Important Information To Help You Understand The Infection Commonly Known As Nail Fungus

If you suffer from nail fungus, then it might be some consolation to know that this type of infection is extremely common. If you have a fungal nail infection, it's not hard to miss the physical signs that it's there. The nail often turns yellow, and the nail itself becomes brittle. Infected nails generally break very easily, and often have a crumbly, brittle look to them. The infected nails may also have an irregular growth pattern.

Most fungal infections of the nail begin in the area where the nail and skin meet, which is generally referred to as the nail bed. Nail fungal infections don't just suddenly appear; they develop gradually over a period of time. The good thing is that this type of infection doesn't spread to anywhere else in the body, or to internal organs. It's important to remember, too, that a number of conditions can produce symptoms like nail discoloration, so it's not always easy to diagnose a nail fungal infection purely by physical appearances. Your doctor may take a sample of the nail so that it can be analyzed for the presence of a fungal infection.

It is possible for a nail fungus to be transmitted from one person to another, but on the whole they're not considered to be a contagious infection. Generally, nail fungal infections occur when someone's immune system is low. So if you are fit, healthy and well rested, it's unlikely that a nail fungus will manage to establish itself because your immune system will fight it off. Unfortunately nail fungal infections are remarkably difficult to cure, and can often last a very long time.

Keeping your feet dry is always a good way to avoid promoting any nail fungus, so wear cotton, nonporous socks with closed shoes, particularly if you're in a wet area. Try to avoid walking barefoot on wet surfaces, especially public areas in swimming pools, bathrooms and sidewalks. A side benefit of this is that you'll also avoid other fungal infections such as athlete's foot. If you're going to use a public shower, keep a pair of waterproof sandals on your feet. If your feet do get wet, make sure you change you dry them off and replace any wet shoes or socks as fast as possible.

All this information about how to prevent a nail fungal infection is good, but if you already have one, you probably want to know what you can do to get rid of it. If it's a relatively new infection, then an over the counter product may be sufficient to kill off the fungus. If your infection is more longstanding or severe, however, this type of product probably won't be effective. In that situation, you may need a prescription for an oral medication. It can still take many months for the medication to have an effect, and some have potentially serious side effects. The liver, skin, bone marrow and other body organs may be damaged by the medication, so you will need to have regular blood tests to monitor for these side effects. You should also contact your doctor if you suffer from nausea, fatigue, skin rashes, loss of appetite, pale stool and dark urine, bleeding or enlarged lymph nodes. All of these are potential side effects from the medication.

By Tim Gorman