nail rather than the follicles. And finally, candida onychomycosis is caused by yeast overgrowth—this is the least common type of toenail fungus, but information technology does happen.
What does toenail fungus look and feel like?
At that place is a range of symptoms that tin occur with any toenail fungal infection, but some of the most mutual ones include:
- Nail thickening
- Yellowing, browning, or discoloration
- Nail crumbling
- Abnormal or frequent breakage
- Unusually shaped nails
- Separation of nail from the smash bed
- Pain
- Odor or bad smell
Unlike types of infections often cause different symptoms. For example, many mold infections aren't very painful but yeast infections can be; similarly, you may observe a night build-upwards of debris under the nail with distal subungual onychomycosis, but yous're more likely to see white spots or patches on the surface of the nail with white superficial onychomycosis.
What causes toenail fungus?
We come into contact with the yeast and molds that cause toenail mucus often, merely there are a number of reasons why an infection might occur. Typically, people with cracks in their toenails or with weakened toenails are most at risk—this means older adults, people with superficial toe injuries, and people with certain pare conditions, like psoriasis.
Dr. Jenkins says there are some other common risk factors for toenail fungus, too, including having diabetes, a history of athlete's foot, or a suppressed immune system (either considering of an autoimmune condition or from existence on immunosuppressant drugs). "If fungus is hanging around [under these circumstances]," she adds, "it will crawl underneath the smash and spread."
Y'all may as well be at a higher gamble for toenail fungus if you:
- Wear poor-fitting shoes
- Have poor circulation
- Sweat more than usual, especially from your feet
- Are male
- Are a smoker
- Spend a lot of time in the h2o or walking in damp areas (similar an indoor swimming pool)
How to get rid of toenail fungus
First, the bad news: Dr. Jenkins and Dr. Spielfogel both admit that toenail fungus is extremely hard to treat, specially at home.
"The most effective treatment is an oral systemic antifungal medication, such every bit Lamisil, one time per day for 12 weeks," says Dr. Jenkins. "It cures around 75% of patients, just 25% won't be cured and volition need repeat handling or even a surgical treatment, like removing the toenail."
For the most part, Dr. Jenkins says Lamisil is by and large safe for use, though it tin—in rare cases—cause liver enzyme abnormalities. She adds that this side effect is almost never seen in children, and that your doctor volition monitor these enzymes and perform frequent blood work during your grade of treatment to ensure Lamisil is not negatively affecting your liver.
If you're yet concerned virtually Lamisil equally a treatment option or you have an existing medical condition that prevents you from safely taking it, your physician may prescribe a topical treatment instead...just those take a lot longer to work (retrieve 48 weeks, i.e. about a whole twelvemonth) and only have a 25%-30% cure rate.
Finally, y'all can try a home remedy for toenail mucus—while near of them aren't terribly constructive, they don't come with many side effects, either. If your toenail fungus is mild, you might be able to see results over time.
"[Home remedies] have maybe a 10% cure rate, just could be effective enough if someone is highly motivated," says Dr. Jenkins, who adds that some of her patients swear by frequent applications of products such as Vicks VapoRub, amber-colored Listerine, and tea tree oil.
If you're going to attempt an at-dwelling remedy, it's important to requite your toenail some extra TLC, says Dr. Spielfogel: "Keeping the expanse clean and dry may assistance keep the infection nether control."
Tin can you preclude toenail fungus?
If your toenail mucus is caused by something in your control (i.e., non an underlying condition), then yeah. You tin:
- Wear shoes in public areas, peculiarly ones that are typically wet, like pools and gyms.
- Continue foot injuries clean and covered until they're healed.
- Protect your overall health past not smoking and maintaining a healthy weight.
- Wearable supportive and breathable shoes.
You too may see a reduction in bouts of toenail fungus by keeping your toenails consistently clean, dry out, trimmed, and complimentary of nail shine (which can clog the nail and contribute to fungal growth).
Nonetheless, many causes of toenail fungus are caused by other atmospheric condition, similar chronic disease, old age, and diabetes, and at that place may not exist much you can do to preclude mucus in these situations. Dr. Spielfogel does recommend using preventative products if y'all know you're at risk for fungal infections; the Dr.'s Remedy line of nail care products, for case, includes an antifungal cuticle oil that can be used nightly to reduce the risk of fungal growth.
When should you meet a doctor?
It's tempting to dismiss toenail mucus every bit an unsightly but mainly harmless problem. Similar so many other wellness issues, though, ignoring it will only make things worse down the line.
"You should see a podiatrist when you lot detect the problem and care for it early on," advises Dr. Spielfogel. "If left untreated, which is very common, the infection will spread to the rest of the blast and eventually spread to the other nails."
In one case yous make an engagement, your podiatrist volition give your feet a thorough examination and volition probably have a biopsy, or sample, of your nail to be sent away for testing. This will help your doctor confirm that y'all have an infection and not some other consequence, besides equally figure out exactly what type of infection you take, Dr. Spielfogel explains.
From there, your doctor tin can work with you on a handling programme to (hopefully) get rid of your toenail fungus for skilful.
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Source: https://www.health.com/condition/skin-conditions/toenail-fungus
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