Nail fungus can be a real pain in the neck especially if you get hit with it in the summer time. Nail fungus is caused by organisms that creep under your toe nail and take root. These can also affect your skin which then is known as athlete's foot.

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When on the skin it is easier to deal with - that is because it is easier to get at and treat.

When under the nail it is more difficult because it is under the nail. As the fungus takes hold your nail will begin to discolor. Over time it will become brittle because the fungus feeds off keratin which is a protein that keeps your nail strong and in place.

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Eventually it will push the nail upward and if left untreated the nail will fall off. You have a few options when it comes to treating nail fungus which range between prescribed drugs and home remedies.

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With prescribed drugs you normally have to take oral medication and apply a polish. This treatment can take up to six months to yield results. Some people have complained that even after this treatment they had further outbreaks. There is also the possibility of side effects.

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One thing you must understand when treating nail fungus is that you need to keep you feet dry and clean. Fungus likes a moist environment so do yourself a favor and don't facilitate it. Some people use bleach to try and kill the fungus, this is generally not a good idea as it can burn your skin in the surrounding area. When it comes to home remedies apple cider vinegar can be very effective. Apple cider vinegar creates an acidic environment which fungus does not like. Take this daily and over time you will see results.

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Never wear footwear that is tight on your feet as this will prevent your feet from breathing which means they will sweat and create moisture and we all know what that will do.

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Keep your toe nails short, the less protection you provide for the fungus the better. Practice good hygiene and take care of the basics so that you can treat this problem and prevent it form coming back in the future.

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Fingernail fungus is an infection caused by living microorganisms when it attacks the nail of either foot or hand. The fungus grows in dark and moist area that it finds under and sides of the nail as nails have micro-spaces around. The fungus finds comfortable environment as the nail itself protects it. It gradually locates beneath the nail and starts digesting the most valuable substance called as 'keratin'. Keratin is the material that coats the nail and protects it from the damage and hence, keeps its structure well. Once the keratin is lost, the nail starts getting damaged by the fungus and then fungus grows and spreads.

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Fingernail fungus is to be treated as soon as it is detected. This is because when it goes beyond its limit, it becomes difficult to reverse the procedure and then local incision with removal of affected part remains the only treatment. There are certain steps to be followed when one detects something awkward happening to the nail. The first comes is homemade remedy for treating fingernail fungus. The fungus hates the acidic environment and hence, apple cider vinegar or white vinegar works wonderfully. You can take an eyedropper and can have those vinegars directly to be put onto the affected areas including cuticles.

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There are many essential oils such as lavender essential oil and olive oil. You can mix them or can put single. Apart from such oils, soaking affected area is one of the most effective remedies to treat fingernail fungus infection. You can soak in special solution made out of acidophilus beer, some essential oils and some disinfectant herbs. Neem is another considerable herb that grows abundantly in India. You can use its oil or can use the decoction of its leaves for soaking the affected area.

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There are some Chinese medicines like Fungo Balm etc that have proven results in treating various fingernail fungal infections. You can use them alone or can get some combination. A group of expert believer that Listerine works very well on curing fingernail fungus when applied directly or in combination with any other anti-fungal agent. Some of the dietician advice to take some natural disinfectant food such as garlic or ginger and black pepper that help boosting the immunity and help killing microorganism present in the body.

Allopathic healthcare advisors favor taking some oral anti-fungal drugs for treating fingernail fungal infection as a surefire to treat such infections.

 

However, along with internal medications, some of the external therapies like washing the affected area with hydrogen peroxide too, are advised. Dermatologists may suggest soaking the affected area in the solution containing Epsom salt that has proven anti-fungal and disinfectant properties.

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